A Canadian family has sparked furious debate about a "social experiment" that they are doing in order to force society to comply with their wish that gender not be a consideration. Their four month old baby, Storm, is at the center of the controversy. Storm is, in all likelihood, a boy. No one, except immediate family members know, though, because they aren't telling. It strikes me that they quite possibly wanted a girl and are not satisfied, so they are improvising. They intend to raise Storm as neither male or female. If that's not a recipe for creating gender identity, then nothing is. God created us as male and female, in every species. Why, then, does this couple feel that there is something shameful about being a boy or a girl? And why should Storm bear the weight of their bad decisions? They want to use this child to try to educate the world. Actually, I think they need educating. Which bathroom is a child supposed to go to when they begin school or go to the park? Perhaps they will home school in order to maintain the secret. I think that doing this to a child and making the child the butt of jokes and the subject of endless gossip and intrigue is doing a grave disservice to the child. What will the results of this experiment be? Public ridicule, endless teasing, a lack of a sense of self-worth and belonging, and perhaps even a gender identity crisis. Do we need another Columbine to give us the results of this horrible social experiment? I think not. These parents need a reality check. Let the child be a child, whatever gender.
To view CNN's video on the subject, click the link below.
A Child Is Not A Social Experiment
Showing posts with label CNN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CNN. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Birth Dates, Luck, and Destiny
Do people really try to aim for specific birth dates? Sometimes they do. CNN is reporting that Febuary 18 (give or take a couple of days) is the target date to get pregnant for those people trying for a birth date of 11/11/11. For those having scheduled C-sections, up to a week later will work. That will be a busy day for OB staffs around the country. We'll hear about babies born on 11/11/11 at 11:11. It might be a bit of a feat to have a birth weight of 11 lbs.
Women have used numerology and favorite numbers to plan "lucky" birth dates for as long as anyone can remember. The Chinese have that down to a science. I like twos. I was born the 2nd of March. Of course, I had no control over that. However, when my 2nd child's C-section was being planned, I purposely chose the 2nd of September. The same thing happened with my fourth child, who was born on February 2nd. My third, unknowingly, and by some strange twist of fate, had a birth and a death date of November 2nd. That wasn't planned, and I shouldn't have gone into labor that day, as it was months early, but it happened. My first born really messed it all up. He was born 2 days before the 2nd and at 2:00 p.m., but couldn't hold out another couple of days, despite being two weeks early. So the twos permeate our household. My fiance was born on the 3rd, but he always takes his time.
Because Valentine's Day is just a few days earlier than the "magic" date of February 18, it's a good bet that quite a few surprise babies will appear on or around the date of destiny. It will be interesting to see what that day brings. Stay tuned for that update.
Women have used numerology and favorite numbers to plan "lucky" birth dates for as long as anyone can remember. The Chinese have that down to a science. I like twos. I was born the 2nd of March. Of course, I had no control over that. However, when my 2nd child's C-section was being planned, I purposely chose the 2nd of September. The same thing happened with my fourth child, who was born on February 2nd. My third, unknowingly, and by some strange twist of fate, had a birth and a death date of November 2nd. That wasn't planned, and I shouldn't have gone into labor that day, as it was months early, but it happened. My first born really messed it all up. He was born 2 days before the 2nd and at 2:00 p.m., but couldn't hold out another couple of days, despite being two weeks early. So the twos permeate our household. My fiance was born on the 3rd, but he always takes his time.
Because Valentine's Day is just a few days earlier than the "magic" date of February 18, it's a good bet that quite a few surprise babies will appear on or around the date of destiny. It will be interesting to see what that day brings. Stay tuned for that update.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Tragedy of Child Trafficking
We've received dozens of calls concerning the situation in Haiti and the possibility that Haitian orphans might be available. While some of the people who already had adoptions in the works have been able to bring their children home, anyone who is now hoping to adopt a Haitian orphan will likely have to wait a long time and then go through the same long process as before. CNN reported this afternoon that in an interview, the President of Haiti stated that Haitian children were being trafficked for not only the purposes of adoption, but also for more sinister reasons such as child prostitution and organ harvesting. While this has yet to be proven, it's not hard to imagine that within such desperation and chaos, these things could happen. There are predators and opportunists everywhere.
What does this mean? It means that UNICEF and WHO, and the governmental agencies of Haiti, the U.S. and many other countries will need to take a long hard look at the process of moving children out of Haiti, even if it is into good homes here in the U.S. or in other countries. It will have to be ascertained beyond a doubt that the child(ren) in question are, indeed, orphans. While many children were orphaned by the quake, many more were simply separated from relatives. Perhaps some had parents who died and they were left to wander helplessly until they found someone who would watch over them. Some are living on the streets with other children. In many cases, the children are separated from one parent or other relatives who lived through the quake but were perhaps elsewhere. The process of determining who these children are and if they still have living relatives will be long and arduous. The paperwork will be endless and the time will march on while they are in orphanages or being cared for by others. There is no system in place.
These children, like all children, deserve a home to grow up in and the security of parents who love them. The reality is that, because of these new allegations and the very real possibility that there is at least some trafficking going on, children and families will have to wait to make adoption a reality for them. It's important for someone to oversee that the right children are leaving Haiti for better homes. Unfortunately, because there is no viable system in place, it will take way too much time. Some will die. Some will outgrow the adoption process. Others will be forever damaged by the carnage they've seen, the abuse they have endured, and the lack of food and necessities of life.
I have been encouraged by the outpouring of empathy and consideration for the Haitian people. Interestingly, before this, we received very few calls seeking to adopt children of color. Maybe the one blessing in this very sad and tragic situation in Haiti is that, seeing these children as the beautiful children they are, people who hadn't previously considered it will open their hearts to children of other races. Those children are right here in the U.S. There are plenty of African-American children who need homes and they don't need to be in the system.
I think it's honorable and necessary to help other nations, especially where children are concerned. But in this case, there are children at home that need our help as well. Anyone interested in adopting a child of color can do it sooner, with less cost, and less effort right here in America. You can make a difference in the life of a child without going very far.
What does this mean? It means that UNICEF and WHO, and the governmental agencies of Haiti, the U.S. and many other countries will need to take a long hard look at the process of moving children out of Haiti, even if it is into good homes here in the U.S. or in other countries. It will have to be ascertained beyond a doubt that the child(ren) in question are, indeed, orphans. While many children were orphaned by the quake, many more were simply separated from relatives. Perhaps some had parents who died and they were left to wander helplessly until they found someone who would watch over them. Some are living on the streets with other children. In many cases, the children are separated from one parent or other relatives who lived through the quake but were perhaps elsewhere. The process of determining who these children are and if they still have living relatives will be long and arduous. The paperwork will be endless and the time will march on while they are in orphanages or being cared for by others. There is no system in place.
These children, like all children, deserve a home to grow up in and the security of parents who love them. The reality is that, because of these new allegations and the very real possibility that there is at least some trafficking going on, children and families will have to wait to make adoption a reality for them. It's important for someone to oversee that the right children are leaving Haiti for better homes. Unfortunately, because there is no viable system in place, it will take way too much time. Some will die. Some will outgrow the adoption process. Others will be forever damaged by the carnage they've seen, the abuse they have endured, and the lack of food and necessities of life.
I have been encouraged by the outpouring of empathy and consideration for the Haitian people. Interestingly, before this, we received very few calls seeking to adopt children of color. Maybe the one blessing in this very sad and tragic situation in Haiti is that, seeing these children as the beautiful children they are, people who hadn't previously considered it will open their hearts to children of other races. Those children are right here in the U.S. There are plenty of African-American children who need homes and they don't need to be in the system.
I think it's honorable and necessary to help other nations, especially where children are concerned. But in this case, there are children at home that need our help as well. Anyone interested in adopting a child of color can do it sooner, with less cost, and less effort right here in America. You can make a difference in the life of a child without going very far.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Family Violence On The Rise
I am an avid reader of the newspaper and I admit to watching CNN and the news religiously. I guess I am a news junkie. I want to know everything that's going on and I want to know it now. There, I've said it. Since I have no wish to remedy my addiction, I subject myself to all the news -- good and bad. This can be a negative, since much of the news recently has been more negative than positive. It seems with money problems come psychological problems. With the economy tanking and jobs disappearing more and more people are turning violent or going on rampages. Just in this morning's paper -- one day -- there were multiple articles about familial violence. The report of a murder-suicide in California in which 6 family members were killed saddened me. Three small children were killed along with the adults in the family. One woman shot multiple times was able to escape and tell authorities what happened. The killer was a 40 year old man who shot his entire family before taking his own life. In another rampage, a man who was angry over his divorce went on a shooting spree in a North Carolina nursing home, killing residents and nurses. He was looking for his estranged wife who worked there. She managed to escape the planned attack. In Boston, a young man viciously took the life of his younger sisters, aged 17 and 5, with a kitchen knife. His 9 year old sister survived the attack with multiple stab wounds and has been hospitalized. In another case in Baltimore, a young woman admitted to starving her 1 year old to death because he refused to say "Amen" after his last meal. Amazingly, this was all on one page of the paper. I could go on.
It's quite disturbing to realize that families are destroying themselves. Violence seems to be the norm, rather than the exception to the rule. We all wonder, "What were they thinking?" or "What made them snap?", and then life goes on and we do nothing and the violence grows. People are obviously feeling helpless, alone, hopeless, and without faith. If you know anyone who is experiencing difficulties because of these tough economic times -- a job loss or a mortgage issue, let them know you care and that there is hope for recovery. During the Great Depression, stock brokers jumped from buildings in New York. Those were tough times too, but they didn't take their families with them. Now it seems that people are so alone that they don't want to die alone -- so they take their families with them. Everyone has a breaking point and it seems that many more people are reaching that point. Perhaps we need to pay better attention to who is suffering and try to lend a hand or an ear. A small effort to reach out is infinitely better than the regret that would come from thinking "What if..?". These families are our next door neighbors, our friends, and our co-workers. Our world has become a scary place when the safety and security of family is gone. I hope we can all make a difference, even for just one family.
It's quite disturbing to realize that families are destroying themselves. Violence seems to be the norm, rather than the exception to the rule. We all wonder, "What were they thinking?" or "What made them snap?", and then life goes on and we do nothing and the violence grows. People are obviously feeling helpless, alone, hopeless, and without faith. If you know anyone who is experiencing difficulties because of these tough economic times -- a job loss or a mortgage issue, let them know you care and that there is hope for recovery. During the Great Depression, stock brokers jumped from buildings in New York. Those were tough times too, but they didn't take their families with them. Now it seems that people are so alone that they don't want to die alone -- so they take their families with them. Everyone has a breaking point and it seems that many more people are reaching that point. Perhaps we need to pay better attention to who is suffering and try to lend a hand or an ear. A small effort to reach out is infinitely better than the regret that would come from thinking "What if..?". These families are our next door neighbors, our friends, and our co-workers. Our world has become a scary place when the safety and security of family is gone. I hope we can all make a difference, even for just one family.
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