Comments on: Where is the graft? http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2007/09/03/where-is-the-graft/ A collaborative blog advocating ethics in adoption Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:32:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Sandra Hanks Benoiton http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2007/09/03/where-is-the-graft/#comment-228 Sandra Hanks Benoiton Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:10:00 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2007/09/03/where-is-the-graft/#comment-228 The sad truth is that there will never be a 100% transparent <strong>anything</strong> in any country, and to even think to demand adoption be the one area that must be is to neglect the damage widespread corruption in every branch of many governments causes ... including that in the US, which also has serious ethical issues when it comes to children and adoption. It is also an unhelpful pie-in-the-sky elitist take that does nothing to correct what might actually be correctible. Governments are dirty machines and the people running them have dirty hands ... that's simply a fact. Children suffer, always, and this isn't going to change any time soon. Taking personal responsibility for our own ethics in adoption is a huge contribution, as is involving ourselves in the bigger picture as we can. The sad truth is that there will never be a 100% transparent anything in any country, and to even think to demand adoption be the one area that must be is to neglect the damage widespread corruption in every branch of many governments causes … including that in the US, which also has serious ethical issues when it comes to children and adoption. It is also an unhelpful pie-in-the-sky elitist take that does nothing to correct what might actually be correctible.
Governments are dirty machines and the people running them have dirty hands … that’s simply a fact. Children suffer, always, and this isn’t going to change any time soon.
Taking personal responsibility for our own ethics in adoption is a huge contribution, as is involving ourselves in the bigger picture as we can.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2007/09/03/where-is-the-graft/#comment-205 Rachel Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:23:21 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2007/09/03/where-is-the-graft/#comment-205 Well, isn't that the $64,000 questions. :D And I wish I had the answer. There are layers upon layers of people involved in an international adoption...from PAPs to orphanage workers to agency reps to gov't officials...and we are all responsible. As ugly as it is to admit, I don't believe there will ever be a 100% transparent adoption program in any country. Money talks and even a highly ethical agency cannot always be completely certain just where those high foreign fees go when it leaves their hands. And as long as PAPs are willing to foot the bill the cycle will continue. All we can really do is research to find an ethical agency and ask the tough questions and keep our eyes and ears open for anything suspect. And then, of course, afterwards voice our experiences for other PAP's benefit. Well, isn’t that the $64,000 questions. :D And I wish I had the answer. There are layers upon layers of people involved in an international adoption…from PAPs to orphanage workers to agency reps to gov’t officials…and we are all responsible.

As ugly as it is to admit, I don’t believe there will ever be a 100% transparent adoption program in any country. Money talks and even a highly ethical agency cannot always be completely certain just where those high foreign fees go when it leaves their hands. And as long as PAPs are willing to foot the bill the cycle will continue. All we can really do is research to find an ethical agency and ask the tough questions and keep our eyes and ears open for anything suspect. And then, of course, afterwards voice our experiences for other PAP’s benefit.

]]> By: ren http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2007/09/03/where-is-the-graft/#comment-200 ren Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:56:34 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2007/09/03/where-is-the-graft/#comment-200 Another great post...I don't know who is responsible for the "graft" (probably everyone you mentioned and more besides), but it made me think. I've gotten so used to how expensive the whole adoption process is, so its only when it's pointed out to me by posts like this or from friends that I stop to think about why international adoption is soooo expensive while orphans live in horrible conditions - making me part of the problem, as a PAP who is willing to pay exorbitant fees in order to hopefully bring another child into our family. I just don't think that the situation will change as long as families are willing to pay - I have to hope that I'm doing something positive by working with an ethical agency that doesn't bribe officials to procur babies. Another great post…I don’t know who is responsible for the “graft” (probably everyone you mentioned and more besides), but it made me think. I’ve gotten so used to how expensive the whole adoption process is, so its only when it’s pointed out to me by posts like this or from friends that I stop to think about why international adoption is soooo expensive while orphans live in horrible conditions - making me part of the problem, as a PAP who is willing to pay exorbitant fees in order to hopefully bring another child into our family. I just don’t think that the situation will change as long as families are willing to pay - I have to hope that I’m doing something positive by working with an ethical agency that doesn’t bribe officials to procur babies.

]]>