Jackson Katz talk at TEDxFiDiWomen

By TAO

From Ted.com “Jackson Katz: Violence against women—it’s a men’s issue“
“Domestic violence and sexual abuse are often called “women’s issues.” But in this bold, blunt talk, Jackson Katz points out that these are intrinsically men’s issues — and shows how these violent behaviors are tied to definitions of manhood. A clarion call for us all — women and men — to call out unacceptable behavior and be leaders of change.

 

Adoption history and the lasting impact of not doing it right…

By TAO

I know – two posts in one day.  I over-did it yesterday and have done my best not to go lay-down and sleep because that will mess up my sleep tonight.  This morning I followed a link from twitter and ended up reading the first link.  I don’t know who provided the link, but reading it made me incredibly sad – not just the lies, but the mis-information that made it so much harder for Michael.  It’s from 1999 and long to be published in the NY Times – about the era when I was adopted.

 

Using “Rare” and “Most” in adoption to calm the fears…

By TAO

I have tried to read all the responses, and rebuttals, to articles published about Kathryn Joyce’s new book The Child Catchers, Rescue, Trafficking, and the New Gospel of Adoption.  They happened fast and furious with words like shameful, attack, hatchet job, and it was obvious that the book caused great consternation.

 

Good links worth the time…

By TAO

I know I have linked a lot lately, but if you haven’t read them already then you should now.

All They Will Call You Will Be Deportees by Maureen at “Light of Day Stories“

Guest Post: Internationally adopted adult voices series: “Retrieving what is lost 40 years late” over at “Rileys in Uganda“

More STUCK Conversation over at “I Will Pull This Blog Over!” with first post on STUCK here and the second here.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend…and would like to hear what you think or what you are up to.

 

The problem of how an “adoption issue” is viewed by some…

By TAO

Other children do the almost the same thing so it’s not an “adoption issue”…

So if other children go through a stage are they having a “biological issue” is the retort I say in my mind, and just shake my head in wonder at the denial about being adopted.

The problem is that “issue” has become something to deny happens – because adoption is win-win-win so there can’t be “issues”…and if there are “issues” something is wrong with the child, so then it still isn’t about adoption.

 

My thoughts on adoption being the second-best option…

By TAO

I see many people still have their knickers-in-a-knot over the statement by Eastman about adoption is second-best (see the link at the end). Why? is the question I have asked myself – because as I break it down in my head – adoption is the second-best choice for a babe. The word best after second means just that, if a babe (or child) cannot stay within their natal family, the next best option is another family for the child. While I struggle with how adoption is now set up with sealed records practices, the current way some agencies (etc) try to persuade women to surrender and the tactics used, the unenforceable open-adoption carrot – at the end of the day – having a family is very important for those who truly need adoption.