Should adoption from Russia be banned from Americans? I believe not. Americans are capable of loving a child. There might be a few situations where the American was unable to handle the child, but that does not necessarily mean that all Americans would be unable to handle it. Adoptive parents need to be ready to give up their own activities for months, or even possibly years. In doing this, the adoptive parents needs to show love, affection, and care towards the child. Americans are somewhat selfish people, and not all realize what it takes to adopt of child of a different way of life. But to argue my case, I do believe that Americans are more than capable to adopt children from Russia and raise the child in a positive environment.
The article or blog by KJ Dell’Antonia, which is called I Did Not Love My Adopted Child, is about the woman from Tennessee who adopted a child from Russia and decided she no longer wished to parent this child. Torry Hansen, the mother of the child, ended up putting her seven-year-old adopted son on a plane by himself back to Russia. In another article from New York Times, Shipping an Adopted Son Back to Russia by Lisa Belkin, Hansen sent the little boy back to Russia with a letter of explanation saying this,
This child is mentally unstable. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues. I was lied to and misled by the Russian Orphanage workers and director regarding his mental stability and other issues. … After giving my best to this child, I am sorry to say that for the safety of my family, friends, and myself, I no longer wish to parent this child.
I believe that the articles makes several good points; it is very hard to adopt children from different parts of the world. But on the other hand, I don’t think it should forbid other Americans from adopting children from Russia. I Did Not Love My Adopted Child had a lot of information from other cases other than the adoption from Russia that related how it is not always easy to raise a child who doesn’t have any love for you. People who wish to adopt children from different parts of the world, especially Russia who has some of the hardest children to adapt to the American way of life, need to make sure they are able to handle whatever the child throws at them. Not all Americans are unworthy or unable to care for an unloving child. But at the same time not every children from Russia is going to unloving. I do believe if someone from the United States wish to adopt from a different country, mainly Russia, they should try to adopt the child as a baby or before the age of 3. Most children adapt to the parents lifestyle at early ages of their lifetime. If the child is accustomed to the Russia way of life, it will be a challenge to raise this child but it is possible.
Russia Seeks Ways to Keep Its Children, a New York Times article that also relates to the adoption from Russia, written by Clifford J. Levy talks about how Russia wishes to not fully forbid adoption of the children from the people of the United States. I do believe that it shouldn’t be fully forbidden but that some things need to be changed between the processes of the adoption. In the New York Times blog they interviewed a man and he stated that,
Mr. Astakhov emphasized that he did not favor a permanent adoption ban, acknowledging that there were simply not enough Russian families who want to adopt children. But he suggested that more restrictions, combined with strenuous efforts to help Russian parents and to encourage adoptions inside the country, would sharply reduce the number of children sent abroad.
After doing research you will find that over two hundred and fifty American families are almost near the end of the procedure of adopting Russian children. After the recent incident with the seven year old boy being sent back to Russia, Russia officials have said that those cases will be at a halt until the new regulations are approved. Overall Russian feels like the vast majority of adoptions have turned out well in past, but recent decades. Further research will tell you that even though there as been an overall positive feel about the adoptions new rules for the adoption must be made because considering the fact that fourteen Russian children adopted by Americans have died since 1996, and the cause of their death was due to abuse. To conclude the New York Times report by Clifford J. Levy says, “Mr. Astakhov said he realized that Americans seeking to adopt Russians would be upset. But he said changes were needed. “Adoptions will continue,” he said. “We only want guarantees for the lives and the safety of our children abroad. Because we are giving to American families the most precious thing for us: our children.”
All in all, Americans are very capable of raising children who are very likely to a chronic behavior. Along certain regulations that should be underway the process is very likely to become for strict. With saying this, I believe it will be harder for Americans to prove they are emotionally, financially, and physical stable to take on what might be a challenge, but it will be possible for Americans to continue to raise children from Russia in a happily loving household.
--Alison Harpenau
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