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Abortion and adoption are beginning to be bantered about among the Presidential wannabees. For once, I would love to hear a candidate talk about adoption as if they really know something about it. Here’s what I would like to tell the candidates.
Dear Presidential Candidates,
You will be discussing issues of great significance to many people. Undoubtedly, the abortion debate will be an issue to be discussed. When discussions of abortion ensue, adoption is usually mentioned as well.
Approximately one out of six Americans has a direct connection in their lives to adoption. Please take the time to thoroughly educate yourselves about adoption before you speak about it in public forums. Be respectful of all the millions of American affected by adoption. Avoid the tired rhetoric about adoption that is mostly far from the truth.
Be honest about adoption, and do not insult those in the adoption community who understand and live with adoption every day. There are many knowledgeable experts in the adoption community who could be extremely useful in advising you about adoption. Please avail yourself of these experts and use them as advisors to help you discuss adoption in a reasoned and educated manner.
For many of us in the adoption community, we care deeply about adoption being treated in a respectful and honest manner. There are approximately 1.6 million adoptees in the United States. All have two set of parents and numerous other friends and relations. Many of us are educated, informed and savvy voters.
If you find yourself in a discussion about adoption during the election, give yourself an edge by being well-informed about the subject. This election could prove a close one. Give yourself an extra edge by appealing to the adoption community. Many of us would love to vote for a candidate who knows that adoption is a complex subject and not just a simple “win-win” solution as portrayed by some previous candidates.
As a reunited birth mother, adoption is an important issue for me. I care deeply about educating the leadership of our country to help in improving adoption practices and providing adequate resources for pregnant women in unplanned pregnancies. Thank you for listening. Please contact me if you would like some resources and/or experts to help educate you about adoption.
Sincerely,
Jan Baker
