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Oh, adoption drama! Ring the alarm! And it’s not even on an adoption blog or site. The fisticuffs are happening over at Celebrity Baby Blog, of all places. And the nasty words flying around are about… a shirt. I actually covered the shirt (and its offensive nature) last October (so I feel these people are behind on the game or maybe I’m just ahead of the game!). This time, the site is asking:
Are you offended by the shirt that says, “Adoption is the New Pregnancy”?
Obviously, as I said, I am. People are surprised that others, not just mothers who have relinquished children, find the shirt to be distasteful. I’m not sure where the surprise factor is coming from as the shirt hits all kinds of messed up adoption issues. It diminishes, dismisses and demeans the birth mother in the equation. It makes adoption look like a trend. The list really goes on and on.
And yet, some people in the comments are spouting the, “It’s a t-shirt. Get over it,” mantra that everyone tried to tell those upset by the movie Juno. You know what? I’m tired of that line. Why should I get over it? Why should I roll over and accept it? Why do I have to be quiet? Why is it okay to offend me?
We don’t make shirts that dismiss the experiences of other people. When we do, those shirts get pulled and destroyed. I’m made to remember a shirt that made fun of West Virginians made by a big-name youth clothing company. People spoke about their outrage. The shirt was removed. I speak about my outrage? I’m told that I’m overly sensitive. I’m told that I should be happy for other people. I’m told that I should “get over it” or, even better, “get over myself.” It’s a tired argument. And I’m tired of trying to fight it. Just know that the logic is flawed. If you were the one who was offended, you wouldn’t want to be told to “get over it,” now would you? Why say the same to someone else?
This post was mainly to say: There’s a poll over at CBB with options as to whether or not you find the shirt offensive, empowering or whether you have no opinion. There’s some slam-talking going on in the comments, of course, as most who are compelled to comment are touched by the subject in one way or another. I won’t be returning because I’m tired of seeing the same old argument rehashed time and time again. But I thought my readers might have something to offer. The comments from my previous post should just be copied and pasted over there, don’t you think? Along with my t-shirt slogan. But, again, I won’t stoop to that level.
Or will I? If one more person tells me to “get over it,” I may just go completely nuts! (Kidding. Kind of.)
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For more on society and placement, read these posts.
Folks really should be more sensitive, but if it’s outside of their comfort zone and reality, they don’t want to deal with it.