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Cindy and Daphne, I don't disagree with what either of you are saying, though a lot of that could be said for adoption period. In adoption, a child is being removed from his or her family and possibly the country as well. In a perfect world, there would be no need, no child who was facing a life of poverty or abandonment.
Yes, Guatemala has it's problems. I don't think anyone is blind to that. But there are steps to help prevent that. Researching agencies to hopefully narrow out those who are unethical, for instance.
Yes, it may be quicker than other countries, but it's not quicker than all countries. Many refer couples within 5-7 months of dossier completion if not sooner and most of those countries you travel within a month and are finished. Sure, Guatemala you may get a quick referral, but you still have the entire adoption to wade through.
Yes, it's more expensive. Maybe that's something that will change if/when new laws are put into place and the wait time will probably increase. I wonder if they'll switch to orphanages like most other countries and we will then have to also consider the ramifications of that.
The process isn't transparent and should be. There are things in the article that weren't wrong, but the fact that instead of writing a clear, outsiders view of all sides, this person wrote one side along with many untrue and offensive things. This type of article will not help the people and mothers of Guatemala. This type of article suggest that we should not adopt and that the children should remain in Guatemala no matter which life would be a better or more stable one.
THAT is what makes me mad. I'm a writer and though I haven't published, I know that a journalist has a responsibility to report accurate information. He isn't the only one ... there are probably few journalists who give both sides of a story from a observers view point.
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