|
spaypets comments
"Why would your friend allow any child to associate with a racist neighbor? Frankly, I wouldn't allow a child of mine to enter that house, no matter what shade of skin my child had."
First of all I am the friend that Dawn was referring to. Secondly, a foster or bio child of mine will never enter that house. The point is that considerations beyond what our own feelings may be need to be acknowledged. These views are wrong absolutely. However they exist and run very deeply. And no amount of arguing with someone who feels this way is going to change that. If you remember, this particular person has children of their own and that is where the concern is. Children who enter my home will be attending the same school, playing in the same parks etc. Do you think that their children will be immune to the their parents words and ideas. I don't. I question what is said inside that house when no one else can hear. As a foster parent, the love we have inside us has moved us to act on behalf of children who have no one, and nothing, but abuse and neglect and scars and emtional baggage of unbelieable proportions. To me in my personal situation, I feel strongly that it is not in an African American childs best interest to come into my home. If we were in a different town then it might be a whole different story. But racism is unfortunately a part of life at this time and I think it is the loving and responsible thing to realize that.
There are plenty of ways to be ignorant in the world today. I feel making rash judgements is one of them. Pre judge - prejudice hmmmm?
|