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Originally Posted By Kari

Nickster, I have a few messages on the special needs board that show my frustration with this issue of adoption. I understand the reasons that you explained here, I am sympathetic toward adoptive parents and all they have to deal with (in fact I am an adoptive mom!)...but I just hope that someday our world will be a little braver about reaching out to people who are different. My son has special needs (he does happen to be the same race as the rest of our family) and there seems to be this "damaged goods discounted price adoption" mentality out there that makes me crazy! All people are imperfect in some way...but we seem to have this "ideal" child image in America...the Gerber baby thing...that fuels this market and it's outrageous money scamming. I just feel for the "blemished" child who sits in foster care (we do foster care...there are excellent homes out there, but it is not PERMANENT) waiting for parents and siblings to love them while parents sit on waiting lists waiting for the child who meets certain specifications! I know some of the issues are difficult to deal with...but anything that demands a battle is usually well worth the fight! If we can start to educate people in this world that people are a soul with some flesh on it....they will learn that the soul is what we see when we look at them in love! I do appreciate how patiently and clearly you answered this person's very honest questions. I like to see a real discussion on these boards where people ask and answer questions without attacking each other! :-)