Why are we, as Americans, adopting so many children internationally?

@babs6219 (153)
United States
December 16, 2006 3:28pm CST
I don't know if this has been brought up before, but I'm just wondering why we are adopting so many children internationally when there are thousands of children in our country who need homes? It's NOT a put down, or to insult anyone, I think anyone who gives a needy child a home is a great person! I just really wondered that...any ideas? Excluding the obvious of people who wants newborns. That I understand, when it can take so many years to get a newborn. I mainly meant older children, when there are so many here too. Thanks!
17 responses
@pookie92 (1714)
• United States
17 Dec 06
I think we should take care of our own first. Yes, I agree there are needs in other countries, and that they are more destitute than some of ours. We, as Americans, need to stop policing the world and trying to save the world before we solve our own problems. Did you know, there are families in rural areas of the USA where the children have nothing to eat, they are wearing rags for clothes, they have no shoes. The cupboards are BARE. I agree that there are hungry children in other countries, but our kids should be first. Just like the government supporting immigrants with business loans before they support our american businesspeople. Let's adopt our kids first, feed our kids first, support Americans first..........THEN we can save the rest of the world.
@babs6219 (153)
• United States
17 Dec 06
Exactly..I hadn't put that ( you're braver than I am), but that's how I feel. It's great to be concerned and to help when you can...but what we're doing is the equivalent of taking my neighbor's kids dinner, while my own go hungry. Let's fix what's here, before we help other countries. Thank you so much for your response...I appreciate it!
@ThulsZ (784)
• India
17 Dec 06
it's all due to the publicity that gives rise to fame for you people..what a nasty thinking that you have..
@babs6219 (153)
• United States
17 Dec 06
Did I put you down in some way, that instead of giving an answer you insult me? That's inappropriate and uncalled for...this is a discussion board. You may not agree with all of the topics, but we can still post them. And what "you people" are you referring to? I didn't say it was bad....I asked why it's so much more popular to adopt overseas than domestically. I would normally thank you for your input, but you gave none...so thank you for your time and Happy Holidays, if you celebrate any.
@trish32 (1471)
• United States
17 Dec 06
The adoption process in the US can be nearly impossible to succeed in. The standards for typical adoption in the US are nearly impossible to meet, i.e. income, health (many adoption agencies won't allow a person to adopt in anyone in their family has mental illness, etc.), and in the US look at the number of birth parents coming back into the picture years down the road and getting the child back. For these reasons I think many people are looking to other countries for children to adopt.
@babs6219 (153)
• United States
17 Dec 06
Actually, the process in the U.S.(and we're talking older children, especially foster care), is relatively quick. Single people can adopt, gay couples can adopt, etc. Thank you, though, for your input!
@megs85 (3142)
• Australia
16 Dec 06
I think there are a number of reasons. The first may be that people are too scared to look in their own backyard. They dont like to admit the problem. Other than that I would say that most people are under the impression that the children of thrid world countries are in greater need of assistance/adoption than tose in western society countries like america, and australia. People feel as if tehy are doing more by "rescuing" a child from such poor living conditions.
@babs6219 (153)
• United States
16 Dec 06
That's a good point. I'd never thought of people doing it, for any other reason than to have a schild, but they could be doing it to see " who has the greater need to be adopted"? Thanks !
@Solja420 (2503)
• United States
16 Dec 06
dont know i though only celeberties did that for publisty
@babs6219 (153)
• United States
16 Dec 06
I know some celebrities do it for the publicity, but what about the average run of the mill person? Any thoughts? Thanks for the response! Bobbie
@drumm1n (499)
• India
17 Dec 06
well! i dont see why people of todays world still look at people from different coutries as outsiders!?:P i mean we should be past that! i would not wonder or object if someone i knew adopted from another country , i think thats the thinking of the future! a better place where people dont distinguish!
@babs6219 (153)
• United States
17 Dec 06
Yes, that's a good point, but not what I was asking. And really...I'm asking why people spend thousands of dollars to go overseas to adopt a child from foster care, when thousands of them are practically next door (globally speaking).
@vipul20044 (5794)
• India
17 Dec 06
You know, noone will ask you if you adopt children from your own country But the world will praise you, chant your name if you adopt someone internationally You are doing something for the other countries too for the humanity What crap! Thats all done for literal popularity nothing else People want their fame to be showcased in front of millions!
@emarie (5442)
• United States
17 Dec 06
i think people just want to reach out to other countries. i always feel like you should look into your own contry first to find a child to adopt. i guess it comes from all those commercials that you see on tv where children don't even have the proper care...it gets to you sometimes, and if you have enough money to adopt them, then they think its a good thing. i agree, anyone to takes in a child into their own family is great and i know a lot of people who don't want the older children, which is sad. i can see the reasons for it though...if i had the money and resources, i probably would adopt some of these children...but then again...i'm still young myself...so it might be a little uncomfortable myself.
• United States
17 Dec 06
well first of the kids over seas in and in another country is eaier they are in it for the money and this gives a child with out all of the things we have a chance to have it..also it's cheaper and they want the childern to be and american....and so that is why. our kids that need just as much as the other kids will be here and they will have everything the over sea's kids don't. we don't worry about the americans kids to much becuase they are in and inbuntent country and they have so much and i know it's unfair to our kids but that is the way it is. and if we take kids from other country's that country get money for that and then they can feed people and that is sad. but i'm glad i live in the usa it is the best place to be if your a child and if your poor or rich usa is the best place to be and we get to have god in our lifes daily where in some country's won't allow it.....
• United States
17 Dec 06
I was just having this conversation with a friend. People like the attention they get for adopting an international child. It's like their working toward the global good or some crap like that. I will say though, that sometimes, it's because of legal issues. There are a lot of restrictions on adoption in the United States. I knew a woman who wanted to adopt a child, but she had a health condition, so the US legal system would not allow her to adopt a child, but I know that Romania specifically would allow her to adopt a Romanian child. I'm pretty sure those cases are rare, though.
@HelpAPal (65)
• United States
17 Dec 06
really good question but then again american is made up from internationality so mabe its not very diffrent mabe if they are french they might want a all french kid !
@nordique (18)
• France
17 Dec 06
I can't speak for the US, but I imagine some of the reasons may coincide with the reasons hy my dad and stepmother decided to adopt internationally instead of a Norwegian child. The simple truth is that in Norway there are hardly any children available for adoption. There are children who need fostercare and in some cases that could lead to an adoption, but there is no guarantee that it will. I can only begin to imagine the heartbreak of having to give up a child after having raised it for a long period of time. I have heard of several cases in the US where people have adopted only to have the birthmother or birthfather demand the child be given back to them, and the courts have agreed. With an international adoption you limit the risk of this happening. However I'm sure there are many other good reasons for choosing an international adoption.
17 Dec 06
Because your American, and America is like, the biggest country that doesent change drastically because of Ethnic Minorities, instead you say "If you want to come to America, you abide by americas laws, were not changing for you"
@natuser28 (907)
• United States
21 Dec 06
The laws here in america are tougher than the laws overseas. Its to much drama as well and people are tired of it. Its also easier to adopt babies overseas and they won't challenge you as much.
• United States
17 Dec 06
I think because it is easier. It seems like you are on waiting lists forever in the US from what I've heard. It may even be cheaper to go outside of your own country? Most people just want newborns/infants, and not the older kids unfortunately.
• India
17 Dec 06
HEY, why don't u ask this question to angelina joile and madonna. might be they can answer you in better way.
@abaskamal (149)
• Malaysia
17 Dec 06
It more glamorous & exotic to adopt international children. It's like Walmart, Sears vs Gucci, Prada. Lol.