"Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist." Source: Garth S. Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell, Propaganda And Persuasion, 4th edition, 2006.

I have no doubt that reforms are needed in the world of adoption, to say otherwise would be to blatantly ignore the many flaws of our current system. Scores of other adoptive parents also see the ills of the past era of adoptions, and also some of the current day practices, as woefully in need of dramatic, positive change. Some of the things that I personally support in the way of reform and change include, equal access to adoption records by adult adoptees, and the removal of money and profit from any adoption equation.

Beyond this normal level of concern and reform movement however, is also a world of those who would rather put an end to ALL adoption regardless of how ethically done, or how much it was in the best interest of a child in need. The adoption of children does serve a purpose, no matter how much this purpose often gets lost in the mire. Adoption provides care and stability for many, many children who would not ever know it otherwise. Adoption also provides a compassionate option for many birthparents who chose to place.

As with anything in life there are both positives and negatives, gains and losses with in the adoption experience. All too often however, there are those who would prefer to cast only a bright light on negatives in order to overshadow those positives, and promote their own particular agenda. In my opinion many of those persons should consider becoming lawyers or politicians because they have such an artful way of carefully wording and stepping around certain details and highlighting only those that help their cause. That cause is to end any form of adoption, however possible. People must become aware of the powerful propaganda that is behind this anti-adoption movement.

Some, who chose to focus only on the negative aspects of adoption, prefer to slant their information to reflect adoption and adoptive parents as anything but positive, anything but good folk by any definition or standard. For those extreme groups they often write a type of “double talk” that can appear to the causal observer to only promote reform in the world of adoption, but upon a closer look it becomes apparent that NO ADOPTION is all that could ever meet such extreme standards. Point this out though, and you will be flooded with an onslaught of what could only be termed as anti-adoption “Propaganda” trying to convince the reader that what was intended was far removed from what was actually said. Do not be persuaded!

For so many of the children in our world, waiting for laws and reforms will mean waiting without a family and a better chance in life. For those children adoption may be the only, best option and it needs to be made as ethical and safe as possible. Those who really, truly desire reform in the world of adoption, understand that adoption CAN be made a positive, loving option for the lives of many children. The key to bringing this out is to promote positive changes IN adoption and not simply changes away FROM adoption.

Trash adoption, sell a book

The Responsibility Of Choices

Adoption Opinions - Off Limits?