Shame on You, Paula Zahn & CNN

An open letter to Paula Zahn & CNN:

Shame on you! I just finished watching the "Adoption Prejudice" segment on your show, "Paula Zahn Now" (8-9 PM Eastern Time, 1/5/07). While you started out reporting about the new rules that China is expected to put in place regarding adoption in May of 2007, I can't believe some of the statements you allowed your panel to make regarding adoption at the end of the segment. For example:

Solangel Maldonado (Seaton Hall Law School) - "Adoption is really about supply and demand, and the reality is that there are many more Americans, many more westerners, seeking to adopt children from China then there are children available. "

Shame on you. Adoption isn't "really about supply and demand". It's about love. It's about creating or growing families, uniting adults with love in their hearts with children who desperately want and need families. It's about people who have made a "leap of faith" to adopt a child they know precious little about and promise to love and care for them forever.

And, there are not enough children available? If this were the case, this would be a good problem to have. However, according to NewsOK.com regarding the number of Chinese children in orphanages, "The [Chinese] government's official estimate is 500,000. Some outside groups put it at 2 million or higher." In fact, UNICEF estimates that there are over 143 million orphans worldwide. Perhaps you might investigate and see if the real problem might be that Chinese system isn't staffed or funded sufficiently to handle the number of people who wish to adopt from China.

Rolland Martin (Executive Editor, Chicago Defender) - "What's the big deal about Chinese Children ... maybe they think they can adopt a smart kid that can grow up to be a doctor."

Shame on you. Who are you to impugn the motives of those who are adopting from China? Have you asked any adoptive parents or is this just what you think. Perhaps statements like this, not the new China rules, are what caused you to title this segment of your show "Adoption prejudice".

Solangel Maldonado - "Americans do have this love affair with Chinese girls. There is this belief, this perception, as irrational as it might be, that if you adopt a little girl from China she is going to be intelligent, she is going to be more lovable, more cuddly. [...] We definitely see that idea of the beautiful Chinese little girl as compared to do they really want to adopt a black boy."

Shame on you. That, once again, you somehow feel that you take something as beautiful as adopting a child and make it seem like an act of prejudice. Is it really important why a couple or individual decide to adopt? That there is one less orphan in the world? One more family on this Earth?

Paula Zahn - "Realistically, how are you ever going to change that bias".

You, too? Do you just jump to the conclusion that those who adopt from China are prejudiced?

I'm lead to wonder what were the qualifications of your panel to discuss international adoption? It certainly wasn't obvious. Sadly, I could go on.

I suggest that you talk with adoptive parents and experts on international adoption. Yes, some may think that adoptive parents have done a selfish thing - fulfilling their dream of starting or growing a family with a child that they will love, cherish, nurture, and care for forever. Through all the ups and downs. Good times and bad. No matter what profession they'll end up in. However, isn't it also a beautiful thing? Should we really be impugning the motives of people who have not just talked, but acted to improve the life of a child? I think not.

I may not agree with the new rules that China may impose this year, and personally I may even believe that some of them are wrong. However, perhaps the most appropriate reason for titling this section "Adoption prejudice" were the comment made by your panel at the end.

I've come to know and expect more from programs that you're involved in. Ms. Zahn, for the good of all the children of the world who need homes, I hope you find the opportunity to show America what international adoption is about from an adoptive parent's point of view.

Robin Bartko