An article titled “How to Shop for Children the Bradgelina Way”, printed in the LA Times last week caused an uproar in the adoption community. The newspaper received dozens of angry emails and as a result they wrote a follow-up article titled “Brangelina Article Sparks Outcry”. The majority of the article as made up of letters from upset members of the adoption triad. Here are some excerpts from these letters:
•“This article is just pure ignorance and I honestly feel your paper should print an apology for being so demeaning, degrading of children and adoption. Please, we have enough to overcome without people printing unbiased truths and ignorance like this only spreading hate and bigotry.”
•“Building a family is not a game and it is not a shopping trip”
•“(The writer’s) “ratings” of the various countries based on age and availability of “rugrats” is insulting to the children and highlights her total ignorance of the reasons for the differences in the ages of available children in different countries.”
•“To print a story that trivializes the adoption process is distasteful even if it was written with satire in mind. This article does nothing but perpetuate myths that affluent parents shop for their adopted children, without considering the many parents who chose to create a family through adoption.”
Obviously, this article in the LA Times struck a nerve with the adoption community. I was thrilled to see that people spoke out instead of staying quiet. So often, I think that we as adoptive parents just sit back and allow people to say things that are hurtful to us and to our families. The fact that these people expressed their feelings in such an eloquent manner says a lot for the direction that we are headed as a group.
The LA Times was obviously surprised by the reaction of adoptive parents, but I still found that their response left something to be desired.
They said, “The editors and writer Leslie Gornstein were satirizing a specific person, Angelina Jolie, who had remarked that her next adoption would depend on “which country, which race would fit best with the kids.” The satire was in no way intended to be a commentary on all individuals who adopt.”
In my opinion, the LA Times’ attempt to placate their readers was greatly lacking. I believe that a sincere apology was in order. However, I would like to know what Families.com members think. How do you feel about the response that the LA Times gave to those who complained?