Missing the wood for the trees

Image: Jadedism / CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

Missing the wood for the trees

Reverence is in order when thinking of those who see suffering in the world and do something about it. Yes, going to Africa and helping a child is good – but does bringing the child back with you when you return home mean more good? My stance is that adoption is a temporary solution made permanent. More accurately, I am addressing people who also live in the so called “civilised world” and who venture out to adopt a child.

The children are in need. Yes, and I am not disputing nor depreciating the severity of the problem. What I am interested in is bringing to light the fact that adoption isn’t a long term solution to a much deeper rooted problem. The problem is that these countries, where my fellow colonialists go to get their chillun’ from, are poor. Indeed, you whom have adopted are making a crucial and life altering commitment to that child – but what about the rest?

Adopting from “third world countries” is the perfect example of self-gratifying need triumphing over a collective humanitarian effort to end suffering.

// Probity dot H