Letters: U.S. debt doesn’t concern orphans

I read with amazement the letter from Charles Allen, of Morgan City, titled “Children from Russia take on debt.” I continue to be surprised by people who talk about adoption, especially international adoption, with no real knowledge of it. So I would like to educate your readers briefly on Russian adoptions.

To clarify, Russian President Valdimir Putin signed the law banning adoptions as a political retaliation against the United States for criticizing human rights violations by Russia, and not anything related to our national debt. But regardless of the reason, the real issue is the 700,000-plus children who are in orphanages throughout Russia under deplorable conditions.

How do I know this? In 2000, my wife and I traveled to Russia to adopt our two sons. Yes, we tried to adopt in Louisiana, but we were told we were too old to adopt. Private adoption is risky, as many young mothers are just in it for the money and can change their minds at the last minute. Also, if the birth father doesn’t sign the proper paperwork, he could come back years later to try to claim his biological child.

Our youngest was 10 months old, and our oldest was 16 months old when we adopted them. Our youngest could not sit up on his own and weighed a meager 10 pounds, (the weight of a typical 21-month-old U.S. child). He was left in his crib day after day with little to no human contact, so much so, that the back of his head was completely bald and he required physical therapy for weeks to teach him how to sit up. Our 16-month-old weighed only 16 pounds and couldn’t walk.

At age 16, children are aged out of the Russian orphanage system and placed on the streets, where they must try to survive the best way that they can. Many have children at a young age, place them in an orphanage, and the whole process starts all over again. So I ask, “Do you really think these children are better off staying in Russia for whatever reason?” P.S. I voted for Mitt Romney.

Johnny Manela

director of recruitment, BRCC

Prairieville

Comments

1) Comment by DMJ - 05/01/2013

I remember that letter, claiming that Russia disallowed adoptions by Americans because, out of concern for the children, they didn't want the kids to be Americans because we're in debt. I remember thinking how utterly stupid that theory was.

2) Comment by swinham - 05/01/2013

I really do believe Mr. Allen's letter was satire. For our sake, it is good it touched the nerve that inspired you to write this informative, touching letter.

3) Comment by Bighug - 05/01/2013

Vladimir Putin is just being himself. He is trying to regain the power that Communist Party leaders and czars had in the past. In other words, Putin is a wanna-be Bobby Jindal.

4) Comment by [e-mail] - 05/01/2013

You guys please excuse the triple post; I don't know what happened.

5) Comment by [e-mail] - 05/01/2013

I agree with Swinham.

6) Comment by [e-mail] - 05/01/2013

Mr. Manela's letter was informative, but not surprisingly so, and I agree with swinham that Mr. Allen's letter was satire. However it is a fact that unwanted life is cheap in most countries of the world regardless of the pathos and bleating of their hypocritical representatives to the UN, who are only about cadging money from the US, and to a lesser degree European Democracies whom they see as a big stupid cash cow willing to give away money that mostly never reaches such children.

7) Comment by [e-mail] - 05/01/2013

Mr. Manela's letter was informative, but not surprisingly so, and I ageee with swinham that Mr. Allen's letter was satire However it is a fact that unwanted life is cheap in most countries of the world regardless of the posing and bleating of their representatives in the UN who are hypocrites only out to cadge money from the US, whom they see as a big stupid cash cow.

8) Comment by tradewinns - 04/01/2013

the russian kids are definitely better off in america. however we do not control russia. their president has decided not to allow americans to adopt russian kids. that's that, until he changes his mind or is replaced by another who will allow adoptions. how they treat their orphans is another thing we can not do anything about. we can feel sorry for the children but again, that's that. sending money to russia to assist in the cost of raising the orphans is akin to giving money to the street beggers, a waste. it is never going to be used for the purpose intended. be glad you got your two out in time.

9) Comment by prbeav - 04/01/2013

Thank you Mr. Manela, and best wishes for the future.