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question about Africa

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ErniePringle
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31 Dec 2010, 10:47 am

I am a big fan of Angelina Jolie. Not only do I think she is a great actress, but I am a big admirer of her humanitarian work. I would one day like to follow in the footsteps of her and Brad Pitt and adopt a disadvantaged child. Obviously, because of white privilege, a white child would be out of the question. What is more, since I am white myself, adopting a white child might appear a racist choice, and race really means nothing to me. Ideally I would adopt a child that nobody could mistake for being biologically related to me. I want to challenge this bigoted concept of the white-bread nuclear family that Hollywood throws at us. I am currently single, but I suppose in principle it would also be ideal if my partner were a man, even though I am not homosexual myself.

Anyway, I have considered adopting an Asian child, but they are probably too pale. A black child would be ideal, but they would have to be blacker than Nelson Mandela or Barack Obama (who are both too old in any case LOL). I was wondering do most South Africans look like Nelson Mandela? If so, do Africans get blacker as you get nearer the equator?



ruveyn
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31 Dec 2010, 10:52 am

ErniePringle wrote:
I am a big fan of Angelina Jolie. Not only do I think she is a great actress, but I am a big admirer of her humanitarian work. I would one day like to follow in the footsteps of her and Brad Pitt and adopt a disadvantaged child. Obviously, because of white privilege, a white child would be out of the question. What is more, since I am white myself, adopting a white child might appear a racist choice, and race really means nothing to me. Ideally I would adopt a child that nobody could mistake for being biologically related to me. I want to challenge this bigoted concept of the white-bread nuclear family that Hollywood throws at us. I am currently single, but I suppose in principle it would also be ideal if my partner were a man, even though I am not homosexual myself.

Anyway, I have considered adopting an Asian child, but they are probably too pale. A black child would be ideal, but they would have to be blacker than Nelson Mandela or Barack Obama (who are both too old in any case LOL). I was wondering do most South Africans look like Nelson Mandela? If so, do Africans get blacker as you get nearer the equator?


What is this thing with blackness you have?

ruveyn



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31 Dec 2010, 10:56 am

ErniePringle wrote:
I am a big fan of Angelina Jolie. Not only do I think she is a great actress, but I am a big admirer of her humanitarian work. I would one day like to follow in the footsteps of her and Brad Pitt and adopt a disadvantaged child. Obviously, because of white privilege, a white child would be out of the question. What is more, since I am white myself, adopting a white child might appear a racist choice, and race really means nothing to me. Ideally I would adopt a child that nobody could mistake for being biologically related to me. I want to challenge this bigoted concept of the white-bread nuclear family that Hollywood throws at us. I am currently single, but I suppose in principle it would also be ideal if my partner were a man, even though I am not homosexual myself.



I wouldn't mind adopting Angelina Jolie.

ruveyn



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31 Dec 2010, 11:03 am

If you're being serious, adopting any child is worthy of praise. Don't let the oddities of what celebrities do convince you otherwise.

If you're just doing this to make a racist point (which seems to be the point in how you're framing your post) please don't dump on adoption for the sake of your idiocy. Adoption is a deadly serious thing regardless of race and your turning it into a baiting point for racism is just beyond despicable.


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ruveyn
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31 Dec 2010, 11:19 am

skafather84 wrote:
If you're being serious, adopting any child is worthy of praise. Don't let the oddities of what celebrities do convince you otherwise.

If you're just doing this to make a racist point (which seems to be the point in how you're framing your post) please don't dump on adoption for the sake of your idiocy. Adoption is a deadly serious thing regardless of race and your turning it into a baiting point for racism is just beyond despicable.


That is a very good point you are making.

Adoption is at least a twenty year burden, until one's adopted charge is able to cope with the world. The burden is all the heavier than having a natural offspring since there is no bond of blood or gene. It is either a moral commitment or something to produce a calculated advantage. In either case the normal "wired in" emotional factors are not at work to the same degree. It is definitely not an undertaking to be entered into lightly.

ruveyhn



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31 Dec 2010, 11:42 am

ruveyn wrote:
skafather84 wrote:
If you're being serious, adopting any child is worthy of praise. Don't let the oddities of what celebrities do convince you otherwise.

If you're just doing this to make a racist point (which seems to be the point in how you're framing your post) please don't dump on adoption for the sake of your idiocy. Adoption is a deadly serious thing regardless of race and your turning it into a baiting point for racism is just beyond despicable.


That is a very good point you are making.

Adoption is at least a twenty year burden, until one's adopted charge is able to cope with the world. The burden is all the heavier than having a natural offspring since there is no bond of blood or gene. It is either a moral commitment or something to produce a calculated advantage. In either case the normal "wired in" emotional factors are not at work to the same degree. It is definitely not an undertaking to be entered into lightly.

ruveyhn


Then there's also the children to think of. Children who aren't adopted who just go from adoption home to adoption home have a much higher likelihood to be involved in crime and generally fail at life. Adoption gives them the nurturing home they need to have a shot at being productive adults in life. It's definitely more difficult as you said but there's more to applaud than simply the difficulty of the task: there's the end results which are better for all of us.


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31 Dec 2010, 11:52 am

I'm filing the OP under clumsy and heavy-handed sarcasm.



skafather84
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31 Dec 2010, 11:56 am

skafather84 wrote:
Then there's also the children to think of.


Image



I normally hate that phrase, but in this case it's not being used in an abusive, manipulative way but rather just for the sake of fact and for the sake of our society.


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naturalplastic
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31 Dec 2010, 12:19 pm

Arent you the same guy who questioned the necessity of "laws against pedophilia'?

And now you're talking about adopting a child?

Thats...uh....interesting!



skafather84
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31 Dec 2010, 12:45 pm

naturalplastic wrote:
Arent you the same guy who questioned the necessity of "laws against pedophilia'?

And now you're talking about adopting a child?

Thats...uh....interesting!


Me? No. I commented on the differences between ages of consent and wondered whose is more effective but I didn't question the law as a whole. It's absolutely necessary to protect children from predators.

Edit: Nevermind...I didn't realize the OP also OP'd that thread.


Maybe this is actually a person who doesn't understand such dynamics and has trouble with abstract ideas? I could see how that would lead to such confusion...especially if there's any racist influences around the person.


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31 Dec 2010, 1:22 pm

Taking this seriously, as something I know a little about:

Skin color, if that is an issue, varies more with etnicity thasn geography; in one country group A despises group B as too black, yet they live very close to the equator about 150 miles apart.

The area bordering the Sahara and South Africa do get a little less dark overall, but it is ethbnic or individual and not real predictable.

As for making a statement - I would suggest making the statement of considering what you have to offer and the child's needs first, and save the gestures for the meetings. Our niece has adoptted two Liberian girls - fine. But that was based on knowing who they were, not for a statement. There are - sad to say - very needy orphans all over.

A major point not without political ramifications - in many countries, an adoption to the first world WILL entail all kinds red tape,. which MAY entail, let us say, donations to the Commissioner's favorite charity. Know before you go.