Sam:
I like very much the idea of "keeping track" with regard to our children in far away lands. All sides on this debate have credible points that have been raised. We may have magnanimous intentions but we live in a real ugly world where racism , ethnocentricism and other forms of abominable "isms" seem to be the order of the day. In this vein, our children in New Zealand may indeed be in for some exposure to the real world in many many ways than even some of us may wish to claim. Given this ugliness, the idea of keeping track to ensure that they are not hurt culturally or otherwise may be the answer even though we may run into difficulties operationalising the concept.
We are not privvy to the terms and conditions under which adoptions were granted. These kids even though orphaned, come from a society that still operates mainly on an extended family structure. Hence even though the "parents" may be dead, the other "parents" such as ourselves do have a stake. It is this cultural dimension of what we call communual responsibility that should help us validate our idea of "keping track." Furthermore, I do not know the extent to which the authorities and would-be parents were (are) apprised about such cultural factors regarding the status of the "orphaned."
Granted, we do have an orphanage or two at home. Again, I do not know the extent to which, if any, such institutions relate on a regular basis with the extended famililies whose children they house. What I will really like to be informed about is the arrangement for the possible inclusion of this cultural dimension as the children move into a socio-cultural context that is largely nuclear in family structure, and completely eurocentric in worldview and human relations. We know that story. Is it wrong, therefore, to ask that we as a "family" should do all we can in a CONSTRUCTIVE manner to ascertain the well-being of our own? Not all of us can afford to adopt these children, but believe me many of us are willing in some meaningful way to help our own to adjust in a society that mirrors them in ways that may, as they grow up, shake their sense of well-being and personal identity (not ethnic or national only, but more importantly as basic human beings in a society that is not predominantly of their race ) and question eventually their human worth even at the level of fundamental RESPECT.
This is not far-fetched. It is a struggle of perhaps millions of youths right here in our midst whose great great great garndparents carried a badge that was supposedly discarded in 1863, but whose shawdow follows their progeny hauntingly, raising all kinds of problems with identity and self-worth. I need not go further. Mr. Clinton is my ultimate warrant. His presence and interactions in Akron, Ohio yesterday place this concern of "keeping track" in its proper context. Meanwhile, I commend Pinkie for her deep concern for our children and her concrete actions. I hope she can continue to work with us against the background articulated above. Please excuse typos.
Fraternally,
Cecil Blake