Personal and Political: Please Meet Jack

[Stingo]

Personal life changes surely have political impact. In my household we welcomed a son this week, a little bundle of (adopted) African American joy named Jack. We are white. In just the 48 hours Jack has been in our lives we’ve noticed changes to our racial attiudes, even as liberal and progressive as they already were.

http://allspinzone.com/wp/2009/01/17/personal-and-political-please-meet-jack/

And here's a bigger picture of Jack:

[glowing]

1. Cute baby. How adorable.

[Stingo]

2. Thanks a lot

Now time to distract him with my Putin Maroushka doll. We're determined to make him a leftist, after all.

[lamp_shade]

3. How precious and beautiful he is. Congratulations.

[iamjoy]

4. Good For You

I am sure your racial attitudes will continue to change as you notice the looks you get and way you are treated - even by people who consider themselves liberal!

Adopting is a true Pro-Life thing for you to do.

[Stingo]

5. Pro-Life?

I don't see it related to that issue, at least not as a solution. But this is not the time for that debate.

[Doctor_J]

7. Yes, the poster says that your adoption is "true pro-life"

The anti-choice nuts have co-opted the mantle of "pro-life", but it's people like you & Mr. Stingo who are the true pro-lifers.

[Stingo]

8. I'm just not going there

The adoption process is too long and harrowing for it to be anything more than selfish self-interest as a reason for us going through it. Jack will bring us joy far more than we will benefit him.

[Mojorabbit]

14. Beautiful child.

Congratulations. We tried to adopt in the 80's. All they had available were black children of all ages and they refused to let us adopt any of them because we were white. It broke my heart. I am glad to see the attitudes have changed since then.

[Stingo]

19. It would be discrimination

To make African American babies wait for African American adoptive parents. Frankly, the process of adoption in this country has gotten very expensive, and the supply of African American parents who can afford that process is not as high as is the supply of white Americans. That is a lamentable truth. There are tax deductions and community churches that help African Americans adopt, but there still aren't enough AA families for the number of babies.

Unfortunately, there aren't enough white families for African American children, at least the older ones. White families often want white babies. Early in our adoption process I interviewed a white family who in every other way was quite liberal. The husband, the first I interviewed, would not answer three times when I asked if their adoption was of a baby of another race. A lot of liberal guilt for asking for a white baby, I guess. When I interviewed the wife, I told her and she laughed. She was up front and unapologetic about wanting a white baby. She was employed by a major African American television star whose name rhymes with Okra.

[Mojorabbit]

21. It is discrimination

but that was the policy here in Florida in the 80's. There was concern that the child would miss out re culture. My take is that a loving home was better than foster care.

[Stingo]

25. Indeed, Florida still discriminates

against gay couples. And that is simply wrong.

[unapatriciated]

18. Yes he will bring you great joy, Congrats beautiful just beautiful.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

20. adoptin--all the more respectworthy as it's entered into deliberately!

yes, I know, that's not what you're thinking about now ;)

anyway, he is ADORABLE!
(and I'm not a baby fan!!!)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Lovely child

Glad to know he is with folks who really want him. I've had friends who adopted who told their kids as soon as they could understand these words, and I know it meant a lot to them.

[watrwefitinfor]

9. Just. Precious.

Congratulations to you, and Joy to Jack!

Wat

[BlueMTexpat]

10. Awww ... cute to the nth power!

:hug: :yourock:

May he too realize that "yes, he can!"

[Stingo]

12. We're going out in ten minutes

on Jack's 11th day of life to watch Barack Obama's train pull out of the station here in Philadelphia. GHey, it may be bitter cold out, but we'll be able to tell Jack he was part of history.

[madmom]

11. Truly AAAWWWW inspiring, he IS adorable..congrats!

[Stingo]

13. Thank you

and everyone. We've decided he's awfully cute, too.

[MasonJar]

15. Positively beautiful baby. How old is he?

[Stingo]

17. He was

10 days old in that picture. He is now 11 days old.

[LeftishBrit]

16. What a beautiful baby!

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Aww, that's terrific. He really is cute!

All the best for the future - wow, a whole new life to be responsible for. :toast:

[PatSeg]

23. He is absolutely gorgeous

Congratulations!

[Stingo]

24. Thanks again

I feel like I'm being far too boastful. We are so pleased, because Jack will enrich our lives far more than we will his. And we're going to be far more in tune with diversity issues as well, and while you likely couldn't fault us before, I am pleased we will confront new and more interesting diversity issues int he future. It's like a graduate course in becoming human or something.

[PatSeg]

27. You can't be "too boastful"

about a new baby. It is a transforming experience that can't be compared to anything else in life. Little Jack is so fortunate to have such enlightened and caring parents.

That picture is so beautiful. Did you take it?

[babylonsister]

26. Jack is gorgeous-he looks angelic. Lucky you and congratulations!

:toast:

[DrZeeLit]

28. Jack is absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations -- parenting is tough and you sound READY.

Sending you love and hugs.
What an auspicious beginning for Jack --- starting with Obama in the USA.
Cool.

[Stingo]

30. Thanks to everyone

We took Jack out in the bitter cold yesterday to watch the Obama go through Philly. It seemed odd how emotional we got just dragging him out to an event he really can't appreciate. Today we will have him in the room while we watch our Philadelphia Eagles, another event he can't appreciate, but that he should get used to, since we've got a season ticket for Jack.

Thanks again to all of you. I usually do not post personal stuff on here, but this is both personal and political, and I see my involvement in issues involving diversity increasing over the next many years as a result of adopting a black baby. That makes me eager and proud.

[Skittles]

29. that is a handsome little dude

:thumbsup: