| "Yet another young mother drowns her child," the | | | | as an alternative. |
| headline reads, followed by the details of all the | | | | No one stops to understand the needs of a |
| possible punishments for committing this horrible | | | | couple who for whatever reason decide not to |
| deed. Most readers are probably enraged and | | | | abort their child and at the same time choose not |
| shocked at the thought that someone could | | | | to parent this child born to them. Because what |
| actually commit such a brutal crime. And yet, this | | | | kind of person would give away their own "flesh |
| is not at all uncommon in our country. | | | | and blood?" "Giving away" one's child or deciding |
| We often read in our local papers about others | | | | not to parent a child to whom one gives birth is |
| who have also done horrible things to their | | | | not a heartless act but rather an enormously |
| children. (Starve them, beat them and leave them | | | | difficult decision to make. |
| alone for days.) Each time, we become just a little | | | | It is a choice for which little support is offered |
| more upset. What's happening in our country? | | | | and one that most of us, fortunately, will never |
| How can people leave infants on the sides of | | | | have to make. Until we all recognize that adoption |
| deserted roads or toss them into garbage cans? | | | | is sometimes to only solution and begin to offer |
| "These people must be punished!" we say to | | | | support to those who find it necessary to make |
| ourselves. | | | | this choice, infants will continue to be left on |
| Currently in this country, over forty couples wait | | | | doorsteps or in some cases will be murdered. So, |
| for each infant available for adoption while more | | | | while attempts to determine what the appropriate |
| than 5000 abortions are performed everyday. | | | | punishment for this one young mother, I ask each |
| And yet, people continue to abandon and injure | | | | reader to realize that we are actually the guilty |
| their children. Why? Because we live in a society | | | | ones here. Had this young mother approached |
| that applauds family-planning choices, prepared | | | | you for advice or assistance, how would you |
| childbirth with instant "bonding" and the all | | | | have responded? |
| important "bloodlines." Adoption is not perceived of | | | | |