Feb 11 2009
Support The Bastard Nation!
I have a rather sarcastic sense of humor.
Some might even say it’s a little dark, but I enjoy a good laugh. I really needed one today.
I came across this website, and it has provided me with quite a few giggles.
**warning: If you are sensitive and prone to excessive politically correct-ness, this site may not be for you.
According to their philosophy statement, the site was established to “establish respect, dignity and equal rights for adoptees.“
Fortunately, they like to have a little fun, too.
Along with their bevy of good causes, they take a moment to poke a few jibes. Here are some of my favorites:
Why it’s great to be a bastard:
23. We might be in for two inheritances.
31. You can blame everything and anything on the possibility of your space alien parentage.
34. You can eat any strange food you wish, and claim it as ethnic and healthful for your people.
EAR PLUGS; Stop being a drag at adoptee family gatherings where family members cannot talk openly in your presence. Insert your sound-proof plugs and others will be certain you cannot hear a word. Now only $5.95
THE BUYERS GUIDE TO BLACK MARKET BABIES; Determine your self worth by discovering your cost. This complete guide adjusts for regional differences and compensates for inflation. Also, a supply and demand index allows comparison between times of baby gluts and shortages. Imagine your joy at learning you would have sold for $20,000 to $30,000 at today’s prices. A great confidence builder $17.50.
INFLATABLE SIBLINGS: Create your own family with these heavy-duty mannequins that come in various sizes, colors, and hair styles to resemble ANYONE’S natural relatives. Create a feeling of belonging by surrounding yourself with inflatable people who look like you.
Check it out. You might have the added bonus of learning something useful.
o
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I’m writing a general comment instead of one on this topic because I want to. I am very sarcastic myself, so take it as a given I like it when I see it.
But I wanted to mention that I thought this was an important topic for a blog. I weep, seriously, when I think about the unwanted children out there. My grandmother was a black market baby, taken from her unwed mother and “sold” to someone else. The someone else had her own child later and basically put my grandmother in the orphanage every time she felt parenthood was onerous, so my grandmother was in and out of the orphanage all her childhood. She was pulled out to take care of her “mother” when her “mother” got TB and got TB herself. She was malnourished, nearly died from TB (and suffered lung damage she still has) and was so underdeveloped, she only had one working ovary. Now, my grandmother had twelve children (it was a different time then), but she had ten children and then adopted two more. This is important because I don’t have 10 natural aunts and uncles and two adopted. I have twelve aunts and uncles. Period.
I have three children of my own, but I would not have hesitated, not for a second, to adopt if I couldn’t have had them (and I don’t think I would have pursued fertility treatment). Blood and genetics don’t matter. My daughter has a stepfather, but he’s “Dad”. It isn’t blood that makes a parent, it’s love. If someone doesn’t get that, doesn’t understand that a child you love as your own IS your own, having a child of their “own” isn’t going to help them. They just don’t get it.
So, now you know. And if you really want to get me riled, ask me how I feel about kids who spend three or four years being raised by people that love them only to be yanked away to be with their “natural” parents.
Somehow the Rocket Scientist always knows just what to say, and so much more eloquently than me!
In all seriousness, I think your grandmother is one fantastic lady. Clearly she persevered and became a stronger person, despite her challenges. It sounds like she raised a fantastic family of her own. If only there were more people like her.
As for your last thought, it’s on my list of future topics. It also makes my blood boil.
huh. i guess this is a safe place to say this: my wife and her sibs are also adopted. but her parents felt a lot of shame about that and basically hid that fact from everybody. the family, as a result, became very insular.
my wife and i, however, try to be boldly inclusive, including everybody into our family - which sometimes, unfortunately, rubs some people the wrong way (which is why we haven’t confirmed our child at our church yet).
and i agree whole-heartedly with you, stephaniebarr, a parent is a parent, regardless of where the blood flows from; and i personally don’t see why in-vitro and other such methods are used when there are plenty of wonderful children to adopt.
YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
I knew there were people out there, just like you guys. I was starting to lose faith!!!!!
I write about adoption because I’m passionate about it, but this is bigger than that. Rocket Scientist (aka stephanieebarr, you can get to her site by clicking on her name above or the link in my blogroll) hit it right on the nail in one of her posts. It’s about being a nice person; a true protagonist in a world of antagonists.
So jasdye, you guys as a family have also done a great job in reversing an old stereotype. Thank you for recognizing this as a safe place to say it to the world. I’m deeply flattered.
You may be interested to know that I explore being adopted and the interaction between two siblings (one being adopted as an older child) in a very dynamic and emotionally charged way in the novel I just finished.
I hadn’t really thought about it, per se, as adoption given my views on family is family, blood or otherwise. It’s a factor in the my planned next book following a different novel.
It’s all about attitude and the notion that born of one’s body means more than loved as one’s own is as antiquated as arranged marriage and primogeniture.
I will be back.
I am absolutely interested! On my way to see if you’ve got any other morsels to offer on that on your blog! I’m intrigued!!!
Thanks for your comments. I’m really flattered, because I’m kind of in awe of your site.