Or they should have...
This past weekend the adult adoptee-run organization Also-Known-As celebrated it's 15-year anniversary. The main events were on Saturday April 30. The next day, of course, was May 1, also known as International Worker's Day. Thousands of people rallied in Union Square, marched to Foley Square, and demanded rights and reform for immigrants and union workers. But, there were no adoptees representing ourselves as immigrants and adoptees. What a missed opportunity! Here were 150 adoptees, all immigrants, already organized, and no one thought about organizing us into a contingent for the rallies.
Well, there's always next year, I suppose. Because, unfortunately, I don't think that the fight will be won by then. What do you think adoptees and allies? Will you join the fight on May 1, 2012?
Monday, May 2, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Papers
An adoptee posted on Facebook via his wife from the hospital,
Show Me Your Papers Negro.
From Arizona to Obama, the issue of official records has been put into the foreground of the national conversation, as if papers are more important than the people that they're supposed to document. In our low-context culture Americans discredit reality if there's not an officially sanctioned, government-produced certificate that validates who we are. It doesn't seem to matter what we do.
Want a beer? Have your IDs OUT!
But I'm 50 years old!
This is your house? Give me the deed.
I was born here. My mother was born in the back bedroom. My grandfather built this house on land my uncle gave him.
Are you qualified? I need to see your diploma.
I have been working here for 15 years!
Are you poor? Show me your tax return.
Yes, I live with 10 other people in a 2 bedroom apartment with one bathroom just to appear poor.
Are you really American? Let's see yourbirth certificate long form birth certificate.
But I'm the president of the United States!
Are you her father? You're white and Jewish and she's a Black Haitian girl...And you're married to man.
Here are the papers proving she's my child.
But, as the adoptee points out above, this is only true when it serves people in power. None of this enthusiasm for officialdom serves the people it is documenting.
Although the need for legitimatizing seems obvious to us, it's actually a cultural trait ingrained in Americans. Furthermore, it short-circuits our development of trust and observation, and often blocks justice. Even when it's ridiculous.
Show Me Your Papers Negro.
From Arizona to Obama, the issue of official records has been put into the foreground of the national conversation, as if papers are more important than the people that they're supposed to document. In our low-context culture Americans discredit reality if there's not an officially sanctioned, government-produced certificate that validates who we are. It doesn't seem to matter what we do.
Want a beer? Have your IDs OUT!
But I'm 50 years old!
This is your house? Give me the deed.
I was born here. My mother was born in the back bedroom. My grandfather built this house on land my uncle gave him.
Are you qualified? I need to see your diploma.
I have been working here for 15 years!
Are you poor? Show me your tax return.
Yes, I live with 10 other people in a 2 bedroom apartment with one bathroom just to appear poor.
Are you really American? Let's see your
But I'm the president of the United States!
Are you her father? You're white and Jewish and she's a Black Haitian girl...And you're married to man.
Here are the papers proving she's my child.
But, as the adoptee points out above, this is only true when it serves people in power. None of this enthusiasm for officialdom serves the people it is documenting.
Although the need for legitimatizing seems obvious to us, it's actually a cultural trait ingrained in Americans. Furthermore, it short-circuits our development of trust and observation, and often blocks justice. Even when it's ridiculous.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Natural Born Americans
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/us/24arizona.html?_r=2&hp
Wait, children born overseas, with citizenship in their birth countries, issued foreign passports, and brought here on IR visas (ONLY foreigners are required to have visas) but adopted by US citizens are counted as "natural born citizens" but children born in the US should be denied their right to citizenship?! WRONG!!! Unconstitutional! Racist!
14th Amendment Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Couldn't have said it better
CHILDREN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT IN MIDDLE OF ADOPTION FIGHTS
Laura Bauer; The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/
[Quoting from article] "It is a fundamental violation of the human rights of these people...It's almost legalizing the kidnapping of children." [Article continues....]
Almost? How about it is exactly the legalizing of kidnapping of children? —Daniel Ibn Zayd of Mediarama Reviews
Laura Bauer; The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/
[Quoting from article] "It is a fundamental violation of the human rights of these people...It's almost legalizing the kidnapping of children." [Article continues....]
Almost? How about it is exactly the legalizing of kidnapping of children? —Daniel Ibn Zayd of Mediarama Reviews
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