Kinship

I agree with Ann that they are using a pretty broad definition of adoption. But perhaps it may help to alleviate the stigma of adoption which still exists, unfortunately.

I think it is unlikely to lead to anyone placing their child with adoptive parents, but it may make someone rethink having an abortion so that is good.

The same with Eleanor Roosevelt. She was sort of looked after by both her mother's and father's families after being orphaned. But she always felt the lack of parents. Hardly a 'happy adoption story.'

The ad does blend together three very distinct situations. A few, such as Dave Thomas and Faith Hill, are unambiguous adoptions. Clinton, Gingrich, and Tim McGraw were at least legally adopted (although McGraw went back to his birth father's name for his stage name), and I certainly don't mean to say that adoption by a stepfather does not count. (Where was that old standby of adoption ads, Gerald Ford?)

But others on the list were raised by relatives (Lennon and Eleanor Roosevelt) or a family friend (Tolkien) due to parental non-involvement or death and were never legally adopted and retained the surnames of their birth parents. Babe Ruth was mainly raised in a Catholic boarding school/orphanage but was not himself an orphan and had semi-regular contact with his parents until their deaths.

It is a good ad and if any pro-choicer dared to challenge it, it would probably backfire on the accuser, since the ad is pro-adoption rather than explicitly anti-abortion. Nonetheless, for technical accuracy it does not get an A.

Another Ann -

I agree it could make someone think twice - which is good. But I think they would choose life and not adoption for their child. Again, good. But this ad is supposed to be about adoption.

Ooops. my post hiccuped! :-)

But try this...what do the following people have in common:

ALBRIGHT, Charles (the "Eyeball Killer") BARTSCH, Guergen BERKOWITZ, David ("Son of Sam" & "The 44-Caliber Killer") BIANCHI, Kenneth, and BONO, Angelo - ("The Hillside Strangler/s") BUNDY, Ted (Florida Co-ed Murders) COLEMAN, Alton DUGAS, Gaetan GRAHAM, Harrison T. "Marty" HAMILTON, Thomas, 43 (School Shooter-killed 16 children & himself) KALLINGER, Joseph ("The Philadelphia Shoemaker"), 25 KATLIN, Steven KING, John William, 24 KIP, Martin LEE, Bruce LEGRAND, KARL, 25 LEGRAND, WALTER LINDH, Aaron, 19 MUNRO, James, 18 PAYNE, Eric, 18 REEVES, Randolph, 23 RIFKIN, Joel, 34 SAUNDERS, Peter STANO, Gerald Eugene, 27 TOPPAN, Jane, 31 ("Angel of Death") VAN STRUM, Jordan, 15 WUORNOS, Aileen Carol Pittman

All are serial killers AND all are adopted!

There is, in fact, an incredible over-representation of serial killers are adoptees. The FBI estimates 500 serial killers currently in the U.S; about 30 or 16% have been identified as adoptees. Since adoptees represent only 2-3% (5-10-million) of the general population, 16% that are serial killers is an overrepresentation compared to the general population.

What do these people have in common:

So do we look at the "good adoptees" as "proof" that adoption produced them or "rescued" them...or do we look at the bad apple adoptees and asl how much adoption and its identity confusion added to their anger and contributed to their criminal spree?

Did all the killers (including many more who killed their adopters or original parents or others)* have "bad blood"? Did nurture overcome nature and heredity to produce the "good adoptees" -- most of whom are step-parent and family adoptions anyhow?

And folks - the same can be said about adoptive parents. Good apples and bad. Some have abused and even killed the children entrusted to them.

* http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm285370.html

Ok Mirah nice number crunching.... now what the hell are you trying to say?.... besides insulting every single adopted person in this country.

FYI: African Americans account for over half of the prison population in the U.S. but only account for 13% of the total U.S. population.

Some of us our products of our environment, and some of us choose to rise above. Hopefully adoption can place kids in a more positive situation (that doesn't mean its always going to be positive) but don't let a group of psychos ruin your outlook on adopted children.