Slog - Comments on What's next? e-Baby?

Comment by Mike in MO

Mike in MO — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:26:44 -0800

I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the stratification between the US and everyone else south of Texas. The whole immigration debate is dishonest because nothing will stop illegal immigration as long as the povery continues. Would you leave your home land for a place that dispises you if it wasn't the ONLY reasonable option?

As far as the adoption, the baby broker thing is REALLY creepy, but again, in poverty stricken area, a lot of creepy things happen. People do some F-ed up S to survive...

Comment by Gomez

Gomez — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:44:03 -0800

All I can say is that this is pretty crazy but I can totally see how it helps the mothers in question. It's an incredibly shackling experience to try and raise 5-10 kids. Not having to bother and cutting the emotional cord early frees a family up greatly.

Okay, I'm a nihilist. Sue me.

Comment by isabelita

isabelita — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:49:10 -0800

Well, the Catholic church is largely responsible for the overpopulation problems in Latin countries. Until people everywhere are educated about family planning, there will be every possible outrage and abomination all over the world, from overcrowding, poverty, pollution, destruction of the palnet's environments, etc.

Comment by Orson

Orson — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:49:52 -0800

You forget that not only is abortion banned in the Catholic Central and South America nations but birth control as well.

I can understand outrage if the baby brokers were selling kids into slavery or such. But giving these unwanted infants a chance at life in a loving, stable family? What's the problem, again?

Comment by Mike in MO

Mike in MO — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:29:42 -0800

Another good point about the catholic church. These mother f-ers have done more for poverty, overpopulation, corruption and global warming than anyone. Oh, I forgot AIDS. Telling people that condom use is a sin is unconsionable.

Regarding the topic, yes, the baby brokers are ultimately getting children out of poverty, but it is still creepy.

Comment by Gitai

Gitai — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:43:21 -0800

It's really easy for us to cluck our tongues and say, "How terrible." We're sitting in or homes or apartments which have monthly costs in excess of what your average Guatemalan makes in a year. Hell, the laptop I'm typing on costs more than they make in a year. The closer you get to the margin, the more it becomes about mere survival, rather than questions about morality. I don't think these women are pissed about selling their babies exactly. I think they're pissed about the economic circumstances that are forcing them to sell their babies and taking it out on the middlemen.

Comment by Phil

Phil — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:47:23 -0800

Actually, some organs (no pun intended) of the Catholic Church in Guatemala have taken a somewhat more progressive stance toward condom use, but mostly as a means of preventing sexually transmitted infections, not for family planning--I am thinking of Casa Inmigrante in San Marcos department (a very impoverished region which is a center of the immigrant trail through Central America)... The progressive parts of the church need to be encouraged to change their policies to promote family planning.

Comment by JA

JA — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:43:54 -0800

Rather than just being freaked out and deciding that thousands of Americans adopting overseas deserve "widespread scrutiny" because of what a celebrity does (We get PLENTY of scrutiny from governments, social workers and judgemental ignoramouses already, thanks), how about educating yourself about the entire process.

Hey, maybe you could even talk to lots of people and understand all the issues well enough to write a well-thought out analysis of the motives and actions of the people invovled. Sounds like something one might see in a newspaper somewhere.

Of course, that would be something that a hard working journalist might do. You seem happy to just read the results of other people's work and write a blog post about how it "freaks [you] out." Congrats, you've found your niche.

Comment by Only Half Blonde

Only Half Blonde — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:13:40 -0800

Hey Ja, welcome to a blog. Where the writers post links to interesting news and sites and make a comment and ask others to comment as well. If you want the author of this post to go to Guatemala and check out this situation herself, she's probably not going to be able to post every couple of hours.

And baby-buying should probably freak most people out. That's why it's illegal here.