BlogHer - Media & Journalism - Comments

Total Free Ride.

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:24:08 -0500

Hey Kim. Great post. I agree that John McCain is getting a total 100% free ride from the MSM.

What do they need to do differently? Call him out on his propaganda.

They covered his "so called" speech on health care, as if it was an actual policy that had the potential of helping the problem. I actually read a post by a young woman with chronic illness who heard the speech, and believed his policy would benefit her. Obviously, speech writers can make selling the Golden Gate Bridge seem like a good idea...But, the people, like that woman who suffers with chronic illness, count on the media breaking down these speeches and telling it like it is.

The same goes for thier coverage of his Environmental speech.

This is the real John McCain...

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan at catherine-morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

As a "step" daughter I have

lilmommythatcould — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:35:32 -0500

As a "step" daughter I have learned to stop explaining my family lines and the fact that my "step" mom didn't give birth to me at 16 but is more of a mom to me... Sure I leave people scratching their heads but if they are smart enough they will get it!

JDA - Jaw-droppingly awful!

Lisse — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:49:45 -0500

That's my phrase for things like that. What a stupid thing to do! You would think that someone up there at NBC would be an adoptive parent and would clue them in.

And why do mothers need to be categorized anyway? Bleah!

I have nothing more profound than that to say, but thanks for writing about this.

-Lisse

@ Home in the World

International Adoption and Other Travels

horrified

bluelittlegirl — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:18:03 -0500

When people say to me, "No, I mean your real parents," I respond with, "They are my real parents <dumbass>." ("Dumbass" not always said aloud.)

Being a family is about love, not blood.

My parents love me, probably more than most people's so-called parents do. And believe me, as an adolescent, I tested.

My friend's eleven year old daughter was just officially adopted by the man who has been her father in actuality for more than four years. Her biological father is referred to as "the sperm donor," which is accurate. Thankfully, the sperm donor is out of her life permanently and her real father is there to love, support, and raise her.

Excellent post. Thank you. I, for one, appreciate it.

Well Said!

Sue Walsh — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:33:12 -0500

Outstanding post! You are absolutely right. What a stupid and insensitive show!

I can't believe that

Robin L. — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:15:22 -0500

I'm a mother and anyone who tried to tell me I'm a non-mother for any reason would make me mad. There are enough ways for children to be hurt without a national advertising campaign adding to it. The people at NBC and teleflora should be ashamed of themselves.

Totally offensive

alyssaroyse — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:34:12 -0500

I couldn't agree more. If I had seen it - which I didnt - I would have been horrified.

I can't get my head around using the prefix "non." Seriously, hideous.

___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE: A Web Site To Save The World

Start Her Up: A blog for Women Entrepreneurs

Self-identifying

PunditMom — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:02:24 -0500

As a member of a few adoptive communities, I think there is a huge difference between self-identifying a group and participating in those groups for positive reasons and having other groups try to label us as something that we are not.

We are active in a variety of Chinese groups for language, culture and adoption, which we feel are important for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is to make sure our daughter knows there are plenty of families who "look like us." Having other people who have not shared our experience basically tell us we are not a family is just not acceptable.

We're in the process of

Trisha — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:23:52 -0500

We're in the process of adopting - and yes that is so offensive. I'm happy lots of people emailed them and complained, but they should have known better anyway.

Ideas For Women blog

And what about gay families and....

alyssaroyse — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:14:44 -0500

Hard to even know where to start on the offensiveness of the "non" prefix in front of parent.... We often joke that our daughter has so many "parents" that she doesn't need us because so many people love and care for her. And certainly some of them feel far more like family than some of the people that I share blood with.

I find myself - perhaps because we have so many gay friends with kids - wondering when it is that we will realize family is not a function of biology so much as a function of commitment to each other.

I do have a question though. Is it helpful to people (and really, this is a QUESTION, not a statement) to be able to identify others who may be facing similar issues as a result of shared circumstance? Adoptive parents certainly face different questions than I will face. Bi-racial families, gay families, step families? Is there a way to self-identify for the sake of information seeking without it being a divisive thing? Again, it's a QUESTION....

That said, aint no-way, no-how that "non" is ever the right prefix for any parent. I CANNOT believe that made it through the countless meetings that it took to get that show in the air. Funny to think how many people saw the plans for it and no one said, "WTF!"

Anecdotally - there are so many divorces and re-marriages in my family that our family tree is more like a jungle. So, we just told our daughter that if they're way younger than you, their a niece or nephew, way older is an aunt or uncle, roughly your age is a cousin. She now just applies those terms to everyone she feels especially close too, even if they are only visitors in our jungle. I love it.

___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE: A Web Site To Save The World

Start Her Up: A blog for Women Entrepreneurs

Brothers and sisters

Maria Niles — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:56:17 -0500

I appreciate your point about referring to family relationships regardless of how they came to be. My sister has two biological children with different fathers and one adopted child. They don't call their siblings "my half-sister" or "my adopted brother" they just say "my brother" "my sister" and "my mom." And they are my nieces and nephews, period.

Great post, thanks!

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I'm glad to hear ...

PunditMom — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:48:23 -0500

... that the Chinese adoption community was vocal -- I'm not surprised. As I know from our experience, it's on of the most organized adoption communities.

As for the show, I say, cancel it! ALL moms are America's favorite mom!

Thanks!

PunditMom — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:47:09 -0500

If only I didn't look so jet-lagged! Next photo, a little make-up!

It's about the kids

PunditMom — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:46:32 -0500

Yup. While I don't like that they didn't think enough of my motherhood, I'm tough -- I can take it. But as PunditGirl gets older, she is much more tuned into these things, as I know other children must be.

NBC and the sponsors got a

Word To Your Mutha — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:43:07 -0500

NBC and the sponsors got a majority of upset emails from the China adoption community. I was really proud to see everyone come together to help educate people about this. So sad that it got as far as it did before the wording was changed. Wonder if they will have this contest next year and how the categories will change?