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It is with regret that we announce that the Non-Traditional Family Forum has been removed from the site.
According to the site, We want adoption.com to be a place where all types of adoptive families can come and find support. We don't want to become a political forum that is used to advocate for views that we feel are not in the best interest of children. That forum crossed the line of being used for support to become a political activism forum. We're not comfortable with adoption.com being used for that purpose.Ӕ
We realize this will be upsetting to many members. We are not in favor of this change at all and had no warning.
We will leave the thread open for comments but please remember we need to follow the rules of the TOS. We also would appreciate it if all comments can be contained to this thread.
Sincerely,
The Moderating Team and Admin
NDN
Oh...so sorry...that reference was not about your post. I meant for it to appear BEFORE your quote...the "hiding behind religion" quote was from another poster.:o
So sorry about that...didn't mean for it to appear that you had said it. Actually I was suggesting that your voices SHOULD be heard and that I'm afraid that leaving completely will actually silence them.
No problem...I knew we were thinking the same thing. Thanks for clarifying.
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I do get plenty of support in the form of CPs and PMs... :-) But it is interesting that people are afraid to post them openly. I have been warned that I will be attacked if I seem supportive of Catholicism or traditional Christianity, because those who have tried before were similarly intimidated. Does not that make you think?...
erinberry
Perhaps it's statements like this that lost you support. I don't buy into the "You're intolerant because you don't tolerate my intolerance" argument. It comes across as completely condescending. It sounds like people weren't upset with you for being Catholic, but for looking down on someone else's (as you put it) "lifestyle."
Kama
A side note, I am saddened that people are outraged so much, and they were not outraged when I received condescending comments while trying to explain positions of the Catholic church (of which I am a part). I never hate those I disagree with, I may even like them even if I do not accept their lifestyle. Apparently, tolerance on this forum applies and is deserved only by some...
I can't say for sure, but I am guessing, that people are trying to keep this focused on the subject at hand, as the OP requested, which may be why it's not turning into an empathy for all thread...
Sorry you're getting neg vibes, I'm Catholic, too. Like someone said earlier, each religion has it's own issues. And someone else said that a religion can only change from within. So I am trying to be a voice of tolerance within my own church community. It's difficult because I'm one small voice... but it's important to me.
Anyway, I don't want to turn this into a religion debate. I think we need to keep this bumped up for the night time viewers to see.
Not at all, if the kinds of things you are posting are "I may even like them even if I do not accept their lifestyle." That is extremely judgmental and is not what being "supportive" of a religion entails.
Kama
I do get plenty of support in the form of CPs and PMs... :-) But it is interesting that people are afraid to post them openly. I have been warned that I will be attacked if I seem supportive of Catholicism or traditional Christianity, because those who have tried before were similarly intimidated. Does not that make you think?...
But you are right, awaitingbeloved, let's keep the thread focused on the original topic. Sorry for diverting. ;)
Last update on May 14, 3:25 pm by Miriam Gwilliam.
Sure can, Steph. I'm already there and waiting for my other china adoption friends to join!!! :)
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My request would be that you not allow posters to deter you from the point of this thread. Please, focus on the GLBT parents who need our support (and birthparents, and adoptees and all non-traditional families.). Don't let some posters hijack this thread for their own self-serving interests.
Adoption Media LLC, bring back the non-traditional families forum.
Kelley
Marshie
Sure can, Steph. I'm already there and waiting for my other china adoption friends to join!!! :)
I have joined and I know of one other 'China' gal so far.
Kama, I may have a lot of issues with Catholicism and even certain sects of Christianity - but if the support forums for either were arbitrarily deleted like this, I'd be looking for someplace else then, too.
I argue against religion quite a bit - I have strong opinions about religion in general - but I will give up everything to make sure you are free to not only defend your religious beliefs but to practice them as well. Anything that interferes with that, I will rally against right beside you.
Does that mean I'll demand people "be nice" and not voice their dissent about your religion? No - because I will also fight for THEIR right to dissent.
There's a line from the movie, "The American President" - the president is making a speech about the ACLU - and it pretty much sums up how I feel.
Everybody knows American isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating, at the top of his lungs, that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free, then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest." Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.
I absolutely support the right of the site owner to believe however they want - that doesn't mean I have to lend my emotional, physical or financial support to their message.
Just want to add my voice to the masses. I have to admit to not even being aware of the forum in question as I'm fairly new to this site, but it's a shame that people won't have the opportunity to meet and discuss real family and social issues that that impact GLBT families. If that's activism...so be it. Beats intolerance any day!!
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erinberry
Perhaps it's statements like this that lost you support. I don't buy into the "You're intolerant because you don't tolerate my intolerance" argument. It comes across as completely condescending. It sounds like people weren't upset with you for being Catholic, but for looking down on someone else's (as you put it) "lifestyle."
ding ding ding!!! i wouldn't be upset with anyone b/c of their religion, but if they go around judging and badmouthing others, then i take offense.
i was raised catholic, and i don't understand how catholics can feel personally "attacked" when someone disagrees with their "no gays" policy. i am not proud of that, nor the priests that have molested children. if someone criticizes that the church protected molesters and moved them from church to church, i agree. it's horrid. how is that something i can take personally?? those that don't "agree with that lifestyle," you know that you are judging, right? does anyone deny that??
anyways, that's way off topic.
OK, let me explain "may even like them" means that I do not automatically like people (whoever they are). I have had great friends who are gay, straight, etc etc. etc. I do not choose friends because they are of certain orientation. I may or may not like them, whoever they are, but I do not dismiss people just because I do not agree with their political opinion, or sexual orientation. On the other hand, I MAY NOT like someone even though I AGREE with their political opinion and orientation. I hope this clarifies it :-)
erinberry
Not at all, if the kinds of things you are posting are "I may even like them even if I do not accept their lifestyle." That is extremely judgmental and is not what being "supportive" of a religion entails.
But you are right, awaitingbeloved, let's keep the thread focused on the original topic. Sorry for diverting. ;)
Last update on May 14, 3:27 pm by Miriam Gwilliam.
Dear, this is not what this conversation was about.... It was originally a response to a Mormon poster who felt that there was an anti-Mormon sentiment here... If you read all the posts (I agree, there are lots of them), you will see what I mean. So, I added my own experience. I think we do get off the topic here, but I wanted to clarify.
celebratewewill
ding ding ding!!! i wouldn't be upset with anyone b/c of their religion, but if they go around judging and badmouthing others, then i take offense.
i was raised catholic, and i don't understand how catholics can feel personally "attacked" when someone disagrees with their "no gays" policy. i am not proud of that, nor the priests that have molested children. if someone criticizes that the church protected molesters and moved them from church to church, i agree. it's horrid. how is that something i can take personally?? those that don't "agree with that lifestyle," you know that you are judging, right? does anyone deny that??
anyways, that's way off topic.
kelleymac
My request would be that you not allow posters to deter you from the point of this thread. Please, focus on the GLBT parents who need our support (and birthparents, and adoptees and all non-traditional families.). Don't let some posters hijack this thread for their own self-serving interests.
Adoption Media LLC, bring back the non-traditional families forum.
Kelley
Thanks, Kelley
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:mad: I would have assumed that in the year of 2006 that people would be more informed and intelligent then this. I am new to the adoption boardsand I have never visited this board, but I do not see why there would be a problem with a board for GLBT. Many families in the world today are different and unconventional. But it does not stop them from being a family though. I am a single mom going through a divorce and raising my 2 kids with the help of my mother and grandmother. By no means is our household a normal one, but it is full of love. YOu would think that since we are all here because of adoption and to support the children that everyone could be accepting and understanding of everyone, but I guess that is just to much to ask. In my opinion it does not matter how your family is made up as long as you love and respect each other. I am disgusted that adoption.com would be so open about being prejudice, because that is deffinately what they are doing. Anyway, that is my 2 cents worth and I know it might not mean much but I support all of you and your families. Hopefully you will have a new place you can go to so you can get the support you need. I can't stand stupidity and this decision of theirs is just full of it. I don't think I will be coming back here anymore to visit any of the boards.
On a side note, my 3 year old is in pre school and one of her friends has 2 mommies. She says to me the other day "MOm why does Madison have 2 mommies?" I told her because that was the way her family was made up. I explained how our family is different and then how Madison's family was diffrent then alot of the kids she goes to shool with. She told me then " Mommy, Godand the angels must have loved her a whole bunch to send her 2 mommies, she must have needed alot of hugsand kisses." to bad not everyone can be as loving and accepting as a 3 year old.
Brittany:grr:
To all who kept the thread on track, thank you.
I am closing the thread though because it's clear that the disagreements are going further than this issue. Some of us are really being unkind to each other and I'm just not going to support that. Whether it's freedom of religion or the right to be who you are, we need to take a step back and bow out for a bit.
I will post again tomorrow, or perhaps Brandy will be back then, to give any updates we have and to address questions regarding this specific issue.
Please do not start new threads regarding this issue, because they will be deleted.
Have a good night everyone.
Crick