tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post7633606524763379898..comments2024-03-27T20:48:39.389-04:00Comments on [Birth Mother] First Mother Forum: Australia Apologies for Adoption Policy, sort ofLorraine Duskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18285341379272250245noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-51101512351150069552010-11-18T22:53:42.833-05:002010-11-18T22:53:42.833-05:00Thanks, Lisa,
We're happy to post your commen...Thanks, Lisa,<br /><br />We're happy to post your comment.Jane Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669797756463841249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-44791811745862196692010-11-18T22:48:31.112-05:002010-11-18T22:48:31.112-05:00Hi was wandering around a few web sites and came u...Hi was wandering around a few web sites and came upon yours. My name is Lisa McDonald and I'm a Birth Mother. I was coerced into giving my son up for adoption in 1981 and I live in Perth Western Australia. In regard to the apology myself and Jennifer from ARCS (adoption research counselling services)met with the Minister for Health MP Kim Hames back in September 2009 where the apology was discussed and since then have been working behind the scenes. The apology is a first step in healing those affected by past adoption practices. However the pain and trauma from past adoption practices are still there. Jennifer and I have been meeting with Members of Parliament to try and obtain more funding for ARCS which is a specialist counselling services. ARCS has been providing their specialist services for over 27 years and is a very valuable resource which is critically underfunded. We need your help to reach those affected by adoption hopefully from those who read this site from Australia. ARCS also helps adoptive parents and children, foster children, step and blended families and pre-adoption. ARCS not only helps those who live in WA but also provides telephone counselling to those in Rural areas also the Eastern States of Australia and overseas. We are trying to get people to email us with their details so we can present to Parliament non identifying information(privacy assured)from those affected by adoption so we can obtain much needed resources and more adequate funding for a very valuable service. You can send you emails to me at lisaliamfinn@yahoo.co.uk <br />Thanks, Lisa.Lisa McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656437789314552367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-63440364384752657542010-11-07T20:57:23.640-05:002010-11-07T20:57:23.640-05:00I agree that an apology is very different from &qu...I agree that an apology is very different from "amends" ... which is about changing behavior and practice. It may feel good to be on the receiving end of an apology ... for awhile, perhaps forever for some, but it rings moot to my ear when the practice continues. Perhaps some public acknowledgment will help pave the way for something more meaningful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-14221529535199313742010-11-06T16:17:40.334-04:002010-11-06T16:17:40.334-04:00I really like "who do you shoot"? Like t...I really like "who do you shoot"? Like the Joad's situation, there really is no individual or even group of individuals to shoot, or to apologize to mothers who surrendered in the USA, or Canada either, I suspect.<br /><br />Adoption abuses never stopped when the volume of surrenders went down sometime after the legalization of abortion and greater acceptance of single motherhood, and unlike Australia, there was no great change in the laws so anyone could truthfully say, "that was bad, we realized it, we do not do that any more."<br /><br />Apology and confession of wrongdoing are useless without the intention to "confess my sins, do penance, and to AMEND MY LIFE. Amen" as we Catholic girls used to say in the old Act of Contrition!<br /><br />It is the "amending my life", the action to change and stop doing or facilitating the bad behavior that really counts. We do not have that here, with abuses in international and domestic adoption carrying on as business as usual, every day. It is worse than it ever was; even though the numbers are down, the exploitation of vulnerable young mothers is the same, and the profit motive still rules.<br /><br />Given this, any apology for the past would be meaningless and insulting. Fix the present and the future, then come back and tell us how sorry you are and maybe it will mean something.maryannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-91546250726910056302010-11-04T10:08:45.132-04:002010-11-04T10:08:45.132-04:00"I’ve never seen a picture of Morlock but I v..."I’ve never seen a picture of Morlock but I visualize her as a cross between Mortica Addams and Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers in Daphne DeMaurier’s Rebecca."<br /><br />The Morlocks in H. G. Wells's "The Time Machine" were shrunken, wizened and and grey. If Maud Morlock is still alive today, she may well fit that description.<br /><br />Hiagha.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-46620531850457843762010-11-03T23:54:12.732-04:002010-11-03T23:54:12.732-04:00There were so many women and men involved, it woul...There were so many women and men involved, it would be impossible to post them all.If you check my post Declaration of Profound Loss you'll see some of the supporting groups.<br />Robin said - <br />"I have often wondered what effect it had on me and other babies to be left alone for days in a hospital nursery with only a nurse giving us a bottle. I believe I had no other human contact but that until I was 4 days old. Cruel and unusual punishment and my only crime was to be born out of wedlock."<br />Robin, I had my mother doing the limited caring allowed, under strict supervision, better than not at all, for six weeks.I still have nightmares about it and I expect to live with it always.It's been 66 years so far!Vonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421069895155350144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-56552315682017582922010-11-03T21:05:11.708-04:002010-11-03T21:05:11.708-04:00Thanks, Von,
Yes, you are absolutely correct. Ma...Thanks, Von,<br /><br />Yes, you are absolutely correct. Many women worked on getting the apology from the Western Australian parliament. Please post the names of those who should be recognized and ask others to do so as well.Jane Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669797756463841249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-59536566984596993212010-11-03T19:29:40.650-04:002010-11-03T19:29:40.650-04:00Much as we might admire Evelyn's work and cont...Much as we might admire Evelyn's work and contribution to adoption reform you make it sound as if she single-handedly achieved the Apology!!She does not live in WA and has never done to my knowledge.Those who do, will have worked hard for a long time to bring this about, that includes mother, others and legislators.<br />The adoption of her son took place in Scotland; South Australia is her adopted home.Here in South Australia we are still working towards our Apology, hopefully it will be the second in the world!Vonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421069895155350144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-574300303008890516.post-10913327681186279502010-11-03T19:19:18.724-04:002010-11-03T19:19:18.724-04:00Well, it's a start. Though we'll never get...Well, it's a start. Though we'll never get an apology like this in the U.S. <br /><br /> "We also apologise for mothers not having the chance to see their newborn baby, bond with it and continue the love that had developed while in utero.”<br /><br />I have often wondered what effect it had on me and other babies to be left alone for days in a hospital nursery with only a nurse giving us a bottle. I believe I had no other human contact but that until I was 4 days old. Cruel and unusual punishment and my only crime was to be born out of wedlock.Robinnoreply@blogger.com