Letter to CNN

To Whom It May Concern,

This e-mail is in regard to the Paula Zahn Now segment aired on 1/5/07 about China’s new adoption guidelines. My wife and I are an American couple in the process of adopting a little girl from China. It was appalling, to say the least, as we watched and listened to Ms. Zahn and her panel of “experts“, who seemingly had absolutely no knowledge about adoption, try to speculate as to why people were so "infatuated" with adopting little girls from China. The arrogance displayed by these people, to speak and make speculation on a subject about which they are clearly uneducated, is outrageous and has no place in the ranks of responsible journalism.

We shouldn't even dignify such inflammatory reports with response. At the same time, as soon-to-be adoptive parents, you don't want such misinformation to be the only source for people who were previously uninformed. You’ve attached a negative stigma to Chinese adoption and put a stain on adoption in general. Shame on you all.

Consider, first of all, how ridiculous it is to have someone (Ms. Maldonado) who apparently has anti-international adoption sentiments conduct a so-called study (with no claimed statistical support) and expect us to be surprised that she paints an unfavorable picture of adoption in China. To suggest that people who adopt from China are doing so because they think the children will be more intelligent, or more cute and cuddly is beyond words. Questioning the integrity of people’s motivation is an absolute slap in the face. And the idea that it has become en vogue because a few high-profile celebrities have adopted… insulting to the entire adoption community. Perhaps it would have made sense for CNN to ask families who have actually adopted from China the question “why”. I’m positive you would find that most families would say that for one, it’s because China has an established, stable and predictable program.

Put yourself in the shoes and in the heart of these adoptive parents (not to mention the children who wait in orphanages). Go with them step-by-step through the intense process and talk to them about the emotional and mental toll that it takes - the uncertainty and the fear that they feel…. And then tell me that it's because it’s fashionable and they want to have a cute little "porcelain doll" that will grow up to be a doctor. It’s “reporting” like this that keeps these stereotypes alive and well. By the way, how did talking about new regulations in Chinese adoption turn into a discussion about racism and stereotypes anyway?

I know there are going to be those CNN apologists who say that it's their job to spark debates such as this. Afterall, controversy sells… right? True perhaps, but shameful nonetheless. I believe that when you do have a debate, both sides should be fairly and equally represented. It should be about integrity. I have no respect for a news program that intentionally starts fires and stirs controversy with one-sided debates based purely, not on facts, but speculation.... obviously subscribing to the theory that any publicity is good publicity.

I don’t know if any news channel is really “fair and balanced“, but I’ll tell you one thing… it’s not CNN. You just lost a viewer. Good-bye Paula... Good riddance CNN.

Greg S.
Springfield, MO