The current flap over the returned Russian adopted boy from Tennessee illustrates a basic disconnect in the human psyche when it comes to reproduction and population policy. Few in the U.S. may be aware that Russia is panicking over decreasing birthrate to the extent of offering government subsidies for pregnancies. Meanwhile, Russia has a booming adoption industry, similar to China's. There are between 600,000 and 750,000 orphans now in Russia, according to a variety of sources. Does that sound like a shortage of births in Russia?
I have a couple of thoughts. First, the concept of declining national or ethnic birthrates, applied to wealthy economies, with millions of starving children all over the planet seems absurdly anachronistic. Xenophobia, racism and poor government stand in the way of ethically and efficiently redistributing many more children from poverty to security via adoption worldwide. It would serve the capitalist interests of wealthy nations to facilitate and promote adoptions for their interested citizens in cooperation with informed and supported parents in underdeveloped countries.
Instead, wealthy countries cling to capitalist nationalism. Intentional reproduction is still practiced as narcissistic self-replication by all too many educated and financially motivated people. The ancient concept of legacy abounds and trumps the concept of the universal quality and value of human life. This process of producing heirs to satisfy a personal legacy is seen as a reproductive right. Meanwhile, illegal immigration is seen as a boon to those aggressive and desperate enough to attempt it. This is the current methodology of compensating for declining birthrates in wealthy nations. Immigrants crowded into substandard housing in the worst parts of wealthy cities raise their deprived children to be the low-wage servants of rich native populations.
I think those who adopt with a simple motivation to improve the lot of poor children from underdeveloped nations are benefactors of the human species. I see them as highly evolved human beings with great compassion. And, I see anyone who would abuse these adoptive parents or the process of ethical adoption as representative of the worst of humankind. I wonder how long it will take for the human species to progress to an understanding that the quality of life of the entire species is dependent on the individual lives of its children, all of its children worldwide.
