Adoption Records, Should They Be Open?

                                                                                               
                                                                           

I want to start by saying that I was adopted in 1964. I was raised by wonderful parents. My adoptive parents are my true parents. My birth parents only created me. They did not nurture me, teach me how to do math or read, discipline me or praise me. My opinion on adoption records being open is a resounding "NO". My adoption was a closed adoption. My adoptive parents told me that they would not be offended if I found my birth parents, however, they also told me that they would not assist in the search. If we open records it is in my opinion that people who do not want to be found will be hunted down. Many birth parents have held there putting a child up for adoption a secret there whole lives. On the other hand, if records were opened, my birth parents might hunt me down. At this point in my life I am not ready to meet them and I don't know if I ever will. My adoptive parents in my mind are my true parents. My siblings were also adopted. My sister found her parents and had a relationship for three years. One day out of the blue my sister recieved a telephone call from her birth mom stating that she never wanted to speak to her again. This threw my sister into a tail spin. She was hurt and confused.

I believe that if you were adopted through a closed adoption, the birth parents and the adoptive child need to go through that agency to contact either side. There are plans in place through a closed adoption and they are to protect both sides.

I feel that some celebrities are plastering their adopted children all over the media. Where is the respect and privacy that I had as an adopted child?


MADDONA

The Man With the Golden Voice

http://www.popeater.com/2011/01/07/ted-williams-reunites-with-mom-julia-video/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk5%7C35134 

                           THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN VOICE IS REUNITED WITH MOM
                                                     

This is a wonderful story of rags to riches. A homeless man is discovered for his talents and gets a chance to make his way in the world. In the clip where Ted Williams meets with his mom for the first time in ten years, you can see that a mom never loses her love for a child and a son never loses his love for his mom. What I also see is that a mom never wants her child to disappoint her and a son never wants to disappoint his mom. In this clip I have noticed that Mrs. Williams is a little reserved as he is very jubilant about his future. I think by her statement that she has heard all of his promises before that she is a little reluctant that he will keep clean and make an honest living. I believe that all the media hype could cause some bad situations. Such as when Mr. Williams addressed that when he couldn't get in touch with his mom he thought that she may have been kidnapped. I have some concerns about Mr. Williams future. When the media and the hype is gone, will he sink back into old habits and his old ways. Addiction is a very difficult habit to break. I realize that Mr. Williams has been clean for two years. My concern is that with fame and a lot of money, you have the connections to obtain drugs and alcohol and whatever else. I thought that the reunion was wonderful and touched my heart very much. Mr. Williams was able to see places in New York where his mom had taken him as a child, such as Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. I noticed that Mrs. Williams seemed a little uncomfortable when Mr. Williams began discussing contracts and would tell her of the money offered later. It almost seemed that she was thinking that he would have to prove himself to her. I don't think his track record with her is very good. Trust issues are difficult to mend. I hope that he proves to his mom that he is on the right track. She is 90 years old and I think it is a true blessing that she was able to witness what I believe is a miracle. Some may say that it is just chance that this happened to Mr. Williams. I believe that there is a more grand design and that things happen for a reason. 




                                            Mugshots of Ted Williams
                                        The Man With the Golden Voice


                                                        This is My Fear
                                                                    

 In doing further research on Mr. Williams, I found an article on the smokinggun.com. The article is titled, "Meet The Felon With The Golden Voice". Mr Williams has a lengthy rap sheet that has landed him in jail several times. His crimes range from theft, robbery, escape, forgery, and drug possession. His crimes go back more than two decades. As recently as last July he has had issues with the law. He and a female friend would not remove themselves from the property of a business in Ohio. Williams and the female would beg for money in the parking lot of the business.The police were notified by the business owner. Police arrived and Williams and his female friend were warned that they would be arrested if they returned to the property. I don't mean to be a downer, but it is difficult for a leopard to change his spots. I admire Mr. Williams for offering a little show for the people that give him hand outs. It's not like he did nothing to earn the money. My fear is regression into his past life of crime and addiction. Money and fame do not remove addiction. A person needs to maintain their sobriety on a daily basis. Along with the high paying jobs that Mr. Williams is being offered he should also be offered counseling for drugs and alcohol. Actually, it should be in his contracts that he be in counseling for his issues. I also am a little annoyed that he is able to obtain these positions with his criminal record. You and I would probably not be hired for a postition with these kinds of offenses.

I truly believe that Mr. Williams has a God given gift. My hope is that he stays clean and out of trouble. I do hope that he prospers and succeeds in his fame. Time will tell. I only wish Mr. Williams my best. He must remember however in this day with cameras everywhere that we are all watching.

Todd Marciniak
Dayton, Minnesota

P.S.

What's next? Oprah?









            
I am adding an update on Ted Williams.

Mr. Williams has entered rehab after visiting with Dr. Phil last week. In an article I read that he had been drinking heavily since his recent fame. Dr. Phil also tried to encourage Mr. Williams to get out of a toxic relationship with a drug addict girlfriend. I believe that Mr. Williams is where he needs to be right now. I hope that he can beat this and have a wonderful productive life. I am glad that Dr. Phil stepped in.
 
                                                   Should Pornography Be Restricted By Law?

                                                                                      
Let me start by saying that I am not pro-porn. I don't care to have it my home. The critical question here is should pornography be restricted by law. My answer is a simple no. If we were to have pornography restricted by law we would be basically stomping on the constitution. People have the "right" to own, obtain, and view pornography. The larger issue that I have with pornography is when it gets into the wrong hands. With pornography all over the internet, I am afraid that more and more children are seeing and viewing pornography. My bigger fear is sexual offenders and predators. They should not be able to possess pornography. Unfortunately, this brings us back to the constitution. We cannot just pick and choose who can possess pornography.

Let me know your take on this issue.

Todd Marciniak