Whenever I read on the concerns of biracial adoption, I think of the high school classmate who said it was immoral for me to exist. His point was blacks and whites should not have children, therefore someone like, a product of miscegenation was the result of an immoral act. Perhaps that is a step up from the surprise people had that whites and black could have children or that the children were not like mules. We’ve gone from thinking we are of different taxonomic orders to separating us until the taxonomic orders become true.
The genetics show we are of the species. The true fear is the culture lines are blurring faster than preservationists can control. Kids dance to other culture’s music. We eat each other’s culinary master pieces. We study each other’s visual arts. Remaining separated from other cultures seems pointless in a world shrinking with every new invention and catastrophe.
Children are sponges, ready to absorb whatever culture we exposing them. Years ago that was just the values, practices, knowledge, and attitudes of where we lived. Today, with integrated neighborhoods, restaurants of every ethnicity, ease of travel to anywhere in the world, and even media, we can allow children to see so much more than our grandparents could experience. Worrying about everything a child could experience ought break down parents who cannot accept what isn’t part of the genetic background could be good too.
I was approached one day by a friend whose cousin was about to have an interracial child. The family was in turmoil over how would the child grow up by not being the correct race. My best advice to my friend was all those concerns would evaporate as soon as they saw the child. The connection to family, aka love, is what matters. All this other drivel is based on fear of the unknown.
Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth together the divers elements of this material world, the supreme magnetic force that directeth the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms.
Abdu’l-baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha
There seems to be an odd nervousness about white parents in raising children who are not white. They fear raising their children to lose the culture behind the child’s genetics. Having not been raised in that culture, they make an effort for their children to have exposure. My very blond mother took us visit family in southside neighborhoods where she was obviously out of place. She did all this and she gave me half my genes. Mom very much realized taking me to visit museums, Kennedy Space Center, Montezuma Castle, other countries, other Baha’i communities, even huge shopping centers were also important for shaping my “culture”. The purpose was to expose me to knowledge, attitudes, and values I’d otherwise not attain from the simple school-home-friends circles I already used.
The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.
Bahá’u'lláh
Parents should stop thinking in terms of one culture vs. another culture. We have the amazing opportunity to take the best of all cultures.
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