Last night I met a lovely young woman who is working towards her social work certification and wanting to work with foster children. I was quite excited and proceeded to tell her about my site – The Orphan Connection — and what it stood for. She looked at me at said, “Isn’t that politically incorrect?”

I stared back at her in amazement over what she was saying, and asked her what she meant.
She innocently said that the word “orphan” is politically incorrect.

I remained calm, all the while feeling shock waves running through my body. I then proceeded to tell her that “an orphan is an orphan and you can’t cover up that fact by using the words foster children.”

Foster children implies that these orphans have been placed in loving, healthy foster homes (which in some cases are not so healthy, nor loving) .and the issue of being orphaned is swept under the carpet. I know from personal experience that this term implies shame!

This morning I woke up feeling even more outraged about this attitude. It seems to be okay to read about Angelina Jolie’s trips to Africa and Southeast Asia or wherever, as she lovingly assists and adopts ORPHANS, but here in the U.S. we do not use the word orphan because it is “politically incorrect.”

AMAZING!

How many orphans do we have in America? It’s hard to find out exact numbers because it’s “politically incorrect” to even say ORPHAN. Who makes up these rules?

This reminds me of our country's recent revelation when the veil was lifted and the truth came out about EXTREME poverty in the States that is happening now. The world was shocked and so was I. We were forced into being honest and to stop sweeping this crisis “under the rug.” We go around helping other impoverished countries when it’s happening in our own backyard!

We’ve managed to "sweep under the rug" the crisis of so many orphans in our country by simply calling orphans “foster children.”

An orphan is an orphan. There is NO shame in being an orphan — so why cover it up?
I was puzzled about the lack of interest in American Orphans until Roger Kiser, a strong advocate against child abuse and the author of “Orphan Boy,” sent this note to me:

“I battle the orphan/orphanage issue everyday. It is hard to get others interested. They feel that orphans/orphanages are such a small section of our society that they need not be helped or mentioned. When one does get the media involved they question YOUR intention(s) but not those in charge of the orphanage. That is why bad policies never change."

The Politically Correct thing to say and do should really be to honor orphans here in the U.S., to give them a place in our hearts and to understand that our society has, and will probably always have, orphans.

Let’s get REAL and do the politically CONSCIOUS thing!

An orphan is an orphan and they (we) are wonderful children/people who need our love.
One more note along these lines. Our founding fathers were orphaned from the Mother country and therefore we were founded by orphans NOT foster children/people. So what’s wrong with the word orphan?

Why add shame when in fact, we are gifts to the world. Finally, take the time to honor orphans here at home as well as abroad.

Do the Politically CONSCIOUS Thing…
Hug an orphan..
Understand an orphan...
Help them have pride in being an orphan!

orphanconnect@yahoo.com
ORPHANS…Let’s start talking by joining
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orphanconnect