Letters to the editor

The other side of open adoption

Re “Between Two Families,” a two-part series, Aug. 5 and 6

If The Times intended to write in support of the adoption process, specifically “open adoption,” then it seems that you picked a poor example. I am the mother of a 27-year-old adopted son who now has a healthy relationship with his biological mother while he remains a vital and confident member of our family. He was raised with the understanding that he was adopted -- but he was not given the opportunity to meet his biological mother until he was a self-assured young adult and all parties agreed that the time was appropriate.

Sensitivity, cooperation and respect governed the relationship we maintained with his biological mother through the years, and this has resulted in a loving and supportive situation for our son.

Adoption, now open adoption, is a wonderful invention. I am sorry you chose a situation fraught with confusion and distress to share with your readers.

Susan P. HallParadise, Calif.

We have a 22-year-old adopted son. We met his birth mother and his maternal grandparents when he was a few hours old. We took him home from the hospital with a full record of his medical history on the maternal and paternal sides. His birth mother and parents sent pictures, cards and letters through the adoption agency until our son was 4. He has been shown these pictures, letters and cards. We have been open with him about his adoption from the time he was able to understand. We also told him when he turned 21 that he had the opportunity to seek his birth parents through the adoption agency, which as yet he has shown no interest in doing. Our son, now a college senior, is well-adjusted, surrounded by a stable and loving home. To be open frankly about a child’s adoption is healthy. To attempt to do what Kendall McArthur’s adopted family did is a nightmare and not a healthy way to raise a child. No wonder this young woman has been so torn and confused.

Jerry and Dee WhiteCapistrano Beach

The series about open adoptions asks: Is it a good thing? But how can anyone answer that question in an informed way after reading the horror story about Kendall McArthur?

As an adoptive mother involved in an open adoption, I assure you that McArthur’s experience is not representative of open adoptions today.

Even the writer acknowledges that the case was “more difficult than most” and that her family did not benefit from open adoption experiences that have developed over the years.

At the same time, the story describes the most comprehensive longitudinal study of open adoption, which found that openness is beneficial in significant ways. Unfortunately, this information is buried deep in an 800-word sidebar, so most readers may miss it.

To make this series more fair and balanced, I suggest that The Times devote an equal amount of space to open adoptions that are working, and examine the reasons for their success.

Laura CastañedaLos Angeles

U.S. should stress ideals over power

Re “Old world order,” Opinion, Aug. 5

The United States is indeed running the old world order, and we will for a while longer. But as with most empires, we are destined to implode. The overreach of the American empire (more than 700 military installations around the world in 120 nations), coupled with a defense budget of $1 trillion annually (all related “defense” expenditures) cannot be long sustained.

Doing so would neglect our infrastructure of healthcare, education, transportation and more. The bridge collapse in Minneapolis is a preview of coming attractions. While no country can realistically challenge American hegemony currently, the only thing they need to do is wait -- the process of our self-destruction is well underway.

Bob TeiganSimi Valley

I respect Robert Kagan for his learned perspective and coolheaded approach. His piece is the best apology for the vast blunders rained down on the world by the current Bush administration I have seen yet. Kagan points out that the world power struggle is between liberal democracy and autocracy -- which side are President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on?

Colin DoyleColonia, N.J.

Kagan’s brief history of the world seems to support Hitler’s belief that brute power and matchless weapons are what makes a nation great. I’m not in Kagan’s intellectual class, but even I can see that he has badly misjudged this country’s underlying truth. The American experiment has, until recently, provided the world with hope. The values we professed and seemed to embody were indeed a beacon of light to striving people everywhere. Kagan says, “International conditions continue to support its predominance. As long as the U.S. remains strong.” I disagree. History tells me that we can’t change people’s minds at the point of a gun. If the U.S. wishes to continue as a world leader, it will be because we live up to the ideals embedded in our founding.

Sheldon J. BaerWoodland Hills

Kagan suggests that an American failure in Iraq would not be catastrophic, that we could lose the war and American security and standing in the world would probably change little. But if the outcome of the war is so insignificant, why then was he such an ardent advocate of the American invasion in the first place? For him to downplay the outcome now, after spending years trying to convince the public that the war was a political and moral imperative, seriously undermines his credibility.

Ted GaulinHuntington Beach

The mayor made his own bed

Re “Questions persist over mayor’s affair,” Aug. 4

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa needs to understand one thing: Mr. Mayor, you made decisions that have put you in an uncomfortable place. You decided to have an affair. You decided to throw your marriage away. You chose to have an affair with a news celebrity. You got yourself into this mess. You ought to take the questions from reporters for as long as this scandal takes to burn itself out. Instead, you scurry like a rat after a press conference, and your Los Angeles Port Police physically manhandle reporters who dare follow you. Now you have to deal with another unflattering news item. You chose your new life, Mr. Mayor. It is of your making. Enjoy.

Doug HayesSierra Madre

Re “Newscaster suspended over affair,” Aug. 3

Because of the scandal over his affair with Telemundo newscaster Mirthala Salinas, Villaraigosa was unable to lobby in Sacramento to restore cuts to transit funds. He had to cancel an appearance with the leaders of the Los Angeles Unified School District because, let’s face it, that’s a hell of a moral image he’s projecting for our public school students. And now his need for protection from the media may have induced a port policeman to commit battery on a reporter covering the mayor. Perhaps not just Salinas should be suspended without pay. Perhaps the city Ethics Commission should suspend the mayor for a couple of months without pay because, up until now, he hasn’t seemed to get it.

Mitch ParadiseLos Angeles

Re “Politics and pitfalls,” editorial, Aug. 5

While insinuating Villaraigosa is a slob with the insult “focus and attention to detail have never been his long suits,” it seems the media can only focus on one detail of his life -- his girlfriend. I choose to measure Villaraigosa’s worthiness as mayor by looking at his accomplishments. In contrast to former Mayor James K. Hahn, the shadow mayor, Villaraigosa is trying to improve the quality of life for Angelenos. The Times sneers at him by illogically equating his project to fix potholes with neglecting the gang problem. Maybe The Times should practice what it preaches and pay more attention to the details of the truth.

Ann SelleryGardena

Plastic hazard story has a familiar ring

Re “Scientists issue group warning on plastic chemical’s hazards,” Aug. 3

Reading the comments of Steve Hentges of the American Chemistry Council’s polycarbonate/BPA group gave me a profound feeling of deja vu. Hentges’ denigration of scientific evidence of the probable health dangers of bisphenol A (BPA) echoed the comments, over years, of “scientists” from the tobacco industry denigrating scientific findings of tobacco’s health risks.

One suspects that all the evidence that is needed to prove the danger of BPA is in locked files of the plastics industry that will, one day, come to light.

Norman Decker MDHouston

The Times’ report concerning the toxic bisphenol A in plastics follows a familiar pattern in which the industry involved adamantly denies any harm despite overwhelming animal studies to the contrary.

Many neurodegenerative diseases, from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder to brain tumors, are dramatically rising in the Western world, especially in children. Those individuals who have a genetic susceptibility to a given toxic substance or combination of substances are at high risk for developing overt disease.

Because many toxic substances are present in common foods, cleaners, clothes, personal items and other household products, consumers and especially parents would be well advised to become aware and avoid exposure.

Dennis Schumacher MDBig Pine, Calif.

The direction of Drudge

Re “Hot links served up daily,” Column One, Aug. 4

The story on how the Drudge Report steers Web surfers to breaking news stories is accurate as far as it goes. Drudge can take credit for influencing what some Web surfers read.

What the story omits is how the Drudge Report caters to right-wingers by using misleading headlines skewed toward conservative tastes and selectively pointing readers to news that puts liberals in a bad light, even when those news items are poorly sourced. An opponent of climate change from Podunk College gets higher billing and more sympathetic treatment than a Nobel laureate who supports it.

Talking about how Drudge organizes and packages Web links without noting the intent behind the Drudge Report is like saying that the major importance of talk radio is the increase in radio listeners.

John VasiSanta Barbara