Pound Pup Legacy

There's an episode of Spongebob where the viewer gets to learn a new word:  "li-spect". 

Kid #5:  That's why we like you so much, Stinky! You always deliver the goods!

Kid #4:  We don't like Stinky, we respect him!

Stinky:  Well which one is it, kids? Do you like…or…respect me?

Kid #5:  Like!

Kid #4:  Respect!

Kid #5:  Like!!!!

Kid #4:  Respect!!!

Stinky:  Okay! Let's just meet in the middle and say you li-spect me!

Kids:  Yeah!!! Lispect! (Cheers) You're so smart!!

Kid Krabs:  Scuze us!

Plankton:  Valuable customers coming through!

Kid #1:  What are those dorks doing here?

Kid Krabs:  Two stinky burgers, please.

Stinky:  Did yer brains dribble out onto the sidewalk you slept on last night? If it's burgers you want, go 'round back!

Kids:  Yay Stinky!!! (Cheering)

Kid #1:  Thanks for keeping the nerds out!

Kid #2:  You're the best, Stinky!

Stinky:  Ok, that's enough, kids…Uh, gather round children, there's something I want to tell you. What I have to say is very important.

If you remember just one thing for the rest of your life, remember that (sniffle) without your kind patronage, I'd be a penniless loser…like Rag Boy. [meaning, Kid Krabs]

[out in back with Kid Krabs and Plankton, Stinky continues:]  Do you two have kelp for brains?

Don't you understand? If you two yahoos keep coming around, you'll drive away all the normal customers!

I've worked too long and too hard to make this a li-spectable business! As it is, I can barely afford the essential things in life.

Is it quittin' time already? [changes into pimp-outfit]

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to enjoy some of life's essentials. [gets into money-filled limo...]

Ooh! (Laugh)  [Stinky gets driven away]

Plankton:  Did ya hear that Krabs? By cooking burgers for those cretins, he was able to gain their li-spect!    [Dialogue from Sponge Bob Squarepants, Epsiode 81, "Friend or Foe" broadcast script,  http://www.lumiere.gr/script/NICKELODEON%20SCRIPTS/Spongebob/SB%2081.doc]

Throughout the years, I have become amazed how the general public really seems to like and respect those who work for the adoption industry.  Like Stinky, I believe many facilitating family-trade agreements probablly feel as though they are providing a great service that keeps many people happy and satisfied.  Perhaps in some cases this is even true.

And yet the reports keep coming... and the information keeps building... information that relates to coerced adoptions, black markets, and child trafficking reports, and I think:  where are services being provided, and for whom, because it sure as hell doesn't seem to be for those in rags and without riches.

A staggering 45,000 children go missing in India every year and of these, 11,000 are never found.

“Generally, police do not give priority to these cases and a FIR is filed only if it is a case of suspected kidnapping or abduction. Lodging FIRs will lead to accountability of the real numbers of missing persons,” says Sandhya Bajaj, a member of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Child rights activists say that most of the cases of missing children are being taken not very seriously because showing concern leads to accountability on the part of law enforcement agencies. Priority is given to other serious crimes.   From:  "Missing children, least priority?", The Indian Express, http://www.indianexpress.com/story/356405.html

Perhaps I could li-spect those working for Child Protection and Placement Services if I knew children were not being abused and badly mistreated in the process, and perhaps I could li-preciate the efforts AP's were doing if I didn't think there were loving parents getting ignored, dismissed and punished for someone else's (paid) working inadequacy.

Call me Kill-joy Kerry, but until safety can be guaranteed for ALL children, I will continue my belief that there are indeed cretins working for and with the international adoption industry, and this corruption and neglect needs to stop.