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With stories of Haitian orphans who left the misery of their earthquake-torn country to find happiness after moving to the United States, its nearly impossible to argue against the policy of bringing these desperate little ones here, right?
Well, let me try.
Everyone knows the orphans, ranging from 11 months to 16 years of age who are part of what's known as the "Pennsylvania Airlift" will do better with a full refrigerator, cable television and the greater physical safety they would receive in Pittsburgh compared to Port-au-Prince.
But reports that some of the children were taken without getting the permission of their families are credible.
Through the years, we have seen that people with the missionary zeal of the All Blessings International adoption agency, which coordinated the airlift, sometimes neglect to dot all the i's and cross all the t's when it comes to getting proper approvals for taking the children.
When a group of Haitian orphans landed in Pittsburgh on Jan. 19, 12 children didn't go through proper adoption channels and didn't even have new homes in the ready for them.
What would happen to those kids. Would they become wards of the state? Would they be shipped back to Haiti after getting a teasing taste of American life? Would they be sent to the highest-bidding American family?
I have no reason to question the motives of the adoption agency. But even with the purest of intentions, the business of shipping poor children across international borders is a questionable practice.
I have a very good friend who sends money to poor children in Central America and Africa. She even used her vacation time to visit the family of one of the children -- leaving behind gifts for her "child" and their family.
That is a much better way to show your concern for the poor and struggling children of Haiti. If you really want to help, visit the families, help rebuild the broken cities, leave behind money and materials to facilitate the rebuilding that will help the entire society -- not just a lucky child or two.
Simply grabbing up a few children for new lives here does little to help Haiti at large.