Orphans from quake-ravaged Haiti arrive in U.S.
Authors: Gary Tuchman, Adam Levine and Mary Snow
By: Danny Urkov
Summary: In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about 50 Haiti orphan babies arrived Tuesday. Their adoption forms were almost completed before the earthquake last Wednesday. Governor Edward Rendell traveled with them back to his state, (Pennsylvania), to make sure they were safe. The U.S.'s mission is to make sure no one is left behind, though many kids and adults are still trapped under the rocks and buildings. When coming to America, the orphans must have their documents to get in to America. In America most of the kids are expected to be adopted and one more is coming later Tuesday. More care packages and troops are being sent in to help the people of Haiti. Not all of them can be saved but that is President Obama is trying to make sure most of them do.
How it relates to Social Studies Class: This article relates to class because the U.S. is one of the powerful countries on the Earth, so they must help. In class, we also learned that America is a giving country because in the Industrial Revolution, America gave people from different countries a chance at a new and improved life. America also gave new inventions for a low price so everyone could afford it. Now in modern day, we are giving lots of supplies and troops to Haiti, despite our economic crisis. We learned this during the Industrial Revolution in social studies.
Discusion Questions:
1. Do you think that more orphans will be brought to the United States and how many more?
2. Do you think that the U.S. is doing a good or a bad thing not letting people or orphan in without their documents? Explain your reasoning.
3. How will the Haiti orphans that are adopted in the United States effect the orphan children that live in the United States? Explain.
My responses:
1. I think that more orphans from Haiti will be brought because in Haiti, most of the Adoption centers are destroyed or unsafe for little kids. I am guessing about 100 more orphans from Haiti because they are expected to take a few more trips to Haiti.
2. I think that the U.S. is doing a bad thing because the people who are trying to get to America in this case, are orphans. They won't have their papers and documents and such because they aren't in control of them, the adoption care is. When the quake hit, their papers probably got lost or destroyed and now they can't go to America.
3. I think that the orphans from Haiti will effect the orphans already in America because now people won't be saying," I want to adopt a poor American orphan." They will be saying," I want to adopt a poor orphan from Haiti." American orphans population will stay the same while Haiti orphans in America will decrease.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/01/19/haiti.orphans/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Comments (14)
Quinn R said
at 3:08 pm on Jan 21, 2010
1. I think that the us will indeed bring more orphans into the united states.
2. I think that the us has no choice because they are tossing people out of the country for not having documents so it would be unfair
3. I don't think that the other orphans will be affected by the haitians because children are resilient.
Taylor T said
at 5:33 pm on Jan 21, 2010
1) More orphans will be brought to the U.S. from Haiti because there are so many children whose whole family died in the earthquake. The children would die themselves if they weren't taken care of by others. Since the earthquake killed tens of thousands of people, there will be at least ten times as many kids brought to America as there was on their recent trip.
2) Not letting people or orphans into the U.S. without their documents is bad in this case because then we are leaving kids to suffer in Haiti, sleeping in streets each night without a hand to hold onto. The children have gone through so much and experienced things most Americans haven't in their lifetime, so the documents shouldn't matter what happens to them.
3) The Haiti orphans that are adopted in the United States will most likely be adopted before the orphan children in the United States now because people want to help out. Adults will adopt the kids from Haiti because it is for a good cause and they feel bad for the orphans. However, the other orphans that have lived in the U.S. will be pushed to the side, ultimately not getting adopted as quickly.
Gwenny S said
at 8:23 pm on Jan 21, 2010
1. I dont believe that more orphans will be brought from Haiti because sadly many people dyed from the earthquake and there are many kids that dont have parents or a place to live. Im thinking that many more kids will be brought to America.
2. I think not letting orphans or people into the U.S. without documents is a good and bad thing. Its good because without a document you dont know anything about the person/child, so by making the people have a document is protecting us. Its a bad thing because many people are being left behind because they dont have a document which i also think is wrong. Most of the people dont have any place to go or live.
3. I think the orphan children from Haiti will be adopted before the orphans in America which might case problems, but i think it will be a good thing for the Haiti orphans to make new friends and to experience America. I also think its good for the U.S. orphans to meet all different kinds of people because they never know what kind of family would want to adopt them.
Molly K. said
at 9:33 am on Jan 22, 2010
1) I think that more orphans will be brought into the United States. There is many people willing to adopt and these poor children form Haiti need a place to live right now. I think about 300 more orphans will be brought into the United States to find a new home and get adopted.
2) I do not think this is a good thing. As long as the United States documents them there shouldn't be a problem. Many houses and places were records are kept were destroyed in the earthquake. Some people do not have their documents but need to get out of Haiti. The United States is doing a disservice to them by requiring documents.
3) I don't think it will affect orphans in the United States at all. Many people will still adopt children from the United States if that was their plan. Others would see a new opportunity to adopt kids from Haiti and help them too. I think that adoption will be the same as always. People will adopt kids from Haiti but people will also adopt kids from the United States.
Aidan W. said
at 2:16 pm on Jan 22, 2010
1 there will obviously be more orphans coming in some are not orphans some will be people and families that lost there homes and lives during the earthquake, some will be coming to o to a different part of the country or go back.
2 The best thing that the us can do is let them into the country they have no where else to go.
3 they will or will not have an affect on them some of them will accept them with open arms and others have to have some time to get used to them.
Hannah B said
at 4:42 pm on Jan 23, 2010
1. I definitely think that more orphans will be brought into the counties. Kids in Haiti from orphanages need homes, along with newly orphaned children whose parents died in the earthquake.
2. I'm somewhat in-between about whether or not it is a good thing that the United States is doing. It's only fair to let the orphans in like any others would- to need the documents. However, under these circumstances, it's important to help these people, and accepting them in the United States would definitely help them.
3. I don't think the Haiti orphans will affect the orphans in the United States. There are less orphans coming from Haiti, and I don't think they will make a big difference in the adoption of American orphans.
Elizabeth P. said
at 6:16 pm on Jan 23, 2010
1. I think that more and more younger kids will be brought over to America because their life right now in Haiti would not be very good at all. The orphanages have be destroyed so they have no place to stay and they would also have to fend for themselves. In America they will have a loving family and a place to stay.
2. I think that for legal issues it is a very good idea to only allow people into the country if they have a legal document. Although it might be hard to let the younger kids in since it might be harder to get theri papers, if they allowed the Haitians in without papers, then they would have to make an exception for every immigrant.
3. I think that more people will feel bad for the Haitians, so they will immediately think of them, and not think of the American's who need homes too.
Sean P said
at 11:21 am on Jan 24, 2010
1) I think that more orphans will be brought to the United States because every day, more and more people are found under the wreckage in Haiti. If children are found but their parents are either not found or dead, their best option would be to bring them to the U.S. and be adopted.
2) I think that it is both good and bad. If older people who are able to get immigration papers are kept out if they dont have needed documents, that is okay. But I think that if they keep out an orphan who has no easy way to get a visa and have no where to go, then that isn't right. If, however, thay do decide to only accept people who have immigration papers, then they should help the orphans get documents.
3) I think that the orphans from Haiti will affect American orphans because right now the earthquake in Haiti is a big deal, and everyone wants to help in anyway they can. This may cause the American orphans to be not thopught of as much, or left out of the picture entierly for a short time.
Emma N said
at 7:38 pm on Jan 24, 2010
1) Yes, I think more orphans will be brought. However, I cannot say how many because there are countless casualties in Haiti. I think it isn't even known how many orphans there are now.
2) I think it is a questionable thing. Say someone has a family with them and is in okay condition. Then, maybe, it would be okay to require papers. However, most people are not in okay condition. They are wounded, without a family, or without proper living conditions. I think the US should bend their rules. These people need help! We should be willing to give it.
Emma N said
at 7:40 pm on Jan 24, 2010
3) I think that people will be a bit more willing to adopt form Haiti, because these people are in a huge crisis and are in a serious need of families and support.
Jack A said
at 9:20 pm on Jan 24, 2010
1. Yes, I think the US should bring more orphans into the US but I don't know how many will/can be brought.
2. I think its bad that we are rejecting orphans but on the other hand, it is fair because we are rejecting illegal aliens everyday.
3. I think that people think they are doing a greater deed by adopting children from Haiti as opposed to American orphan because they believe that the Haitian children have gone through worse.
Noor Q said
at 5:00 pm on Jan 25, 2010
1) I think the US will allow more orphans into the country. The demand for relief for Haiti is so great that many children will need to be sent to a safe place. such as the US.
2) I think the US should allow children in who do not have documentation on them. The crisis they suffered is so great, that them even being able to find their documents is a very difficult task. These people need help and this isn't really a time for paperwork and formalities.
3) overall I don't think other American children will be affected that greatly by the new Haitian orphans. Although for a short while it might be harder to find an American family ready to adopt an American orphan, it won't affect the majority of children currently up for adoption.
3)
Alex R said
at 8:50 pm on Jan 31, 2010
1. Yes I believe that more orphans will come to the U.S. because we are providing more and more aid to the Haiti and with that help well come aid for the children and more people will take them to the U.S. and it is impossible to tell how much orphans will end up in the U.S.
2. I think it’s a bad thing the U.S. is doing because by keeping them in Haiti they will not receive the proper Medicare and shelter that they need in Haiti it is still in too much stress. It would help relive Haiti with some of its problems.
3. I don’t think it will affect any of the orphans here in the U.S., it will just add to the number of kids living in foster homes here. It will not make a huge impact on the adoption numbers because in these economic times it is very hard to pay for a child and all of its needs.
Jack B said
at 7:05 pm on Feb 1, 2010
1. Yes, I think that more ophans will come to the United State. For a few reasons. 1. We are the best country and one with the best technology to support children. 2. Because of our health care and medicine. I think that about 2,000 to 5,000 will come.
2. I think that it’s a bad thing that the USA is letting only the people with their documents to come in because most of their belongs including their documents got lost or destroyed.
3. I think that this will help the already orphans kids. Because it will teach them how to comfort kids and other people and learn about the earthquake and what it was like.
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