Return of the Russian orphan

It has taken me quite a while to absorb the implications of Torry Hansen shocking behaviour towards her adopted son Artyom Savelyev. And even now I do not quite know what to make of it all. It throws up so many of the issues of international adoption and provides no answers. It cracks open the flaws,exposes the weaknesses of this complex non perfect system and offers up questsions in their multitude.
As my universtity lecturer Kit used to ask 'How could this be?'
This is a story of the fraility of the human condition. It has touched the hearts of the world because we can all see ourselves in Torry Hansen and yet we all despise that part of ourselves. I doubt if there is one parent in history who has not, at one stage or another, wanted to walk away, but you don't. Parenthood is a committment no matter how you come by it. It is a committment for life for you and for your child and this is non negotiable. Well that is how it is supposed to be. But life does not always happen the way it is supposed to be. In a perfect world Artyom would not be needing a family, Hansen would not be looking across the world for a child, and she certainly would not be offering that poor child the same fate he has already experienced at the weakness of his birthparents. Disruption in adoption happens, possibly more often then anyone would like to acknowledge, but the dissolving of the family should be with respect, gentleness, kindness and honour.

What is so shocking in this case is that Hansen chose to be disrespectful and cruel. Not only to poor Artyom who we can only assume was doing his best in very difficult circumstances, but to world as a whole and to adoption and Russia in particular.
With complete disregard for anyone but herself she has caused an international row, put the chance of a better life for thousands of deprived children at risk, and left a sour taste in the mouth of millions.

At the root of international adoption are the principles of honour and shame - we try to bring honour to shameful circumstances. Then along comes Torry Hansen who with complete disregard turns the cart and brings shame upon shame. Shame on you.