Open Letter to The Grinch
This is Lawrence. To the person who has been anonomously posting negative comments about this journal. I think that it is time that we clarify a few things about what this journal is and is not.
This is our story of bringing our three youngest children home. You are welcome to read it. In fact, I would encourage you to read it -- in particular -- as I hope the story touches your heart.
The main audience for this journal is our family and close friends. Other supportive people are welcome to view it.
I find it telling that you never sign your name to your posts.
Poland is a Westernizing country. Not Western yet. However, you and I agree that this is a nice place. The place we are is very poor and not cosmopoliton. The main business is the making of T-34 battle tanks, the main fuel is totally unfiltered coal, and most people do not own a car. Not sure that makes them hicks. Never said that it did. It makes many of them poor.
We have been truly touched by the kindness and love of many Poles and Germans with whom we come into contact each day. Those who know that we are giving these children the mother, father, brother, extended family, and normal -- I hope loving -- life that we all deserve; have all been fantastic. From the waiter who climbed two flights of stairs four times to deliver one meal and take away the dishes knowing that it would be easier for us to the desk clerk who helps us learn a tiny bit of Polish. This is to say nothing of the nuns, pannies, doctors, and others who have taken care of the children and truly love them.
Sure, there are malls, Tessco, and even -- God help us -- McDonalds. None of these things factor into the lives of most people here. They CLEARLY do not factor into the lives of the three children whom we are adopting.
The Sisters do amazing things with limited resources. On this journal, we have openly solicited for donations that we will carry back for the second trip. As a person proud of your Polish heritage, I am sure that you can support that effort.
It is important to stress that this journal is NOT a debating society. The logistics of this trip, whether or not adopting is a good idea, what we are going to name the children, who the god parents are going to be, whether we should be trying to teach them English now, and so on are NOT up for debate. We have given you a window into one of the greatest events of our lives. You do not get to vote. I listened to my brother when he advised me about naming the children, but you are not family and all the decisions have already been made.
Have we made grammar errors in the Polish we have in this journal. Clearly, we have. Freely, we admit that. As Elaine said, we speak Polish like Tonto speaks English. If you speak Polish, hearing us would hurt your ears. Too bad. The children appreciate the effort and the social worker was impressed with it.
You cannot see 50 orphans watching as you pick up the three you are adopting without being moved to tears. They know that their mother and father have not yet come. You cannot help but have anger issues with the people responsible for the children being in the care of the sisters in the first place.
To summarize, I think that you need to re-read the journal. We point out humorous stuff happening, but it is most often ourselves who seem to be hicks as we are strangers to this land. Poland is a place where they take care of the children and handle adoption above board and with dignity. Poland is a pretty cool place.
Well, I must go now. Anybody can read this, but realize that this is our story. It belongs to Elaine, Ross, "I", "D", "M", and myself. Just that simple.
Lawrence
This is our story of bringing our three youngest children home. You are welcome to read it. In fact, I would encourage you to read it -- in particular -- as I hope the story touches your heart.
The main audience for this journal is our family and close friends. Other supportive people are welcome to view it.
I find it telling that you never sign your name to your posts.
Poland is a Westernizing country. Not Western yet. However, you and I agree that this is a nice place. The place we are is very poor and not cosmopoliton. The main business is the making of T-34 battle tanks, the main fuel is totally unfiltered coal, and most people do not own a car. Not sure that makes them hicks. Never said that it did. It makes many of them poor.
We have been truly touched by the kindness and love of many Poles and Germans with whom we come into contact each day. Those who know that we are giving these children the mother, father, brother, extended family, and normal -- I hope loving -- life that we all deserve; have all been fantastic. From the waiter who climbed two flights of stairs four times to deliver one meal and take away the dishes knowing that it would be easier for us to the desk clerk who helps us learn a tiny bit of Polish. This is to say nothing of the nuns, pannies, doctors, and others who have taken care of the children and truly love them.
Sure, there are malls, Tessco, and even -- God help us -- McDonalds. None of these things factor into the lives of most people here. They CLEARLY do not factor into the lives of the three children whom we are adopting.
The Sisters do amazing things with limited resources. On this journal, we have openly solicited for donations that we will carry back for the second trip. As a person proud of your Polish heritage, I am sure that you can support that effort.
It is important to stress that this journal is NOT a debating society. The logistics of this trip, whether or not adopting is a good idea, what we are going to name the children, who the god parents are going to be, whether we should be trying to teach them English now, and so on are NOT up for debate. We have given you a window into one of the greatest events of our lives. You do not get to vote. I listened to my brother when he advised me about naming the children, but you are not family and all the decisions have already been made.
Have we made grammar errors in the Polish we have in this journal. Clearly, we have. Freely, we admit that. As Elaine said, we speak Polish like Tonto speaks English. If you speak Polish, hearing us would hurt your ears. Too bad. The children appreciate the effort and the social worker was impressed with it.
You cannot see 50 orphans watching as you pick up the three you are adopting without being moved to tears. They know that their mother and father have not yet come. You cannot help but have anger issues with the people responsible for the children being in the care of the sisters in the first place.
To summarize, I think that you need to re-read the journal. We point out humorous stuff happening, but it is most often ourselves who seem to be hicks as we are strangers to this land. Poland is a place where they take care of the children and handle adoption above board and with dignity. Poland is a pretty cool place.
Well, I must go now. Anybody can read this, but realize that this is our story. It belongs to Elaine, Ross, "I", "D", "M", and myself. Just that simple.
Lawrence