Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Lynn Wigglesworth wrote:

> > Third, and the one I have, is the one I use that shows my adoptive 
> > parents as my parents.  Very strange to see because it is a lying 
> > document.  No where does it say that I was adopted,,,it just treats
> > my adoptive parents as if they were my biological parents.
>
> Wow; is that the way adoptions are handled? That is strange.

No, not strange. Typical for most states, and very routine for a closed
adoption in the state of SC in 1961.


> Was he legally adopted? Or did he just use his stepfather's name?

When most people use the word adopted, they mean legally adopted.  I've
never heard anyone say they were adopted that did not imply that there
had been some kind of court case where a child's name was changed and
the adopting parent claimed parental rights.
I know it is common, especially today, for stepchildren to use a
stepfather's name, but they generally do not refer to themselves as
adoptees.
If he was legally adopted, he would definitely want to keep that a
secret because that would mean he was an Indonesian citizen and since
Indonesia did not allow dual citizenship, he would not be a US citizen.
 It is my understanding that most of the evidence for adoption is
circumstantial-use of the name, family statements, etc.  The way the
divorce was handled also circumstantially points to a previous adoption.
 Obama was 19 at the time of the divorce so his name is not on the
papers, but he is mentioned as a one of two children of the couple.  He
is the child over 18 and his sister Maya is the child under 18.  If he
had not been adopted by Lolo, he would not have been listed as a child
of the couple, regardless of his age.  Recall, too, that his school
record listed him as a citizen of Indonesia, another tidbit pointing to
an adoption in Indonesia.  All circumstantial, but evidence nonetheless.


> > Like I said, each state is different.  Comparing my state to yours
> > or yours to Hawaii is apples and oranges.
> It seems odd that there is so much variation at the state level, yet
> these are important documents at a federal level...getting a SS# or a
> passport, for example.

What can I say, that is the way it is.
Lynn, for years I was politically active in adoption reform, trying to
make all states the same.  In my mind, it was not right that an adoptee
in Kansas would have a right to know his biological parents, but another
child/teen/adult across the line in Colorado or did not.  Not fair.
There is a LOT of crap in the adoption world, even in open adoptions,
which are a thousand percent better than closed adoptions for the people
involved.  In a open adoption, like those involving stepparents, the
records are not sealed and there is some kind of public notice.
My stepfather attempted to adopt me to that I would be raised with his
name.  Back in the 60's, it was tough having a different name, not as
common as it is today.  My adoptive father would not permit it-would not
relinquish his rights, and therefore my stepfather could not adopt. Had
he done that, I would have yet another birth certificate showing him as
my father.  Craziness.

I have a question that maybe someone can answer...
On his school records in Hawaii, did he use the name Obama or Soetoro?,
 when did he start using Obama again, was it when he returned to Hawaii
or was it when he went to Oxy?  Didn't he use the name Barry Dunham,
too, and when was that?

Speaking of fathers, today is my deceased biological father's birthday.
 I miss him.  On a homestead, there is always some chore that you can do
to ease your spirit, and for me today that is splitting wood and painting.


--
"Never expect magic from no where"  Baringo (Kenyan) working motto
http://erthnsky.blogspot.com/
EarthNSky Farm, NW Georgia, USA