During National Adoption Month (November), the "uncommon truth" will have to compete with stories of wonderful reunions and the perpetual myth that if we remove secrecy from adoption, it will violate privacy rights and increase abortion rates. National Adoption Month for adoptees may mean we are grateful that we did not spend our lives in an orphanage, but it does not mean we are grateful that we somehow dodged abortion.

Adoption and abortion are two separate issues, only joined together by the likes of the American Civil Liberties Union, to push its radical feminist agenda. The ACLU has violated its mission statement by supporting government-sealed records in hopes of maintaining secret adoption as a perverted sense of choice, reminding us all that the fetus and the orphan have no choice.

The Catholic Church has also mashed these two issues together to justify its awkward stance that breaking up families, falsifying documents and secrecy are attractive options that will reduce abortion rates.

They must realize the same shame that fueled secret adoption fuels abortion today.

How can the adoption community compete with these powerful special interest groups? Well, we have already won the battles; the majority of citizens and our lawmakers support adoption reform. We just need those in leadership to do the "uncommon"; resist special interest groups and follow the will of the people.

Until then, National Adoption Month will only be a reminder that adoptees are second-class citizens, denied the basic human right of a valid birth certificate.

Capt. Peter W. FranklinAl Asad, Iraq

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