A story that everyone should know.

[ColbertWatcher]

I posted this in reply to a thread about Admiral McCombover's ignorance when it comes to families. (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3685588&mesg_id=3685588)

I feel it deserves a little more attention.

Dozens gathered for a memorial service organized by the youngsters’ foster father to honor the memory of Katherine Lee, the mother of 15-year-old twins Shane and Patrick; Emily, 14; and Grace, 12.

(...)

Lee, a 46-year-old employee of a Venice moving and storage company, was stricken with a heart attack at the family’s North Hollywood home. Although the children quickly called 911 and Patrick followed directions from the emergency operator and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, their mother died later at UCLA Medical Center.

A family friend took in the four children until her landlord demanded that they leave by Feb. 1. The eviction order prompted a counselor at Fairfax High School, where Shane and Patrick are students, to launch a frantic campaign to find a place for the four to live before they were swept into the county’s 51,000-child foster-care system.

(...)

Within a few days, the search turned up Glynn, who heard about the children through a gay fathers support group called Pop Luck. Because the 41-year-old television writer was already adopting an 8-year-son, Iby, he was certified as a foster father. The Lee children moved immediately into his five-bedroom West Adams District home.

--http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/15/local/me-orphans15">LA Times, 2002

Defying all odds, they have remained a family.

The four Lee siblings were together again in the rambling West Adams district house they’ve come to call home. The elder three had come back from college to celebrate the 18th birthday of their youngest sister – and to celebrate their good fortune at being rescued by total strangers when they were orphaned six years ago.

(...)

“We stayed a family. That’s the most important thing. We became a strong family,” said Shane, now 21 and a junior majoring in communications at San Francisco State. “We used to be individuals. Our dad helped our bond as a family grow.”


--http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/08/local/me-orphans8">LA Times, 2007

Please check out the links for the full story and kick/rec this as you see fit.

[fl410]

1. But McInsane says kids need TWO parents!

:shrug:

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Well, he gave his kids three, right? He and every GOPher are asses. n/t

[malaise]

11. Was that why he left his wife and kids or does his bull$hit only apply

to orphans and not children of men who leave their injured wives for younger women.
Who the fugg is he to comment on this? Has he no shame?

[proud patriot]

3. I'm thankful the kids were able to stay together

what a tragic story

[ColbertWatcher]

6. Yes.

According to the articles, it was more likely they would have been split up due to their ages and because there were four of them.

[Booster]

4. No, no, no. Can't have stories like this going around.

McCain says you have to change this story around and make it a man and WOMAN who took in these kids and turned their lives around. Shame on you.:spank:

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Granted, this is not a typical story about adoptions, but...

...when the system categorically prevents people like Mr. Glynn it is guaranteed to happen less often.

For the GOP, that's fine with them, as long as their fragile ideology remains pure.

Bastards.

[MercutioATC]

7. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve...

...and they had a deceitful relationship that led to them being cursed by god for all time.

[checks-n-balances]

8. Oops, did you forget something...

like this?
:sarcasm:

[MercutioATC]

12. You needed a sarcasm tag for that post??

For all who read only the title and thought I was serious...

:sarcasm:

[checks-n-balances]

15. You kiddin'? Not me

I was just being sarcastic myself!
:evilgrin:

[ColbertWatcher]

9. God also didn't create...

...John and Carol Cindy.

[MercutioATC]

13. Well, McCain didn't officially "covet his neighbor's wife"...

...he just screwed around on his....

[ColbertWatcher]

14. And "technically" they weren't "neighbors" either. n/t

[Kber]

23. I took my 3 year old to the gay pride march in NYC last month

and there was a guy with that slogan on a poster screaming obscenities at the crowd.

I figured it was a "teachable moment", so I pointed him out to my little girl and asked her "Who do you think is nicer, the people marching in the parade or that man over there screaming bad words at everyone?"

Without batting an eyelash she looks at me earnestly and says, "That man is mean! He's not being a good man at all!"

I was so pleased that I went over and I thanked him for presenting an opportunity to teach my little girl a moral lesson. I actually thought he might hit me, he was so mad, but I had some backup from the "Dykes on Bikes" group, so in the end, no one was hurt.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. She does understand that sometimes one must yell to protest, yes? n/t

[Kber]

25. Maybe not yet, but my 11 year old had understood the concept

for some time.

It wasn't so much that he was yelling that upset her, it was the nasty, ugly tone of his voice. Everyone at the parade had been so nice to her and here was this mean guy yelling at the people she had made friends with.

Heck - the first time I was teargassed was in 1972 protesting the firebombing of Cambodia.

I was 11 months at the time, so taking kids to protests and demonstrations is a time honored tradition in my family.

I had a grandmother who was very proud of walking out of a DAR concert in Washington b/c they asked the black soprano star to enter through the servant's entrance.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Self-righteous hypocrites...everyone of those Repukes.

[checks-n-balances]

16. Glad the story ended up the way it did

Thanks for posting it by itself.

Isn't it way past time for people to understand that it's OK to treat one another humanely and with compassion. And The Great Commandment ("love your neighbor as yourself") trumps those myriad of cultural laws in the Bible.

[ColbertWatcher]

17. I'm glad too.

And you're welcome, I figured it deserved the extra attention only a separate thread could give it!

Do unto others.

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Late night kick. n/t

[OneBlueSky]

19. thanks so much for that great story . . .

I've bookmarked both articles so I can re-read them from time to time . . .

many years ago, I was a foster parent to troubled adolescent boys . . . being gay myself, it was a challenge on a number of fronts, but also the most rewarding experience of my life . . . during this time, I learned how important gay men and lesbians are in the whole world of adoption and foster care . . . very often we are willing to take kids that no one else wants -- older kids, acting out kids, addicted kids, AIDS babies, you name it . . . and we never give up on them, no matter what problems may arise . . .

thanks again for this uplifting thread . . . my pleasure to kick and recommend it . . . :yourock:

[ColbertWatcher]

21. I've copied the text and saved it, so...

...if it gets Orwelled, let me know and I can send it to you.

And, you're welcome.

I was hoping one day that since the guy was a TV writer, we might see the movie one day!

[candystrap]

20. Good news to hear

Kudos to you for letting us know of this heartwarming and brave story. Reunited families are always a relieving fact of life to hear.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. You're welcome and Welcome to DU! n/t

[Lil Missy]

26. The kindness and generosity of strangers going to such lengths ...

in such a tragedy just amazes me sometimes.

What a heartwarming story.

[ColbertWatcher]

27. Like the old saying goes, "It takes a village". n/t