I completely agree - just went on to the independent's website to see for myself and can't believe the level of ignorance and hatefulness on there. It is really depressing to think that so many people feel that way. I'm sure that most families must be absolutely devastated when a child is removed but from what I've seen of the process so far I completely believe that this doesn't happen without good cause. Like any massive organisation there must be occasional errors but the majority of cases are totally for the child's safety and are a necessary step. Also, from what I've read in the various CPRs we've seen, Social Services really don't leave any stone unturned in checking out other possible family members, so the children that actually end up being adopted via SS truly don't have any other place to turn other than a permanent and potentially unstable life in foster care.
I think it is a sad thing, but there are probably a lot of extended family members that feel that they could have offered the adopted child a home, but where ignorance/lack of education/poor upbringing etc. means that they really cannot understand why they are not felt to be suitable carers for that child in the long term. As a prospective adopter I guess I'm always going to be on the side that believes that adoption is the right path for certain children, but when you read some of the vitriol that the anti-forced-adoption gang trot out it really makes you feel sick to your stomach.
Apart from anything else, I have researched adoption statistics extensively and the ones that they are quoting are absolute rubbish. They clearly have no real understanding of the process and it really annoys me that they are just repeating and inflating uninformed views without any reference to actual facts or data.
Sorry - this has turned into a bit of a rant of my own! I kind of wanted to say all this on the independent's website but couldn't be bothered to sign up for an account! I guess ultimately only we adoptive families, the SWs, the courts, and the child's birth family really know the background of why a specific child ends up in care and is subsequently adopted. As long as all of those people are satisfied that that particular child needed that intervention in their life, and that you are the right family to give them a second chance, then it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. They can all go and stew in their unpleasant internet chat rooms and you can get on with your happy family life :-)