An Open Letter to the City of Colorado Springs, CO

I have a friend on Facebook who lives in Colorado Springs, CO. The city has decided to turn off 8000-10000 street lights in order to save $1.2 million dollars. But they've invited people to "adopt a streetlight," that is, pay to light the streetlight in their neighborhood. The cost is $75 or $180 depending on the size of the light.

see the city page here.

As a man who knows what adoption is, I get really upset when people borrow the significance of adoption language to add power and emotional support to their cause. Adoption isn't paying the electricity on a large lamp. It isn't paying for a book at your local library. It isn't helping a needy kid in Bangladesh with her shoes and school supplies. It isn't helping care for a species at the zoo. Adoption is nothing less than a legal process by which non related kids and adults become father and son, mother and daughter. Forever. Real. Period. So I sent the city of Colorado Springs an email. And I told them I'd be posting it on my blog. Here it is:

Hello,
I am not a citizen of Colorado Springs, but have a friend who is. I am
writing out of concern for your "adopt a streetlight" program.

I am a father of 4 kids by way of adoption and I am concerned about the
casual use of adoption language which runs rampant in our culture. I know
first hand what adoption is. And paying to light a small portion of a
street in Colorado Springs isn't even close.

Nearly 6 million people in America are adopted. The Evan B. Donaldson
Adoption Institute estimates that nearly 60% of Americans are personally
connected to someone who is adopted, has adopted, or has placed a child for
adoption. I don't claim to speak for any of them but myself, my wife and my
children -- but that's a lot of people who have seen first hand what
adoption really is.

What I'm asking you to consider is changing the name of your program to
something more appropriate like, "sponsor" or "support" or "illuminate."
And when you change it, you might consider telling people why -- and while
you're at it, commend people who really do adopt kids. Just think: your
city could be a great leader in this area.

I certainly hope that many people step up and help light the streets of
Colorado Springs. But I hope you can do it without undermining a process by
which kids in need become actual sons and daughters of parents who want to
love them forever.

Sincerely,
Rev. Nathan Loer
P.S. - I've posed this email as an open letter on my blog in the hopes that
it will create public dialog on this topic. www.browervilleblog.com


My hope is that they'll change their language. And further, I hope this might be a catalyst for other organizations to follow suit. I encourage you to write a letter or email of your own to the city (you'll find contact info on their site, linked above). And, if you have any way to link to this blog or share it with friends, I would greatly appreciate it.

And that's the news from Browerville.

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