Ladies and Gentlemen:
It’s a pleasure to address you this morning and to be among so many people who deeply care about the Korean adopted children. I would like to extend my appreciation to Ms. Christy Winston and the Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN) for organizing this conference. I also thank of those individuals whose initiation made it possible for a mere concept to become a national organization for Korean-born adoptees and their families.
How you look at a situation, is almost as important as the circumstance itself. We are all equal in the world. However, we are not all the same. Each race is characterized by a wealth of extraordinary traits. Through education, we are given a new perspective. We are able to celebrate the blessing of living in a multicultural world. When we are equipped with the appropriate knowledge, we are able to make the right decisions that lead to the best actions. Therefore, let us provide our Korean-adoptees with the knowledge and culture that will lead them to success.
On the subject, it is through living that we derive our most valuable lessons. In our world, learning about people and their culture is not the same experience as being amongst an ethnic group. Only through interaction. Do you truly begin to understand an ethnic group and its ways. It is through programs like those provided in today’s conference that leads us to a greater understanding of Koreans. By opening our hearts and our minds, we are inspired to learn more about the Korean culture. Through learning, we can educate others as well.
As we come together to share our experiences, we see that our feelings, problems and challenges are alike. We can share in similar ways to deal with them. By sharing, we can grow to feel the unity that often characterizes the Korean community. The closer and the more tightly we knit the fabric of this network, the more powerful we will be in warding off the threat of isolation and prejudice.
Our community is our strength. From there, we develop our identity. Our identity is the backbone of our existence. It takes time to develop, but there lies a great power in knowing who you are. We are here today to empower the young by uniting them with an entire network. Moreover, we are devoted to getting the children involved with their Korean heritage. I am proud to be a part of a community that helps to supply the young the resources they need to fully develop their cultural identity. As adults we should think off all children as our responsibility. It is our obligation to ensure that their needs are met, even when those needs may no be apparent.
As parents, there seems to be n end in figuring out what the needs of our children are. Certain needs may go unnoticed, especially in the case of international adoptions. The beauty of KAAN’s supportive network is that they help to incorporate Korean culture into the lives of both the parents and their children. Meanwhile, parents can help new parents identify the ways to address the feelings of isolation that a child might have.
To conclude, greatness is built upon a strong foundation. I know that we have the resources to grow and succeed in our endeavors. Children are the blessings that enrich our lives. They deserve more than our love. They deserve a sense of belonging and a chance to inherit the culture that is inseparable to their being. We cannot deny that Korean born adoptees have been given a unique place in life. Yet, it is up to us to translate that uniqueness into power that they can use. Let us continue together in unity. Let us empower our youth for the sake of ourselves, our children and the generations to come.
Thank you.