Do you think Birth Mothers is an insensitive comment?

[donnashuggy]

Apparently Tony Abbott has withdrawn the comment and apologised.

[izabsmiling]

I won't be the one to tell that women (or print for any parents affected to read) that it isn't as she (one of the thousands of mothers involved)  feels degrading .

[freakiness]

I see nothing degrading about it myself, just my opinion....... the term relinquishing may be wrong...is wrong in most cases as the Mothers had no choice..... but degrading? no, I don't think  so.

Who are we to judge what these mothers find offensive?

That was cruel treatment of young women.

[azureline**]

I am not judging anybody.... who is to tell me what I can think or say on cs or anywhere else? ? I clarified it as MY OPINION.

[izabsmiling]

I think that is what Freaki was trying to point out ?

who are we to tell them what to think or say or feel ?

It's in writing that the terms birth mother and relinquished is seen as degrading and inaccurate by a Mother who had her baby forcibly taken from her.That is how she thinks and feels.In a day that is there is acknowledge ,understand and officially apologise for that very thing (the forced adoption) it would therefore be insensitive to her if those words were used in relation to her forced adoption.She and every parent are the one that matters and what they think and feel.

Given that her feelings are there for all to see it may also be unfair and insensitive and lacking understanding if we don't understand and accept that ? If we think that any viced objection may have been the result of parents lacking understanding,being ungrateful,being unreasonable and/or thinking that those voicing their feelings were 'planted' ?

There may be Australians around who find some terms used for Indigenous Australians acceptable....if they aren't to Indigenous Australians and were used in the Apology to them ....any objection to the use of those words would be understood as being reasonable wouldn't it ?

[*pepe]

goodness azurline surely you have learned by now that to do anything other than echo the outrage is to be deemed insensitive, lacking in understanding and a big bad meanie.

I hope you bear this in mind next time you even think of so much as voicing your own opinion..

[bella_again]

I agree with Azure the term Birth parent means just that and it means that all the rights of being  a parent are associated with that.  It is not intended as offensive but rather it is intended as a statement that is supposed to reinforce the birth parents rights.

The term natural parent isn't used very much with any government department so from their point of view its accurate.  Personally I think the protest wasn't about the term birth parent at all it is about the pain, hurt and betrayal these parents feel.  I think they would have been hurt no matter which expression was used.

[izabsmiling]

I agree with Vampire Teddy ,whoever wrote his speech didn't do his/her homework.

[izabsmiling]

It is not intended as offensive but rather it is intended as a statement that is supposed to reinforce the birth parents rights.

which didn't apply to these parents hence the apology 

[bella_again]

Birth parent means biological simple as that so unless they didn't give birth that is exactly what it means.  In terms of DHS it reinforces birth parents rights.

[izabsmiling]

In terms of DHS it reinforces birth parents rights.

It does NOW Bella, it didn't then.