Adoption: should everyone be able to adopt?

As a Minnesotan I often turn on WCCO radio when I am near a radio. One of my favorite programs to listen to is Jack Rice in the early afternoon. In actuality, I disagree with almost all his conclusions; however I enjoy thinking through the issues he addresses in order to better understand where I stand myself. This is how the following article came about. I was listening to Jack Rise discussing the subject and an argument came to mind.

Recently John McCain discussed a controversial subject, namely that of homosexual adoption. Should those couples of the same sex be allowed to adopt children? Many say that there are so many children in foster homes, it is unreasonable to refuse those who are willing to take a child into their home. McCain disagreed. Of course his campaign was quick to announce that he also felt this decision was for each state to make and that he would not impose his views on anyone. But think about it. Is it discrimination? Is it right? What is best for a child, to be just another kid in a foster home, or to be in a loving home with two moms or two dads?
With the rising numbers of foster children, it is important to find nurturing and encouraging homes. It would seem that refusing anyone who was willing to accept a child into their very family, providing for their every need, was foolish. Does the gender of the parents cause such a problem that a home should be refused to a small child? It seems that this may be an extreme does it not?
When this issue is discussed, people often describe those opposing homosexual adoption as intolerant and ridiculous. Announcing that, those people must just be afraid that homosexuals with children will only breed more homosexuals, they shun the opposition as ignorant. Yet, it does seem likely that this would happen. And from a purely practical viewpoint, if homosexuals adopt children, who themselves become homosexuals; the population of America will diminish rapidly.
Meanwhile the United States tends to be a leader in many ways. There is a loud voice calling for the preservation of natural resources and habitats. National parks, forest reserves, and the like are scattered across the nation dedicated to preserving natural wonders and homes for wildlife. It has become of the utmost importance to save for our animals their natural environment. For nothing can be expected to grow and thrive outside of its rightful home. Even when animals are taken to zoos great care is taken to recreate their homes, so that they can live naturally and well. Yes, this is still about homosexual adoption. Think about it. If natural environments are so vital to the healthy growth, life, and even happiness of animals, is it not the same for humans? The natural habitat, so to speak, of a child is in a home with a mother and a father. The very fact that homosexual couples cannot have children on their own makes them unfit to raise children. How can a child thrive in an unnatural environment?
In our attempt to sound politically correct, we are disregarding standards that are required for mere animals. Is this ethical?

The American Flag

Until I get a recent article up, here is a tast of my writing. This is one of my favorites...

Nothing fills an American heart with more pride and thankfulness than the sight of the stars and stripes of our flag. Pride concerning this nation that they live in, and thankfulness that it is their nation.
The flag of the United States of America stands for freedom, justice, and many other rights. When glimpsed the gratefulness for these freedoms can almost overwhelm one. True patriots honor the flag and reverence it for the symbol it is. While it may be forgotten or dismissed at times, it is always remembered again. Soldiers throughout the ages have fought for Old Glory. It stands for all that Americans hold dear.
Although it is impossible for some to comprehend how anyone could wish to burn the symbol of the nation, there are those living that do. It seems that if such are their thoughts they should leave the nation they fail to appreciate. Perhaps after living in another nation without those rights and freedoms they take for granted they may come to fully appreciate the benefits they had. Many take the flag and those things it stands for too lightly. Why is America having such great difficulties with illegal immigrants? Because others see what a privilege it is to live in America and do anything in their power to establish themselves there.
The current issue however is whether an amendment should be made criminalizing the burning of the American flag. As stated previously burning the flag is a horrendous offence to Americans. Yet, would not creating an amendment against such actions violate the very freedoms the flag stands for? The freedoms so precious that men and women have died fighting to preserve them? As much as burning the flag ignites anger for such unpatriotic acts, legislating such acts may send the country on a downward spiral of eliminating freedoms for political security.
I love Old Glory. Seeing my flag sends chills down my spine it means so much to me. Yet, I do not love it for the cloth and stitching it is made up of. I love it for the freedom, security, and rights it assures me of as a symbol. It hurts deep inside when that symbol is desecrated by unpatriotic acts of burning, yet, burning cloth with never destroy what it that cloth stood for, while legislating the burning of that cloth symbol may destroy the very things it stands for.