Adopting Quite An Attitude

The Avengers has impressed the vast majority of the people who went to see it.  Whenever people love something, it is like a challenge to some folks that simply must find something to complain about.

Disney’s “The Avengers” has earned almost universally positive reviews and made $200 million in its first weekend. Yet for some in the adoption community, a joke in the film goes too far.

The joke is at the expense of Loki, the film's villain and adopted son of the god, Odin. Loki's brother Thor defends him to fellow Avenger Black Widow, who then points out that Loki’s “killed 80 people in two days.” Thor then replies, “he’s adopted.”  

As noted in a petition created by Jamie Berke on Change.org, “According to your scriptwriter, the fact (Loki) was adopted is the reason he is a bad guy!...Being adopted is not something to use for the butt of jokes! Marvel, immediately cease using adoption as the butt of jokes AND issue a public apology to the adoption community!”

Oh, come on now.  I think that's a bit of an overreaction.  My sister is adopted, so I was raised in a family that was sensitive to the topic, as well as to how people will react without thinking.  I know the thoughtless things people can say.  The funny thing is, my sister resembled my parents more than I did, so when "one of them is adopted" came out they often thought it was me!

Still, this was a quick joke, it never implied that Loki was a bad guy because he was adopted.  In fact, despite the fact that he is a bad guy, his adopted brother still loves him and fights to save him every step of the way.  In my opinion, Marvel owes no apologies, nor do the actors or anyone associated with the picture.

Nobody promises life won't ruffle a feather here or there.  There is a chance that this light, offhand remark caused someone a pinch of pain for someone who is sensitive to being adopted.  Such is life.  I have never viewed adoption as a handicap of any sort, however.  I believe those who say it means the children weren't wanted are not seeing the other side of the coin, where that child was desperately wanted and loved.  Everyone is going to see this differently, filtered through the lens of their own experiences.  Regardless, this was a comment made without malice, and in context truly was a funny comeback.

Jamie Berke, get over yourself.