By: redbird on 2/7/10
There are children in the United States that need adopting, Why bring anyone else in the States until children are taken care of here?

By: Boo on 2/7/10
While I can appreciate what the Rutledges are trying to do, I have to agree with redbird. There are poor rural counties all over the States, there are poor children right here in our own county in foster homes who desprately need loving, stable parent. I say "let's start at home" and take care of our own children first.

By: Paused on 2/7/10
I agree! I wonder how old the two youngsters are. Rutherford County has their hands full with foster children.

By: momof3 on 2/8/10
I agree as well. There are hundreds of children in Tennessee, as well as in other states that need loving homes. They are just as much in need as children from other countries. We need to take care of our own first. If the paperwork is already unbelievable for adopting foreign children, it couldn't be that much more paperwork involved to adopt our own children.

By: nd88 on 2/9/10
Geez people, how about just being happy that 2 children are being given the blessing of a loving family? It's takes a special kind of negative person to find fault in what the Rutledges are doing. Watch Hotel Rwanda and tell me if you feel the same way. If you feel so strongly about adopting American children, I'm sure any adoption agency would be happy to help you adopt.

By: abcd on 2/9/10
Thank you nd88 for the very well spoken response. While there is a great need in our own community for foster homes, a foster care system does not exist for the 800,000 orphans in Rwanda, which the size of Maryland. In comparison, there are 130,000 adoptable (and not necessarily orphaned) children in all fifty of our states. I have lived in Rwanda and have seen the extreme poverty and the immense need for both Rwandan and international involvement to help the devastating orphan crisis. I applaud the Rutledge family for taking time to pray and wait on the Lord's leading before they began this amazing journey to their heart-born children.

By: gkbj on 2/9/10
I can appreciate the questions raised in the responses to the article on the Rutledges. I have in the past wondered about balancing local vs. international concerns when there is so much need and limited time and money. I highly recommend reading, "The Poor Will Be Glad," by Peter Greer and Phil Smith, if you are serious about a thoughtful consideration of this question. This book, (published by Zondervan) has certainly has expanded my "world" and concerns for the poor and orphaned internationally and grows my appreciation and respect for families like the Rutledges.

By: Paused on 2/9/10
So as an adoptee, I would like to know...do these two people want to be parents, or just a pat on the back?

By: 71098 on 2/9/10
I think there are much easier ways to get a pat on the back than to bring 2 children here from Rwanda to raise for 18 years! Some are called to adopt and some are not. And some are called to adopt internationally and some domestically. We should all embrace anyone who is willing to take an orphan in.

By: kshockey on 2/10/10
I happen to know this couple personally, and can assure you that they are NOT looking for a pat on the back! They are the most humble people I know and feel truly called by God to adopt these two children specifically from Rwanda. The orphanage situations in Rwanda are horrible and unhealthy. They are just trying to make a difference. Thank you "nd88" for your response. If God calls you to do something, He expects you to obey, no matter where or when He calls. They Rutledges are just responding to His call. And I, for one, am thankful for their obedient, humble response. They will make wonderful parents to these two children and the world will be less two orphans. What a huge blessing that is!

By: Paused on 2/10/10
"They will make wonderful parents to these two children" that is all I wanted to know. There are orphans everywhere that need a home. I really don't see how anyone can be more noble adopting from one place instead of another. The important thing is that they want to be a MOTHER and FATHER...not a hero.

By: 28bd on 2/14/10
I am physically sickened by the compassionless, judgmental attitude demonstrated in several of these comments. If people were quicker to examine their own lives rather than criticize others, there would doubtless be fewer orphans in the world. Not only is this negativity about what the Rutledges are doing completely inappropriate, it is also astoundingly ignorant. I don't know them personally, but I do know something about adoption. If anyone thinks domestic adoption is easier than international or more necessary, they should try it themselves. And while they're at it, visit an African orphanage. There's no such thing as "our children" and theirs. There are only children without homes who need someone to love them. The only question is, what are we going to do about it?