Obviously I am not Dwarfy, but IIRC he's fairly traditional and would like a biological legacy, something that is, not always, but frequently, incompatible with LGBT children, one way or another.
Nicely remembered! I often think this generation does not suit me. In fact, I think my family jumped a generation anyway. My paternal granny was, after all, born in 1904.
Biological legacy is very important to me. As ggamer points out, however, I know that one can be just as emotionally attached to an adopted child - indeed, I'd say that, personally, I would absolutely love any child. I'm a bit of a compassionate sucker - but in the grander scheme a biological line matters to me. I'd suggest part of that is the fact that my family has held the same land (with some bits added) for over four hundred years. The same name, the same line, my family. The oak tree in front of the house was planted by a direct ancestor.
Actually, that reminds me of something I wrote a few years ago. No need to read it, don't worry
Well known in day, a glowing thing
That housed a million childish thoughts.
The tree house I would build
To straddle limbs as wide as I was tall;
Thwarted at the onset by my father's voice
Calling from out the darkness of the past -
That tree was planted by a pair of hands
You never knew, yet which beget you.
Never in life will I allow a harm be brought on it.
And so it grew in peace, and never felt the thorns
Of childish fancy. Nor would I wish it to,
For many years it has stood sentinel
And seen the shifting seasons shift the house
Through shape and size, followed by people
So achingly similar to those it first knew,
And who first planted it, an English Oak,
With heartfelt pleas to God that as it grew
So too would all their line into prosperity.
Many before me climbed its boughs
Or sheltered there.
And yet tonight, such a familiar thing
Was seen but through one single shade of hue
To change it from its known-of course.
It seemed to bow before the element,
To show how permanence is transience
And hope is dust, but that it stands
Yet and will do so until the time
When sorrow twists the faces of the endless
Altered generations, who loved it well.
It stood framed by man's brick and mortar,
It stood highlighted by the blazing of the stars,
The deepness of the darkness. It was a tree
And yet it was more. Ineffable, indescribable, but true.
It was mysterious and familiar both in one,
Yet it was neither. May the grave claim me
Before it falls into misuse, for
Never in life will I allow a harm be brought on it.
We've got all kinds of stupid biological imperatives left over from our evolutionary history; why preserve this one?
Do as thou wilt, but hurt no one.
Why? Why should the desire for more of what they have, the desire to have what they were not born with, or even-- the lack of desire at all (as in my case) be anything to be disturbed over?
People get bent out of shape over the strangest things, I swear.
So yes, biology is a very large part of it. Another part is my personal philosophy. Religion, for me, is a lie. I would never attempt to change the opinions of others in this regard - religion does not necessarily hurt people, and if someone wants to be religious then by all means. Any argument I engage in concerning religion is purely motivated by academic interest.
I do not agree with the central premise of much LGBT culture - namely, that one can change sex. If you define gender as an internalised view of oneself, then sure you can change gender. But sex is a physical attribute. "I identify as a woman, ergo I am a woman" makes as much sense to me as "I identify as a dog, ergo I am a dog."
If a child of mine were to be deeply religious, it would disturb me. I don't agree with many faiths' central tenets demanding obedience or expulsion. It is built on a lie. Likewise, if my child were to be transgender then they would be, to me, living a lie. It would make me uncomfortable.
So - the L, G and possibly B of LGBT have their own problems. Likewise with the T.
I understand that this is akin to going onto a Christian forum and posting "God doesn't exist!" but I'll trust to Bay12's maturity and ability to tolerate multiple points of view.
Do what you want, dwarfy, but remember in our society lineage in spirit is the exact same as lineage in fact. A child being adopted - and therefore not related by blood - would not make them any less of a grandchild.
Historically, in many societies (mainly non-Abrahamic ones), adopted children were often seen as better than biological ones. The reasoning being that a biological child was simply born into your family, while an adopted one had to have some worth in order to join it.
What I mean is: I think it's a silly stance, but I doubt I'm changing anyone's mind.
The Chinese (Japanese, maybe?) did that, didn't they? Anyway, my reasons for wanting a biological lineage are outlined above. It's not a case of valuing the child. I'd happily adopt, so long as my family line continues with its inheritance as well.