What's this about Zoe's Ark that I keep hearing about on CNN?

[Catherine Vincent]

Was this a kidnapping or were they trying to bring the children to a better place?

[Igel]

1. Not mutually exclusive propositions, those.

In other words, yes.

Define "orphan". I'd go with "a minor whose lost both parents." What if your grandmother or aunt takes you in--and let's say that any registration or court orders (or lack thereof) is completely unimportant.

Now pick a fairly average clan-based system. A minor whose lost both parents gets passed to the next available clansman. Is he an orphan?

Overzealous, culturally insensitive, and by local standards kidnapping. "Naive" at best. Mix in anti-colonial attitudes and honor, and your label's gone from "humanitarian" to "criminal".

[madame defarge]

2. Here's an interesting article you might want to read...

from today's NYTimes: The Orphans Who Didn’t Need Saving
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/weekinreview/04polgreen.html?hp