I'm genuinely shocked by how close-minded the commenters here are being. Is it really that hard to believe that the Eden myth could be a reference to a real place, distorted over the course of ten thousand years worth of retelling?

Let's not forget that there are two other parties involved here. If the kids have settled in, they don't deserve the upheaval of being separated again, and if the adoptive parents have bonded with the kids, having to give them up would be as rough on them as it was for the kids original parents.

Obviously, the kids should never have been taken, but that isn't the issue any more. The issue is what's best for the children.

Also? The idea that Social Services are looking out for the best interests of The State (scary capitalisation!) is patently laughable. What possible benefit is there to playing Find The Lady with other peoples kids? Do you think The State have some kind of top secret oppression device powered by the tears of children, or something? No. It's just good ol' fashioned incompetence, that's all.

Narcs.

Man needs to start beating his child, stat. If he's unwilling to, he should find someone else who will. Somehow, I doubt there'll be a shortage of volunteers...

And where does playing video games fit into this, I wonder? Does it count as watching TV, or remaining mentally active? My father is something of an avid gamer, so it has something of a personal relevance.

Thanks for reaffirming my lack of faith in humanity, guys. It's always nice to be reminded that people are still prepared to judge me as inferior based solely on my appearance.

Ah, yes... "Fish don't feel things the way we do." Wasn't so long ago we said the same thing about anybody who wasn't white. It's a transparent justification for expedient ethical laziness. In other words, it's easier and more comfortable to pretend they aren't suffering than it is to admit they are, but that we don't care.

Seriously, though, it's stuff like this that gives Western imperialism a good name.

Say what you like about Roosevelt, at least he never profited from slavery and the extermination of indigenous peoples.

Apparently, the author in question still catches a lot of grief for not trying to reconcile with her mother. I think it's quite a feat of self-control that she never tried to kill her.
People can be very odd...

A petty crime merits a petty punishment. A slap on the wrist or a fine, nothing more. That is my opinion on the matter of doughnut theft.
As far as the comments here are concerned, I find self-righteousness to be a far more repulsive and socially harmful trait than mere kleptomania could ever be.
What puzzles me is why you bring up the whole left/right thing. I didn't mention it, and don't feel it has anything to do with me.

Y'know, when I look at the beetle-browed, self-righteous comments left here by law-abiding citizens, I can't bring myself to look down on anyone for being a criminal.

I... take it Pot Noodles are not commonly available in the US, then?

They made, like, a whole decision in that meeting. That's pretty good, compared to most meetings.

So many targets for hate... I genuinely don't know who to be more contemptuous of. Perhaps the kids on the receiving end of the sandwich, for having such screwed up priorities? Or the bullies, for being arrogant and superficial enough to look down on someone for being poor? How about the school, for not only allowing this state of affairs to continue, but actually exploiting and reinforcing it?
Man...

Great. I'll add this to the already long list of things vying to kill me.