TH I S WE E K

Sometimes, when I’m in the mood to freak myself out, I think about who Imight be if I’d been raised differently – in another family, say, or a complete other era.

If I’d lived in Berlin in 1939 would I have had the insight and courage to hide a Jewish family inmy attic? Or would I have been down at the rally with most of my neighbours raising one arm in support of the Fuhrer?

And how about now? If I lived inNorth Dakota in a close, loving clan of MAGA-hat wearers would I be voting for another four years of the Orange Menace?

Fast forward 100 years to 2120 and the way I actually ammight not stack up too well, with hindsight. Will those likemewho eat the flesh of animals seemmonstrous? And what exactly did I do to stem the impending climate crisis?

Last week we ran an interview with Barbara Sumner who was adopted in 1960 and is now a passionate advocate for our adoption laws to be changed. In that interview, her book, Tree of Strangers, and other media, Sumner has likened her adoption process to ‘‘child trafficking’’. But many of those involved at the time no doubt felt they were helping vulnerable mothers and babies, and infertile couples. Her story inspired an emotional and mixed response. The writer of one letter (not for publication) felt she had unnecessarily vilified those involved in the adoption process. For others (see letters, right) the interview stirred deeply personal memories.