People News
Despite growing backlash, Madonna given green light to adopt
By Stone Martindale Oct 12, 2006, 14:09 GMT
"Despite flack Liz Rosenberg\'s smokescreen disavowals, it would appear that Madonna\'s Mission of Mercy™ to the impoverished African nation of Malawi also doubled as a baby-shopping spree, as the AP is now reporting that the latter-day, cone-bra\'d Christ figure has signed all the necessary paperwork to adopt a motherless toddler: Madonna and her husband took custody of a motherless 1-year-old boy from Malawi on Thursday after filing adoption papers and receiving interim approval from a judge in the impoverished southern African nation. [...] Yohame Banda, the father, said he met Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie at the court as part of the formalities. While they talked, Madonna, who has two children, carried the baby boy, Banda said."- Defamer.com /Eldson Chagara
Assistant High Court Register Thomson Ligowe said Judge Andrew Nyirenda: "has just given out an interim order" that would allow one year old baby David Banda to leave Malawi. Madonna and Guy Richie have been granted an interim adoption order allowing the celebrity couple to leave Africa with baby David.
The decision by the judge at a Malawi court brings to an end 24 hours of uncertainty for the couple who both appeared in court earlier to convince authorities to sidestep strict Malawian law.
Malawian rules dictate that nobody can adopt until they have fostered a child for two years while living in the country.
The decision to sidestep this law has come as the Material Girl and her husband face a growing backlash from international agencies and social workers over the adoption.
Aid workers have attacked Madonna and Richie's adoption claiming that it undermines efforts to keep children within communities. They argue more help should be directed towards helping extended families care for the orphans.
Baby David, whose mother died shortly after giving birth, and his fathers willingness to let Madonna proceed with adoption, is bound to feel disoriented after moving from the village of Mchinji to either America or Britain .
Bill Phillbrick of the Hope for African Children Iniative in Atlanta, America, told The Times: "International adoptions are not a solution. The answer is supporting the community."
Jackie Schoeman, executive director of Cotlands, a South African organization that cares for children affected by HIV said: "For us, first prize is to place the kids locally or even regionally. If the only other option is for them to be in long-term institutional care, then we would consider international adoption."
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Let Madonna do what her heart and money feels like. Those who speak against her may want to ask themselves when was the last time they did good to any one that made a lasting impact on anyones life.
Talk is so easy. It makes those who merely talk so much better than the rest of them who are actually doing good.
A child's environment is all about love. If the little boys gets enough of it, he is blessed....
Here's another perspective... This is a PR stunt where an aging disco fag-hag tries to revive a career gone stale and irrelevant. She should just play the Cruise Ship circuit and call it a day.
Where is the criticism for Angelina Jolie? Why is she a saint and Madonna a devil?
Let me see if I understand this correctly:
Baby put up for adoption by only living parent
Baby has adoptive parent candidates with no apparent deficiencies who, by all measures, is capable of taking good care of baby.
Tinfoil hat celeb crowd has hard on for adoption, thinking they know what is in mind of adoptive parents
Luddite racist govt hampers process
Is that, pretty much, it?
Adoptions are supposed to act in the best interest of the child. The parents are the first, most important players. They both want it. For those of us adopted, let it happen, for crying out loud...
Madonna is doing something noble, but I question her intent. Her whole career is based on shock and attention getting antics. I'm glad to see that we have groups like the Gates Foundation that are trying to treat the symptom rather then the temporary cure. Personally I'm not crazy about Madonna.
If Madonna want to adopt a child and give a child a home that would not normally have the chances this child will be given, then why not. She does love children and if she is using her status to do this ~~ then go for it ~~ I would.
Why doesn't Madonna give money to the whole community and support it, rather than take away a child who still has one living parent and I'm sure an extended family? She surely has enough money. Or better yet, move to that country?
She could be an even bigger Philanthropist than Angelina.
I see a trend in Hollywood (ahem Angelina and Brad) to adopt African children. How many orphans are in America, let alone in their own neighborhoods? I hate to think of this a some publicity stunt but in my eyes it seems kind of strange. And as for the dad of the child...I'm sure hes very happy with the money he's been paid.
It's wrong to go around the law just because you're rich and powerful. There are thousands of kids (especially minorities) available for adoption in the U.S. and probably U.K. Why did Madonna need to go somewhere that had rules against adopting without fostering? Plenty of kids here are looking for love and a home where you aren't just a dollar sign to your foster parents. (I know all fps are just in it for money, but many are)
I'm inclined to agree with the aid workers. No matter how well meaning her intentions (though personally I see this as another publicity project) Madonna can't really be thinking of the child. To go from being impoverished in a third world country to the rarified air of immense wealth and a life full of bodyguards, nannies and protection from the public is maybe a lot to ask a child to be able to process. I see the potential for a pretty screwed up kid in the future.
What children like the boy Madonna is trying to adopt really need is a strong sense of being part of a community within their culture, not one of Willy Wonka's winning chocolate bars.
While in no doubt I believe Madonna intention is pure, the point that she could have adopted an underpriviledged child closer to home is quite valid. She could have spotlighted the real problems of poverty in the USA and to a smaller extent in the UK. And another note, anyone who is silly to even whisper a disparaging remark about Angelina Jolie has no clue that Angelina was never seeking some kind of 'trendy' hollow publicity with the adoption of her two children. She is genuiely moved by the deplorable brutal conditions that many children endure in so called Third World Countries. Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney are friends and the REAL DEAL. Let's join them and demand our countries'governments work harder on the causes this dynamic trio highlight.
Who cares? Get over yourself people. What a stranger does has no bearing on your pathetic lives. Move on. Go mow the lawn, do your laundry. Mind your own business.
there a plenty of unwanted children and babies of color in the UK and USA-
this is sad, this trend of going to Africa, China or Russia to 'find' needy children.
she could still help with money and aid for the orphans, and continue the gesture at home in her own backyard...
I feel most sorry for the older, possibly disabled less 'adoptable' children who never get chosen.
I hardly think her career is stale--she just set a record for earnings in a 12 month period. The whole thing does highlight the rather ugly side of adoption. Proponents are always saying it is a viable alternative to abortion, but it is not a walk in the park. Adoption essentially entails 'shopping' for a baby. The bureaucratic paperwork can be nightmarish--the rules are so rigid. Despite the accommodation given to Madonna, I suspect that they have been working on it longer than the media is aware.
Babies are pretty adaptable... for that matter if madonna wanted to adopt me, i'd adapt to being rich.
It's amazing to see an attempt to compensate for a lack of experience with passion.
To the person who said, 'It's too much of an adjustment to go from poverty to extreme wealth,' Are you nuts? Do you honestly believe it's better for a child (ANY child) to grow up in an endless cycle of poverty than to grow up with opportunities for education and all it brings?
As for the difference between adopting in the US (can't talk about the UK) and internationally; sad as it is to say, children in international orphanages are much more adoptable than US orphans. The reasons are many. Most importantly is that international babies are very rarely crack babies. Also, the US foster program is flawed and doesn't allow adoption until the child is nearly irretrievable broken due to abuse/neglect/etc. In addition to being adopted myself, my wife and I've adopted from the US, China, India, Haiti and Colombia.
I'm not a big Madonna fan, but anyone who is willing to take a child and give them a better life, has my admiration. BTW, Madonna is also adopting the town in the sense she is paying for improved services. (Guess her 'publicity stunt' failed to highlight those other parts.)
There is no such word as disorientated. The proper usage is disoriented.
Adoption is always a good thing period! Kids need loving parents & a stable home. I like & have supported Madonna throughout the years, but I too have to question her motives on this one? Why Africa? Angelina Jolie did it because she is a Goodwill Ambassador & saw first hand the dire turmoil many kids around the world live in. I think Angelina has always felt somewhat of an outsider & I think she can relate it better to her two adopted children. Madge on the other hand better realize that Black children particularly boys will need special attention. The world will not be kind to him as they are to her two Biological children. Life will be full of racism. She & her husband may not understand what they're getting into. Angie travels around the world so I think her kids get real strong sense of who they are & what they represent! I wonder if Madonna is up for that challenge! Plus there are so many visible minority children in The North America & UK that need a home. What's UP? Why not start there first & then adopt in Africa too? I love that everyone is trying to help Africa - it's a beautiful thing! But let's not forget the children living among us too. They need help.
Not big fan of Madona, yes the US adoption system is difficult but, ahem, not for mega $$ stars. Sharon Stone adopted her second son shortly after birth, this is after she was a divorced single mom who had just fought a tug of war custody battle with exhubby over their first adopted at birth child and she is approaching 50. Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise adopted 2 child as infants. Diane Keaton adopted her 2 kids as infants. 'Allie McBeal' adopted her child as infant. Michelle Whatshername adopted her kid as an infant. I am 49, white, would be very happy to adopt child of color in US, however since I am single and older I was told it was very improbable that I would be successful 'competeing' against all these picture perfect youthful couples in suburbia. In US the birthmother choses who will parent her child, which I support, but it does put you in competition against these seemingly 'perfect' couples. I was limited in my choices of country to adopt from due to my single older status. I do not have the luxury of throwing my money around to get another country to change it's rules for my narcissistic needs nor to hire a private attorney to locate a young pregnant US woman who I can woo with legally allowed payments for a lavish lifestyle while pregnant and I'm sure some not so legal payola. No instead, I started the process a year ago, have been finger printed, investigated, interviewed in my home by a social worker, had to get numerous witnesses and notarized statements etc, then get docs to secretary of state and then to the embassy and finally am now on a waiting list with the hope that the country won't close to adoptions before mine is completed. I'm fine with paperwork, and investigation to assure my agency and placing country that I'm a good person and capable to parent. However I doubt Ms. MATERIAL girl had to go thru that, and if she did, all her papers were pre-done and she just showed up to sign. Re Angelina, her adoption from Cambodia was tarnished by fact that the US facilitator is banned and I believe was arrested for 'baby trafficking', there was some questions raised that her son was not a legal orphan, which an adopted child must be for US INS/CNS purposes. I agree she could have adopted an african american child. But many people seem more comfortable with this paternalistic view of blacks from Africa but are scared ___less of american born blacks. Also among adoption professionals it is highly advised against the parents having a biological child within the first 12 months of adopting a child. Angie and Brad seemed ignorant of the negative impact this would have on Zahara and seemed to put their own narcissistic needs first. I used to like them ,but I find them a bit too self inflated. Got to hand it to them re PR and security, they obviously hire the best.
October 12, 2006 -- NO WORD - yet - on whether Madonna plans to nail her brand-new bouncing boy to a crucifix, live, in concert...
The one-named wonder, who already has given birth to two children by two different daddies, one of whom she would not deign to marry, has her heart set on raping Malawi.
Days ago, she lined up 12 African boys - tots hand-selected for her perusal. She picked out a 1-year-old, David, to take home in her luggage.
Well guess what? The boy selected in this freakish slave auction is no AIDS orphan. He's got a biological father, plus a granny - but was placed in an orphanage after his mother died. His family loves him. They just can't afford him.
If Madonna possessed a speck of sanity or shame, she would write a generous check. Instead, the boy's father says he is thrilled at the prospect of a wealthy American carting off his progeny.
Please, the poor baby was living in an orphange. Without his dad and extended family.
Madonna is doing a very great thing. That country can complain all they want to but what about the miilions dead from Aids and their children just left out of society..If it wasn't for international adoptions these children will truly die in spirit or become outcasts.
The tinfoil hat sycophant crowd should ask themselves this: What if it were not Madonna adopting? Who would care then?
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didierOct 12th, 2006 - 16:58:54
What Madonna does in Malawi is an act of love. Madonna has a big big heart.
Please stop to give echo to people who debase pure love.
Didier
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