The Backlash Against Madonna's Adoption
This is a familiar charge when it comes to celebrity adoptions. Jill Smolowe, my pal who also co-edited an adoption anthology with me, wrote a fabulous piece for People magazine a few years ago about celebrity adoptions. Her conclusion: Most celebs have to slog through the bureaucracy, just like everyone else.
It's possible that Malawi officials did not follow the letter of the law with Madonna's adoption. But my guess is that is true in many of the adoptions in that country. Anyone who has adopted internationally knows that the "process" is a less than orderly one. Rules and procedures change frequently. And often there is a disparity between what is on the books and common practice. This is how life works in many developing nations.
While it's understandable for countries abroad to be uncomfortable with the idea of wealthy foreigners swooping in to "buy" up their children, I think the situation is probably more a shade of gray than they're acknowledging.
And anyone who supports this effort needs to really consider whether shuttling this adoption really improve the circumstances of this boy. Does anyone doubt that his life will be better outside that orphanage--even if Madonna's motives for adopting (in my opinion) are suspect? I wish that all these people so concerned about the legality of this adoption would put half as much energy into investigating and improving the conditions of orphanages and circumstances that lead Malawi parents to relinquish their children to the state.
Stumble It!
posted by pam at 6:39 PM
4 Comments:
Seems to me she is interested in getting as much press as Angelina for adopting an African child.
true--see my earlier blog on this (hint: she has a book coming out on October 24). however, i am equally suspicious of the motives of these "human rights activists."
I agree with both of you. I feel Madonna is very calculating and doesn't do anything without considering how it will affect her persona, and the 'bottom line'.
The boy has a father who loved him enough to want a better life for his son. However, would it have been better for Madge to offer support to this boy and his family rather than remove him from his country as some critics have suggested? I don't know. I think if you or I wanted to adopt a child from a foreign country I doubt we would encounter the same criticism. Granted she is in a different stratosphere financially.
Did she bend the rules? Probably. But then, the Malawi officials are as much to fault- it takes two in situations such as this.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Take a look at my latest entry on Madonna controversy.
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