Money versus love

Madonna’s adoption of baby David was a selfish, thought-less act.

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Submitted by: Nikki | 11 comments  VIEW COMMENTS


Photographer : Dolirio Vilela


Ever felt extremely passionate about an issue but unable to find your grounding? Welcome to my brain! When I first heard of Madonna adopting Malawi baby David, I felt overwhelmed with something… but what?!? Anger? Maybe… I put pen to paper and this was the result… 

Madonna: Look at all these adorable children! I would just like to pick that boy up and take him home!
Villager: There are lots of needy children here…

Controversy has sparked after Madonna’s choice to adopt Malawian boy, David Banda and rightfully so. With questionably motives, her adoption follows the trend of ‘A list’ stars such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who have plucked children from impoverished countries to showcase them in their Hollywood lifestyles.

Villager: That child is not an orphan. His father is a struggling farmer.

Why not adopt an actual orphan, rather than David who already has a loving father?

Madonna: His father can’t support him. I want him!

A representative from World Vision said, “Rather than taking this child overseas and caring for him in an alien environment, why not support the father to take care of his son in his own community?”

Villager: Malawian law bans non-residents from adopting.

Is there anything Madonna can’t buy!? The material girl has now used her fame and fortune to virtually buy herself an African baby to complete the new Hollywood image. Adoptive parents are normally meant to live in Malawi for 18 months before taking a child away but no, not Madonna.   

Madonna should support David in his own community. Regardless, of the opportunities that she can offer him in her luxurious lifestyle, could he ever be truly happy knowing that his real family and community were struggling with close to nothing?

Madonna’s adoption of David was a selfish, thought-less act. Case closed.

Convinced? I was. That is until my alter ego started shouting and once again, I started writing… read more.

How do I know this?

 

The Advertiser 2006, ‘Fresh hope little Michael will be in his new home for Christmas’, The Advertiser, 24 October

The Advertiser 2006, ‘Row over a ‘blessing from God’’, The Advertiser, 21 October

The Advertiser 2006, ‘I saved my new son’s life’, Madonna insists, The Advertiser, 27 October

The Associated Press 2006, ‘Madonna adoption review hearing reset’, USA today.com, 27 October,
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-27-madonna-hearing_x.htm 

Luscombe, B 2006, ‘Exclusive: Madonna speaks out about her “big, big project”’, Time.com, 3 August,
http://www.time.com/time/world/printout/0,8816,1222449,00.html

Mail Online 2006, ‘Madonna flies home without adopted baby’, The Daily Mail, 8 November,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/text/print.html?in_article_id=410143&in_page_id=1

Reuters 2006, ‘Madonna’s adoption fears’, Sydney Morning Herald, 30 October,http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/i-became-transfixed/2006/10/26/1161749198402.html

Yahoo News 2006, ‘Madonna adoption plans trigger broad backlash’, Yahoo News, 14 November,
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061017/ts_nm/madonna_backlash_dc
Discuss Now 11 comments View all 1 2 3

Nikki 01-Dec-2006

Hey Pri,

Thanks for your comments and for sharing your incredible story.

I think its becoming clear that adoption itself isn't a problem, but rather the process with how this happens.

What would be an effective adoption procedure that would take into account the interests of all concerned??

It's a tough one, so I would welcome any thoughts...

By the way, I checked out your profile Pri and it seems you are doing some truly amazing things. You have made my day :)

Pri 01-Dec-2006

You know what! I agree that it's wrong that madonna was just given David straight away with no complications. I am an adopted child. my parents adopted my brothers (whom are from the same family and were the second couple in Australia to adpot brothers), and then me. They went through heart ache and anguish over getting us. It took literally years to be first approved of having children and then the legal thing of finding suitable children and then the cost, and then the cost and legal battle over in Sri lanka. they did volunteer work and everything over there working with children and were kept under close eyes to make sure they were right for the job.
I'm not saying for one second i think madonna would be a terrible mother because i don't know the woman, but I think it's wrong that everyone has to wait, go through anguish and pain before even seeing a child. I hope money doesn't 'literally get you everything' these days, because if it does we seriously have changed standards and are living in a material world! But that's just my opinion.

Nikki 26-Nov-2006

JessA - You're right. There are just so many complications and things to consider in EVERY case of adoption that it seems close to impossible to find a point and stick to it. It's all a very large shade of grey, that gets fogger with discussion rather than clearer!!

*JESS* 26-Nov-2006

Hey Ding! Haha, it's good that your article is generating such interesting discussion. And yes, I see where you are coming from with the whole "how much easier the adoption process if if you're famous".
And yes, I think there are MAJOR problems with adoption processes in general! But with cultural differences and misunderstandings I don't know how it will be made easier in the future!
:)

Nikki 25-Nov-2006

ArtTherapist - Thanks for your comments :)

By the way, the weekend that David's father remarried I heard in the media that he now wanted David back. Except the medis has since said that Banda is still happy for Madonna to adopt him.

Either the media keep getting it wrong, OR David's father is VERY confused about what's going in! hmm... certainly makes one wonder...