If you have kept up on the BBC articles following the story, you have probably also read the comments left here on the BBC News website. Many of the people commenting are frustrated that Madonna is being criticized for wanting to adopt again. Many think that she is doing a good thing by wanting to help out a child in need, providing someone for her son David to relate to, and is raising awareness. And like many of you, others brought up their concern for the adopted children growing up outside of their culture.
I agree that Madonna should not be criticized for wanting to adopt internationally. I believe in adoption so much that I think it should be the law for each family to adopt. Yeah, kind of intense... but do you have any idea how many orphans there are in Malawi, not to mention the world??? Do you have any idea the impact anyone could have on a person's life by giving them a home? Especially Christians-come on! This is a terrible thing! I just wish it wasn't SO expensive and difficult to adopt.
The issue of culture is one that you could argue with any family who has moved outside of it's own culture while having small children. I am not worried for little David (Madonna's first adopted child from Malawi) that he will grow up outside of his home. Missionary, military and expat kids do it all the time! People move around the world with their families and no one is arguing with them on the decision they have made to take their children out of their culture...in my opinion, that is not a necessary argument. But let me say this-while being away from my own home and culture, I have come to see the importance in preserving one's culture but also being taught the skills to thrive anywhere. Being Malawian will be David's heritage, but his culture will be whatever he is brought up in, probably England, and that is okay.
My biggest issue with Madonna's first adoption (and now the second) is the way in which she has gone about it. In one of the articles, Madonna herself said that "This adoption (David's adoption) essentially was the beginning of the creation of adoption laws in Malawi. I am the template or the role model so to speak for future adoptions." This quote makes me absolutely mad! There are adoption laws in Malawi, believe me. Madonna has said numerous times that she will not overlook any laws and will do everything according to the laws. Well, In 2006, Malawi bypassed it's laws banning adoptions by non-residents in granting Madonna the adoption of David. I am afraid that Madonna's fame and fortune is actually hurting the laws that are currently in place and has made it harder for others to adopt in Malawi.
Taken from this article "The chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Committee, Undule Mwakusunguraof has accused Madonna of acting "like a bully" saying: "She has the money and the status to use her profile to manipulate, to fast-track the process." "
It seems that she will be doing this a second time around while adopting little Chifundo. Unless Madonna moves to Malawi and stays for 18 months while going through the fostering program with Chifundo before the adoption, she is breaking the law. Of course, people say that it is up to the Malawian court to make sure that the laws are obeyed...
"Madonna has been good to us," Information Minister Patricia Kaliati told news agency Reuters. "Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children. We support her adoption process." "[Madonna] is supporting over 25,000 orphans in this country and she has proved that she can take care of David," she added."
It is clear that Madonna's fame and fortune have helped her to get what she wants the easy way. I do not doubt her love for David and her heart for adoption. I cannot be the judge of that. I also feel strongly called to adopt and have held many baby orphans in my arms over the past 1 1/2 years. I know the overwhelming sense of responsiblity that I think many more people should feel to adopt. It is a very important thing and I strongly urge others to consider. However, I also know many families here who have gone through a lot to know the joy of holding a child in their arms that they can call their own after waiting for 18 months and following adoption laws here. If Madonna really wants to be the "role model" or "template" for adoptions in Malawi, she should work with law makers to make it easier for everyone to adopt here. She really could do so much to change things, but instead her efforts are selfish.
One last thing-it is very common here in Malawi for children to be put in an orphanage (or places like the MOH Crisis Nersury) for a time, not with the intention of being put up for adoption. In many cases, the child's mother has died and the relatives cannot take care of the child at that immediate moment, usually not being able to provide formula or medical care. I think this is what happened with little David Banda.
It is also very common for such children to be reunited with their families after they have grown a bit and become stronger health wise. Madonna should never have adopted David while his father was still there to care for him. It seems as though she took advantage of someone else's misfortune and pain. If she wanted what was best for David, she would have sponsered his father (not with millions, but just providing basic needs in an appropriate way) so that the family could stay together. Of course, it is no wonder that David's father finally gave in to the adoption, given the amount of pressure and money there was in the whole deal. Like I said earlier, Madonna does have the resources and the fame to change things for the better, to fight for the good of these children and to invest in Malawi's future as a nation. I am afraid I do not think she is concerned about this and that is what saddens me about the whole thing.
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