But it's like using an elastoplast to patch up a shotgun blast to the head mate, the whole continent more or less, is fukked; a handful of Celebs going out there and picking up this season's 'must have' little brown baby and chuck a few dollars around aint gonna do sod all to actually aleviate Africa's problems. Her heart may be in the right place, but her gesture has to be backed up with something solid from Govts, it cant just be left up to celebs and whatnot to pick up the pieces...

 

And also, it can be so easily interpreted as being ever-so-slightly patronising as well...

Charity is always patronising; you can't avoid that.

 

I know that Madonna's adoption will not help the continent as a whole but it's something that will help that one child.

The money she's donated to Malawi communities will not help people in every African country but it helps some people.

 

Governments have infinitely more resources - and could do a lot more. You're right there.

But individual charity efforts help and should not be criticised just because they don't help everyone.

 

This quote from the observer says it better than I can:

 

"Exactly so, say the still-grumbling pundits: there are millions and millions in need; this is just useless, gesture-politics, drop-in-ocean stuff. But what they really mean is that if you can't save a million, there's no point in saving one. And to that, I have nothing to say at all."

I think it's terrible how he's being split up from his Dad. :o Even if he wants him to have a better life and whatever. Yeah he'll have a better life, but the other kids there must feel a bit $h!t too.

Actually go and talk to an African, they could explain it to you so much better than I ever could...

 

If rich white people can just go into a third world country and basically have their pick of any kid they want and bypass all the regs, well doesn't that strike you as being a little dodgy.....???

 

The next rich, white person may not be someone like Madonna, it may be someone like Paul Gadd, Michael Jackson or Johnathan King..... <_<

 

That's a good point, though I suppose the comfort we can take is that I doubt they would be able to do that if they were living in this country. Madonna will have to "re-adopt" and go through the UK adoption process as well to make sure she and Guy are suitable. I won't pretend to know how UK adoption regulations work, but if Jonathan King did a similar thing to Madonna, his sex offenence conviction would mean he would have to give the child back. Of course those living in other countries like Gary Glitter may get away with it where the laws for adoption may not be as rigourous.

 

I said in a previous post I am not happy with the way Madonna seems to have just bypassed all the regulations because of her money and fame. But, the whole media circus he will be exposed to notwithstanding, I don't think her adopting that child will cause any serious harm to him, and it may even have benefits.

Comparing this to Gary Glitter or Jonathon King adopting :blink:

 

Link to observer article

 

It seems like alot of people would prefer the child to stay in the orphanage in Malawi, risking the chance of catching some disease and dying young?? I can't think why. Believe me if I had millions lying around in my bank account, I would like to think that I would give money to help even a few people, and I dont think anyone would view that as patronising because I am a nobody, so why it it patronising when a celeb does it??

 

As for the adoption being a trend and in fashion, I say get a life. These are human beings involved in the whole process, and I think its sick to tag adopting any child as 'fashionable'.

 

Too many people are cynical these days......

Comparing this to Gary Glitter or Jonathon King adopting :blink:

 

Link to observer article

 

It seems like alot of people would prefer the child to stay in the orphanage in Malawi, risking the chance of catching some disease and dying young?? I can't think why. Believe me if I had millions lying around in my bank account, I would like to think that I would give money to help even a few people, and I dont think anyone would view that as patronising because I am a nobody, so why it it patronising when a celeb does it??

 

As for the adoption being a trend and in fashion, I say get a life. These are human beings involved in the whole process, and I think its sick to tag adopting any child as 'fashionable'.

 

Too many people are cynical these days......

 

Well, yes, I think we ALL should prefer the child to stay in Malawi, that's the kid's home at the end of the day... Perhaps if our politicians actually did summat affirmative to STOP all the sh!t that happens in Africa instead of pontificating about it, sitting in endless ruddy meetings and just generally doing SOD ALL, we wouldn't actually have to see the sight of celebs or anyone else going over and cherry-picking which kids to adopt because the country would actually be better off. Look, if everyone starts jetting off to Africa and taking loads of kids out the place, then how is that actually going to benefit Africa..?

 

And I dont think its cynical to question the motives of celebs at all...

 

well i suppose shooping in africa for poor (but attractive to camera crews) children, is a better story than going into tescos.

 

so i wonder if she be watching children in need this year?

the kid will be grateful when its 20, and its not starving, or even dead. shes also donating £2m to the community - ok it doesnt help in the long run, and doesnt really contribute to africas future but atleast it is something. yes, you can say she needs gov backing etc, but its not that easy is it? madonna probably thinks just what we think

 

and i can hardly see people like paul gadd or jon king getting away with it, eh? i mean of course they could trust madonna. shes got millions behind her, and she has a strong family. and ive never of her being abusive either. remember when youre famous, anything degrading can be big news.

 

she doesnt exactly exploit the kids she has at the moment either, does she? ive only really seen her daughter on the odd premier picture.

 

and also not many celebs who do adopt exploit them. angelina doesnt, kidman doesnt. its all just the press following them around ffs.

Cynical in the fact that, Madonna has built and funded an orphanage that will help a percentage of people in one country. And she has given this child an opportunity to have a decent life. I find it hard to see alot of wrong in these actions. Africa is a major issue, the motives of celebs I couldnt care less about really, it is politicians that should deal with this, but if Madonna wants to help in her way, I have no problem with that.

 

 

my.... ive missed the debate! lol

 

im in broad agreement with scott, the whole episode sits uneasily on me and id sooner see madge helping the broader population instead of doing her 'saint madonna' act and rescuing one.

 

dont forget, madge will be pushing 70 when this kids 20.....

dont forget, madge will be pushing 70 when this kids 20.....

 

so? id hardly be suprised if shes still doing what shes doing now at 70. and at 20 its hardly going to make the dfference.

the thing that's irking people about Madonna adopting is that she's considered herself above the correct legal procedures. As she seems to consider herself above most things (her fans for one).

 

Fact is that VERY few mothers over 40 are allowed to adopt.

 

Furthermore....a woman with a past as sexually-charged and colourful as Madonna's - there's absolutely no way on EARTH any apoption agency would consider her. You have to be even whiter than white - and Madonna..... well... she's hardly whiter than white, is she? Sex book, Like a Virgin, faux-lesbianism, masturbating on a public stage, blasphemy, causing public outrage, questionable sexual exploits, plus, and more importantly, really.... who would want an absolute BERK like Guy Richie as a father?

sorry :)

Edited October 17, 200618 yr by dido fan

Well, I do not like the idea of aborption, let alone kids who were already born...

 

:huh: Are you talkign about abortion or adoption here?

so? id hardly be suprised if shes still doing what shes doing now at 70. and at 20 its hardly going to make the dfference.

 

 

because when you are 70 you are not a 20 year old whos just older.... you mature and look upon life from a different perspective... you are just not the same person, believe me, im madges age.

If Madonna wants to adopt a grown up children from a 3rd world latin country, here I am. But seriously I think she does that more because of herself then because of the kid. Anyway, she can´t do much damage taking a children out of a miserable situation, in which she´d probably starve, right? I think anyone here would do this "sacrifice" of leaving starving Africa to be raised by a multimillionaire family, not matter how much pain this money and fame can bring...

 

* Let´s not forget that when this kid becomes adult Madonna will be pretty much a fossil like Cher, so I doubt the media will be all over her like now.

If Madonna wants to adopt a grown up children from a 3rd world latin country, here I am. But seriously I think she does that more because of herself then because of the kid. Anyway, she can´t do much damage taking a children out of a miserable situation, in which she´d probably starve, right? I think anyone here would do this "sacrifice" of leaving starving Africa to be raised by a multimillionaire family, not matter how much pain this money and fame can bring...

 

* Let´s not forget that when this kid becomes adult Madonna will be pretty much a fossil like Cher, so I doubt the media will be all over her like now.

 

Yeah, and Cher's pop career is still going now :rofl:

Cynical in the fact that, Madonna has built and funded an orphanage that will help a percentage of people in one country. And she has given this child an opportunity to have a decent life. I find it hard to see alot of wrong in these actions. Africa is a major issue, the motives of celebs I couldnt care less about really, it is politicians that should deal with this, but if Madonna wants to help in her way, I have no problem with that.

 

Who's she actually helping though, this 'orphanage' that people go on about, apparently there's an education programme as part of it, and guess what, the curriculum is going to be based around Madge's own Kabbalist belief system.. I mean, WHAT THE FUKK IS THAT ABOUT???? Altruism my arse.... Gifts should come without sodding conditions in my opinion...

 

As for the selection process, apparently about a dozen or so of the healthy (ie, NOT the ones with Hep C, AIDS/HIV, etc.....) were basically lined up for her inspection... Hello?? Kinda sounds ever-so-slightly dodgy dont you think....?? I mean, why NOT actually choose to adopt an AIDS orphan as opposed to a child who actually HAS a biological parent still alive...?

 

Also, as has been pointed out, just what the hell is a black teenager gonna have in common with some white OAP, and as for Guy Ritchie (well, assuming the bloke sticks around that is...), a Mockney Cockney Geeeeeeezaaaahhhhh who makes c**p films, hardly a particularly great role model.....

 

I get a very bad feeling in my water that this is gonna spectacularly backfire on her, do you think the kid will be grateful to her..? Or, more likely in my opinion, is that the kid is gonna be totally resentful that she took him away from his father? Regardless of the socio-political situations or whether it's perceived to be "for his own good" or not, emotions and feelings tend not to be rational, especially when you're talking about teenagers. I dont think this is gonna end well for anyone concerned.... I could be wrong (Christ, I hope I am for the kid's sake, NOT Madonna's...), but I have a very bad feeling about this....

 

And yes, the fact that she has been able to use her money and her celeb status to bypass the law is totally wrong IMO, this ridiculous statement she made tonight that she's "complied with all the rules" or whatever. Well, if she had, she'd be out there buying a house in Malawi and living there full-time as we speak, because it has been established that Malawian law is that you have to live in the country for a year before you can adopt.... She's talking BOLLOCKS!!!

I agree with Scott whole-heartedly on this so I won't repeat what he's said.

 

What I find iffy (and for non-racistically motivated reasons) is the whole white family adopting a black african baby. I'm sorry but I see problems there in the future. I mean psychological issues for a start. Being brought into that lifestyle, basically being an outsider in your media-followed "family". I can't see what Madonna is doing is genuinely particularly good. It makes HER look good but (and what I've seen from her personality) she seems to be being incredibly ignorant to what she's doing...

Is she actually making a contest to chose the kid she will adopt? She coould make a reality show on MTV for starving kids who want to have a superstar mother?

I think Madonna is wrong for wanting to adopt this child on a whim, the child has a father and brothers I believe? then why didn't she help the whole family so they could stay together? she has enough money to do that without dragging the child half way across the world. There's plenty of kids over here in England she could adopt or be a foster mum to, no, she did it in the full glare of the worlds press didn't she?