BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 09:55 AM

You'd think that adoption was the best if not the only way to help.

It seems that madonna and her apologists are advocating without any sense of Irony that we should all be going and adopting kids from third world countries to do our bit to help.

YES - I think that approach SHOULD be discouraged. Madonna is WRONG to suggest that it is something to be encouraged.

It is a grossly irresponsible attitude to have.

Believe it or not there ARE OTHER WAYS of helping.

LOTS of other ways.

They involve trying to help the many rather than the few. They involve dealing with the issues surrounding the children properly.

She has advisors. She is surrounded by dignitaries who want their photo's taken with her who all possess enough information about how she can ACTUALLY BE OF REAL HELP to the children of Malawi and the country of malawi.

Again - to simplify

Adoption <-> poverty in malawi = SEPERATE ISSUES

The adoption thing is reprehensible. I'm sorry, but she has no excuse. Little David banda is the equivalent for madonna of one of those little reward stickers you get when you put money in a collecting jar on the high street.

"I'm a friend of malawi"

Is the kid going to wear a sweatshirt with the message "madonna saved me" on it? he might as well because he's going to known for it regardless of what the media say.

She has done it for herself. She wants the child and she gets what she wants.

Risks? - oh don't worry, she'll cross that bridge when she comes to it. She'll just give him a red bracelet and tell him to look within and how much it helped her.

She'll give him the same self centred crap that she gives the media and he'll never feel listened to.

Sorry, but she makes me puke.

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: Big Phil
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 11:38 PM

Don't care if Madonna and husband adopts one or one hundred kids, it is up to them and is the business of no one else......

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 12:16 AM

But it is the business of others if she is seen to be flouting rules that other lesser (well off) mortals have to abide by... see the original posting where it gives details of the Malawi adoption process.

She has not been a resident in the country for 18 days, let alone months. She has shown she will readily take the child out of the country. Malawi law forbids overseas adoptions, it insists on 18 months of residency, it insists on suitability checks. The child has a living parent who doesn't appear to have been correctly informed.

Regardless of her motives and other charitable acts, she is breaking the laws of the land and passing the wrong messages to couples who want to adopt but must go through the correct procedures.

This whole issue gives the impression that anyone with a big handfull of dollars can just come and take a child irrespective of due legal process. How many 'Celebs' will now want an African child (or in the words of Waynetta Slob - "I wanna a brahn baybee, every uvva muvva on the estate's go' wun") because Madonna has one?

I agree that every child has the right to a loving home, and that not every loving home is with its birth parents, but being rich in material goods does not always make one rich in spirit, heart or mind.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: Lox
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 09:47 AM

Big Phil.

That is such an ignorant and offensive comment to make.

You have obviously made no attempt to understand what this thread is about.

On one hand you're saying you don't care whether the ritchies adopt or not, then in your next breath you're expressing your point of view on the subject.

You're happy to tell people that they're wrong, yet you aren't interested in knowing what they are actually talking about.

Come on mate, you can't have it both ways.

Either engage the subject or leave it alone.

While we are on the subject of whose business it is, it clearly isn't just that of the Ritchies.

It is, for example, the business of the childs father. (If you don't know what I'm talking about I suggest you read back)

It is also the business of anyone who believes that adoption of children should be done in a responsible way so as to ensure that their best interests are not overlooked. (again, you'll have to read back to know what I'm talking about)

In this case, there are many people who are of the view that this adoption should not be happening because it might be bad for the child being adopted. (just to make sure you don't repeat something someone said at the start that has already been discussed, I again suggest reading back)

When you see or hear about someone doing something bad, it is your business to show concern (if you want to), and if someone else disagrees with your reasons, it is your business to scrutinize the issues (if you want to) to see to what extent your concerns are justified.

That is how societies make sure that people don't get away with doing bad things. Without this kind of healthy debate we may as well go back to the jungle and beat each other with clubs.

It is important, that neither Madonna nor anyone else is allowed to get away with abusing their media status and financial clout, when it comes to taking risks with other peoples welfare. especially the welfare of children.

If you aren't interested then let those of us who are get on with it.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: Wolfgang
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 09:08 AM

then it follows that you don't care about dying african children with aids

But they are already black, aren't they.

Wolfgang (on a trip of deliberate misunderstanding)

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: Donuel
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 10:35 AM

Not to be outdone, Oprah is planning the most outrageous give away ever attempted on TV. Unlike the time she gave away new cars to everyone who had a number taped under the auditorium seats, this time everyone with an even number will get a brand new Malawan boy and the odd number tickets will get a new Malawan girl.

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 03:40 PM

This thread has suddenly turned evil ...

lol

more more ...

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 04:45 PM

Wolfgang.

The first few times I read your post, I inferred several different types of possible irony.

It pains me to admit that I have only just really understood the joke.

And to think of all the subtlety I was crediting you with possessing.

If I groan any louder, the neighbours are going to either call a doctor or the police.

You have a stain on your conscience!

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:03 PM

Well,

She's on BBC newsnight tonight at 10.30pm.

What will she say? will she tell the truth?

It should hopefully be a slightly more revealing interview than Oprah's

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:10 PM

You know, every negative word someone says about this, and it seems that despite her numerous faults Madonna is a good mother, hurts the children she is trying to help. She could and has done work to set up an orphanage there to help many orphans. I wish she had chosen a baby without family...but there is no doubt in my mind that she loves this baby, wants to have him in her family, should have done things differently, but I for one do not doubt her motives at all. Of course we need strong rules everywhere to prevent slave traders, and child molesters and all sorts of unfit and abusive types to swoop into a country and take children away, but this is a person who is totally in the public eye, could have 6 live in social workers if necessary. I don't care if she cut to the front of the line...this will ultimately help to shorten the line for everyone and get some babies taken care of. mg

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 04:29 PM

But mg, those concerns that you have mentioned are so F****ng important that it has to be a monumental imperative that in this of all matters double standards are not allowed.

What's more, Madonna, no doubt being more aware of these issues after weeks of having been confronted with them, should be backing down and at least saying:

"I made a mistake, I would rather go through the correct procedures and teach by example how to take a responsible attitude than be seen to encourage the irresponsible approach, or indeed to encourage the malawian government or any other from welcoming people in to do as I have done."

She is setting a precedent which will have a massive global cultural impact. If she had any guts she would back down.

mg

Your post has eloquently convinced me of the opposite conclusion to the one you have reached, more than any other that I have read.
Read it back. They are your admissions.

"Of course we need strong rules everywhere to prevent slave traders, and child molesters and all sorts of unfit and abusive types to swoop into a country and take children away"

and then

"this is a person who is totally in the public eye"

That is absolutely why it should NOT be happening.

And mg, I know you. you commented with great relevance on a thread of mine that I posted recently and you had much to say that was very useful and helpful. You also displayed a perspective that tells me that deep down you agree with me.

OK, maybe I'm being a bit arrogant in that claim, but I'm prepared to risk it as a suggestion at least.

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 05:25 PM

Well, of course I agree on the abusive parents being kept out. I think this is a case where her lack of abusiveness to children can be documented and if they can speed up the process and have one child serve as a model for other adoptions, and contributions so that families can raise them and regular charity etc.....then I am all for the speed up process. Pictures of a cute kid in Baby Gap and Geranimals will do more for Malawi orphans than six books of tragedy on the subject.

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 07:12 PM

Well on the BBC interview she said she "formed a connection" with him whilst watching a video, before she met him!

She wanted to meet him after a few views so that she could form a more emotional bond.

Come on. These are the words of a fantasist.

How many deranged fans have "formed relationships" with her over the years. Even I as a teenager may have "formed" a few relationships with her - but never for more than about 3 minutes. ;-)

She claimed that she tried to offer the father the means by which he might support his own son, but that he refused, insisting (no doubt against her strongest protest) that she take him away.

mmm hmmm ... but he changed his mind later ... aaaaaahhhh ...

... I seeee ... ?!?         8-| (not impressed)

On the subject of media attention, it seems she brought her own film crew, so her "privacy" was fully intended to be very publicly shared right from the start.

Oh yes, and a quick reminder, adopting a child and the challenges of poverty and health in Malawi are two very distinct and seperate issues.

A child needed medical attention and food, so she adopted him.

At least that's one thing they'll have in common - a constant need for attention.

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 07:18 PM

Well, I formed a connection with him just by seeing a picture. I think adoptive parents do this all the time with children they just see in pictures or videos. The problem is that there are millions of children, probably similar to him, that nobody with sufficient means has formed a connection to...I am sure there are struggling people locally who would or have but they can't keep the diseases away...in one year of life he has survived (I read) both tuberculosis and malaria. How many more bullets should he dodge while they sort this out? mg

Subject: RE: BS: A little Malawi boy and Madonna
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 07:22 PM

Oh, one more thing,

Actually, probably one last thing,

I think you will find that this matter will slip away into the cesspit of media gone by now that she's done the rounds.

She'll feature in a few womens magazines talking about the miracle of david banda, but the issue of malawi will also fade away, having never really featured in the first place.

The relief workers and campaigners will get back into the swing of it, hoping that maybe they can capitalize on the wave of publicity that was created, but pretty soon life will be back to normal for them, and madonna will lick her wounds, put it behind her and correct the mistakes she made on that all important public persona "MADONNA - EARTH MOTHER"

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz