4.4.09

madonna robbing the cradle again

No, this time it's not with Jesus Luz, the 22-year old boytoy. No, this time it's with another child from Malawi.

I'm sorry, but isn't any adoption, anywhere, taking a child out of their "environment" and placing them in a new one? Isn't that, in some cases, the whole point of adoption? To give a child a "better" shot at a "better" life than the one that they have - whether that be removing them from a home where the mother is 13 years old, or a well-kept orphanage, or a disgusting orphanage, or whatever? I can't help but wonder when people accuse Madonna of kidnapping and stealing these children away from Africa, are they really just being a little bit racist? I mean, cause everyone's a little bit racist. But seriously - I don't hear shit about people complaining about adoptions of Chinese girls from China, saying they are better off being raised in their home country. So, why is it that orphans from African countries are better off living in these orphanages, which by most reports are underfunded, lack resources, etc.? You know, the same Africa currently facing an AIDS epidemic, where rape is a fact of life for many women, where living life without a parent or both parents is the way of life for most kids. Really? These children are better off being raised by a "staff" of people, rather than someone who wants to raise them? Seriously?

Full disclosure: I am just another white boy sitting on his computer in North America with an opinion based only on the surface-level observations I can make from said computer, but at least I recognize that and don't try to have an authority over the situation. I know I'm biased because I would wipe Madonna's ass if she asked me to, but I don't think I'm unable to criticize her when she makes poor decisions. I don't think this is one of them. And even if it was - I still realize that I'm just a boy, sitting on a computer, judging someone else on their life choices. It's absurdity everywhere you look.

She will have a lasting presence in Malawi, whether people know that or not. Her foundation, Raising Malawi supports over 25,000 orphans. She's building schools, using her power of publicity to draw attention to the nation (though the media only seems to care when she's adopting a child, not building a school or doing something positive) and its crises. To be honest, it's the most altruistic and kind-hearted public act she's done...ever. But you wouldn't know it, would you?

I understand the judge's concerns about human trafficking. I think it's disgusting, and I have a hard time even typing that word. I just can't believe we still live in a world where human beings (fucking children, for the love of God) are being sold and marketed. And I understand the country, at this point, doesn't have the kind of resources and infrastructure to necessarily follow up with every foreign parent adoption. I really do understand that, and I think the judge honestly made the decision from a logical, rational standpoint. What I don't get are all of these so-called "human rights" groups who condemn Madonna's attempts at adoption, and the media circus that chooses to crucify her (hah, she's dating Jesus) for this.

Why doesn't Angelina Jolie receive this kind of backlash? Is it because she's Lara Croft and she'll kick your ass? No, that can't be it, cause I think Madonna is capable of kicking ass, and probably singing live while doing so. Is it because Angelina Jolie goes into countries where she can easily adopt, rather than go to countries that have little-to-no policies regarding foreign adoption? Or is it because Angelina Jolie hasn't yet made a career full of publicity stunts, pissed off the Pope and about everyone else in the process, and done things her way? Or is it because she only adopted one African child? Or is it because she's with Brad Pitt? Or does she smile more than Madonna does?

If someone has the answers to these questions, I'd love to know them. Because I can't figure it out and it drives me crazy. Yes, she can have a faux-British accent and it can be ridiculous. Yes, she made attention-whoring her M.O. in her early career (look at the differences since she had her first child, Lourdes, and you'll see things have changed). No, she's not your bitch, so don't hang your shit on her. But people still do, and I still don't see why.

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