MADONNA'S ADOPTION

[celeste]

the boy's father has given Madonna his backing,  he has said where were the human rights people (his words according to the radio) when his child was in the orphanage.  I think if celebrities can spread their money about in this way the fewer children there would be in orphanages

[TELENY]

Apparently, the boys father thought he was just handing over the custody of his baby boy to Madonna - it now transpires that the orphanage and Madonnas' representatives have ACTUALLY secured his legal adoption . . . the father is apalled because he doesn't want his son being adopted!!

[celeste]

Surely even if he didn't know anything about adoption, he could have sought advice

[Christopher]

the boy's father has given Madonna his backing,  he has said where were the human rights people (his words according to the radio) when his child was in the orphanage.  I think if celebrities can spread their money about in this way the fewer children there would be in orphanages

I hope all celebrities don't follow the lead set by Madonna. Some of them aren't fit to look after themselves never mind adopt kids. The gossip columnists earn a good living reportig on their antics. If they were to adopt kids the kids might end up in mental homes rather than orphanages. What about the poor kid a singer ... ach what was his name? .. who wants to remember his name anyway ... held upside down by holding the poor child by the ankles. That kid could have been living six foot under. Oh! Michael Jackson was his name .. does he run some type of holiday home for kids? He seems to like to play with them

[celeste]

because the histories of the celebrities are well known, the authorities can decide which are the safe homes and which ones are risky.  Michael Jackson would never have been able to adopt, which is probably why he had to pay someone to have his  children.  0rdinary people have to be checked out for longer as nothing is known about them.

[Christopher]

Whaddya mean ordinary peoply Are some less ordinary than others There are very few extra ordinary people. Most of us have a great story to tell. Why are kids in orphanages in the first instance? Is living with a star and their family really suitable for a kid from a different background? Some stars kids become wild children.

[celeste]

for adoption purposes,  people that are well-known dont take as long to check out, what i said was the authorities dont know the history of non-celebrities so the procedure takes longer

[TELENY]

celeste - we don't know the personal lives of celebrities, either.  What you're reading about them is a media construction of what their lives are really like . . . you're buying into the image as opposed to the person.

[celeste]

Madonna has just given an interview and it seem she cant do right for doing wrong,  what i was saying was that the celebrities have a head start on people none of whose history is known

[Christopher]

I'm inclined to agree with TELENY, celeste. Madonna jumped on a fast track system because she's wealthy. Madonna didn't adopt a child in Britain but took the trendy route probably she did not want the British adoption agencies to discover too much about her background. I'm not surprised that children's societies are voicing their opinions. As far as I'm aware if you adopt from agencies in Britain being a celebrity makes no difference as the adoption process in this country is extremely strictly regulated whereas in some places overseas it is a bit lax.

[TELENY]

From what I can gather, Madonnas' lawyers explained to Madonna that Malawi didn't have a formal adoption system, let alone one to regulate rich, international celebrities wishing to adopt one of their little ones.  In fact, they were making it up as they went along.

There was no scrutiny into Madonnas' application to adopt because it was, largely, informal and was arranged between the orphanage and Madonnas' lawyers - the Malawian government was not involved.

So who is acting as referee?

I am VERY concerned.

[Christopher]

Surely even if he didn't know anything about adoption, he could have sought advice

celeste, the child was not adopted in Britain where I've no doubt such a situation would never have happened. The child was adopted in Malawi where the father probably could not afford legal advice. Not only probably .. an article in Telegraph.co.uk states the father lived in a mud hut. Do you seriously expect that the father would have been able to seek advice?

Sounds like a fat fee for the lawyers and a nice backhander to the orphanage Next celebrity please

[peterw]

Madonna’s criteria is probably whether or not the chilld is photogenic

[celeste]

A VERY CYNICAL REPLY SUCH AS WOULD PUT PEOPLE OFF ADOPTING THAT CAN AFFORD TO DO SO

[TELENY]

celeste . . . you have a very innocent outlook when it comes to the (public) behaviour of celebrities.  Madonna has made millions through media manipulation and image control - peterw and christopher are hitting the nail on the head - (as far as I'm concerned).