Please check out Sheri's posting on this topic. I had meant to write a proper piece about the topic of celebrity adoptions myself but hadn't found the time. Sheri has shared her thoughts on the subject and I agree with her completely. Sheri also talks about Blood Diamond. I haven't seen that film yet but plan to do so when I can gather the fortitude.
I am always amazed by how much MISinformation there is out there on the Internet and, unfortunately, many consider it to be a trusted source for "the facts." When it was suddenly announced that Angelina was adopting from Vietnam, it did seem quick because a week earlier it was reported that she denied another adoption - some intrepid Hollywood reporter apparently got their facts wrong somewhere, shock horror! I also read that she began the adoption process shortly after her daughter, Shiloh, was born, so that's a year ago. I hold about as much stock in what I read on the Internet as I do in the tabloid headlines at the checkout counter that report Martians are holding Elvis hostage.
Now, I don't agree with Angelina placing young Pax in the media spotlight. I don't think it's right he be subjected to the paparazzi, although she & Brad don't have complete control of that. But I certainly don't think it's right for Pax to be featured in an interview in Hello magazine and have posed pictures of mommy & child slapped on every mag cover.
But, that's Angelina's decision and who am I to judge? I don't know what's going on in her world but I'm sure her intentions are the best and she loves and does the best that she can for all of her children.
Same for Madonna. All the crap talk about about her taking baby David away from Malawi without his father's consent. I hear a different version of the story everywhere I go. But I did hear him interviewed and saying he knew exactly what he was doing. And yes, David does have a living parent, but it is the usual case in an adoption that one or more birthparent is still alive - in N. America I would guess that's the case 99% of the time. David's father, Yohane, gave him up for adoption in order to secure his child's survival - he said he would surely have died (as his 2 brothers did previously) if left in Malawi. How can it be wrong for Madonna to adopt him and raise him as part of her family?
I am reminded of a story I read on an adoption site using the analogy of where a mother and her child are in a burning building and the mother throws her baby out of the window into the hands of a waiting woman in order to save her child's life. This is the essence of adoption in the case where one or both birthparents makes the choice to place their child into care. They are committing the ultimate act of unconditional love. The grief and loss they must feel - I can't even begin to imagine it. And I can't imagine how difficult it is for Yohane. God bless Madonna for being there to help his child.
(Hey, look at me - I only meant to write a quick intro to Sheri's posting and ended up writing much more.)
