I never thought Madonna would kick me out of apathy. I dislike her voice. Her music is dull. I really don't care about her ridicule-ridden love life. But her recent antics in Malawi make me really, really mad.
A couple of years ago I thought up a stupid and mildly offensive business plan. I realised how much better Christmas is with children around- Santa is suddenly real again, each present is an explosion of excitement. I thought I could solve this and world poverty in one, by starting up a Rent a Child scheme. Take a child from a war-torn, poverty stricken African country and loan it to a nice childless family for Christmas. These children didn't know it was Christmas time at all- until now. Bono would be so pleased. Problem solved.
Little did I know that Madonna had a similar idea. Sweep in to one of Africa's poorest countries, Malawi, pick the prettiest baby, wave some money and a peculiar religious cult around and poof, you have saved the children. Now we all know that black babies are cuter. It is a well-known truth. But I can't quite see how taking a child from its culture amindst protests from its family and world-wide condemnation could be anything but selfish, imperialist arrogance.
And such arrogance. Over 50 human rights organisations have opposed Madonna's adoption of four-year-old Mercy James. Save the Children, one of the loudest and most respected voices on child welfare have lead the criticism. Charity spokesman Dominic Nutt reportedly said: “What Madonna is doing verges on a puppy parade. People like her are looking for the most beautiful child. They wouldn’t choose a child with a disability or special needs." Ouch. When Save the Children are saying things like that surely it's time for a rethink?
Now I'm not in a position to say who should or should not be able to adopt. So she's fifty. So she's a single mum. So she recently broke up with her boyfriend because he spent too much time on the phone to his family. But Mercy already has a family even if her parents aren't around. The Sun reported that the child's grandmother is devastated and has said she is being "stolen". This is bad enough. Madonna's previous Malawian adopted child David still has a father in the country. Granted he is a peasant farmer. But despite the father's pleas to see his son, this is the first time Madonna has taken David back to Malawi for two years. That, in my opinion, does not consitute the compassion and consideration required of a loving parent. But it's ok because Madonna's nannies will be looking after him anyway. It's horrible.
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Agreed! Apart from Kaballah being a cult. It's just a complete misrepresentation of Judaism... stupid Madonna
ReplyDeleteBrilliant succinct and direct blog. Completely agree about much of what you said, and the business idea is funny. Would have loved to have heard the brainstorming phase.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you (not necesarily you Jasmine) think about western people adopting children without family from developing countries(who have been abandoned etc)?
It's a pretty contentious and difficult question heh. I'm not against adopting children from developing countries. It depends on the people and the situation. Of course, if a child could escape a life of poverty, exploitation and cruelty by being adopted in a foreign country, the change in culture may be worth it. I think the thing with Madonna is that she is trying to flout adoption rules in Malawi and that both Mercy and David have family that seem not to want to let them go.x
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