Here's a summary of what Madge had to say according to CNN.
I guess if Aunty O gives her full support to Madonna, then it's all good. On another note I commend Oprah for waiting till next week when we enter the November sweeps/ratings period. Not like she needs it. We'll also be watching Madonna on the NBC TV Concert special on November 22. May be she'll say something about the issue. The platform is neccessary. But it appears the crux of the matter is really about the violation of the law that prohibits foreign adoption in Malawi and expediting the process for Madonna because of her celebrity status. Anyways good luck to Madonna and her new family. David Banda-Ritchie will definitely have a better life as Madonna's child.
Having said that, Charity begins at home. There are thousands of 'poor, black babies', african american children, hispanic, caucasian children littered in orphanages and foster homes. They need loving homes too. You don't have to cross the ocean to adopt a child before you can MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Take the log out of your own eyes before you look for the needle in another. That applies to all of you and me too. We need to do what we can to make a difference in our homeland. We should not have to wait for foreigners to come and show us that we have an elephant in our living room. Me I have done some small little widows might in the past (including helping to bring electricity to my village and helping found/fund charities albeit with much naivete). I know I will do more in the future God willing because it's teh right thing to do. What have you done and what are you doing?
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TODAY'S OPRAH
Material girl Madonna sets the record straight about her adoption of the Malawian boy, David Banda. Here is a preview from Reuters. Check your local listings to see the full interview.
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12 comments:
I trust you Adaure! Good looking out girl.
By the way, your current pic - flawless. You deserve 5 thumbs up (mine plus the ones I borrowed from family members)!
Why did she have to act like all the kids in Africa need adoption? I felt like her heart was in the right place but sometimes too much in the right place. The answer to the problem of poor living conditions and disease is not taking all the kids from Africa and giving them "a life" in the US but getting to the root of the global economic/neocolonial structures that make situations like that possible. No doubt it's impossible to level the playing field btw first & third world countries but if you mean well don't go there and adopt a kid and then feel like your work is done. Besides, what happened to all the kids in foster homes in the US?
please what did she say?
I didnt have time to watch it but I saw that she was rocking the ankara!
anyway, fill us in...
I shall just keep my lips sealed regarding my opinion
i feel exactly the same way anonymous feels...when she said that the media is deterring people from going to africa and adopting children, i almost threw the remote at my TV. africa doesn't need its children to be taken away and turned into mini-americans that will come to complete the f**king-up that the current americans have already started. but that's another issue entirely, and i'm not gonna get into that.
Nigerians really think there's no problem in Africa. We need HELP!! Loud and clear. Africans are dying by the second, minute, hour, day, and year. I don't know why we cannot admit that we need help. It is false pride to sit here and think we do not need this kind of exposure and help. You are not the one that is hungry or sick and can't get treatment. You are not the one that has no parents. You are not an Orphan.
Madonna in no way has done anything wrong. And believe me I am not a fan. But even I can be objective, rational and empathetic in my thinking to understand her intentions were and are good. I mean...Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Now the issue is she could have adopted kids from America.
On an ending note: *Food for thought.
When I give a beggar money it doesn't mean I don't have my own money issues and need every cent I can get, but at least I know I helped someone that needed it more. Orphans in America though facing alot of issues, have the American government and policies protecting them. Orphans in Africa are at the mercy of people like Madonna. If you are honest with yourself, bullshit aside you know they will be rendered the "Lost Generation." You never help people just because. You help people because they need it more than you do
It is ironic that a journalist "moderates" the comments on her blog. What happened to "freedom of speech", people may disagree with you but in your line of business is that such a bad thing? This particular action of yours seems more fox news than cnn. Just thought it was interesting that of all the bloggers out there, the one who is an actual journalist practices censorship...interesting.
@anonymous... why do you think you are the omniscient. What makes you think that my moderating my blog is about censorship. How do you know that. By the way every media outlet with a public forum 'moderates' their comment board including CNN, BBC, FOX etc etc. I have posted EVERY comment that has been left. When it was open some people (someone) abused it, hence that sort of stupidity will not be allowed. Don't be afraid to leave comments. If you have been reading I have posted comments that have called my reasoning and arguments into question so there is no censorship involved.
@Truth Be Told... so are you saying we should not ask questions or debate the issue then, just because Africa Needs Help? Basically, SHUT UP AND TAKE THE FREEBIE. C'mon now, I don't think anyone has denied that Africa is in squalid condition and needs help. The underlying matter is whether THIS (and other freebies)is the kind of HELP that AFrica needs(and legally whether the Malawian law should be scrapped). Madonna and all her super star friends can adopt all they want, it may cast the spotlight for a minute, BUT WILL IT TRULY HELP AFRICA? As you said AIDS will continue to kill the parents. Every hour one child becomes an orphan. In Africa's case most like 5 per hour. You think all of Hollywood can adopt all of Africa's orphans. LET'S BE REALISTIC. On the issue of African vs American orphans, you do raise a good point but wouldn't that amount to measuring people's suffering. An orphan is an orphan whether in American, Africa or Europe and they all need loving homes and an education. I don't need to be an orphan to know that (just try interacting with the kids in foster homes) And this goes beyond adoption. To think adopting one child is the solution to the problem is naivete at its very highest. It might solve the problem for that one child but not the rest. It definitely will not solve the problem that led to why the child was orphaned. But as I said David is definitely going to have a better life, there's no doubt.
Madonna may have had good intentions but it just throws the light on the truth that preference is given to celebrities in everything they do.
Since all the brohaha about this adoption came out, 2british couples have come out to complain that they were denied visa's to adopt & bring their dead sister in one case and dead brother's kids in the 2nd case to the UK since the kids' parents had died. The reason for the Visa refusal was that the kids had other relatives who could look after them notwithstanding the fact that they were now ORPHANS.
HELLO!!! The last time I checked, baby David's father was very much alive but he was hurriedly given a UK visa in record time. These couples couldnt help but complain to the press that the kids they had tried to adopt and bring to the UK were ORPHANS. THE INJUSTICE CONTINUES
calabar girl, thank you (!!) for bringing up that point, cuz i noticed that that was lacking in US news as well.
Sorry Adaure for this late post cause I know we have moved on from this topic. I've been meaning to throw this out there but just never got to it:
Like I said initially I wasn't going to comment until the woman explain herself first. For me o, I don't care what anyone thinks but I thank Madonna for what she did because I sincerely believe that her heart was in the right place. She used her celebrity status (although she just about swore that she didn't) to accomplish it, and so what? Do you know that some people here in America think they are all and mighty when they visit back home that there are certain places they go to and feel like they should be treated specially all because they just landed from the land of milk and honey? PUHLEASE! People want to condemn others meanwhile...
Anyways for those who say that adopting just one child out of Africa is not enough and that it'll only corrupt the child into western ways, please o what are you people doing here yourself??? If it is not for better education, better opportunities, and a better LIFE, please what are you occuping space here for? Forgive me o, even for the "american-born outsiders" if you don't mind, would someone please tell me what their parents came to look for here if nothing is wrong with Africa? So what is wrong with falling in love with a baby and wanting to give him a better life. Do we even know maybe it is this same boy who will one day go back to Africa and help change it? One day and step at a time people!
Please if anyone knows Madonna or any other person in the high places (or perhaps she even stumbles upon this blog because me I know Ada, you are going places; this country is only helping you add to your experiences - my whole point of the matter) please ask her if she intends on adopting more o cause I can give her some addresses inside inside Oshodi itself in Lagos for plenty options. There are beaucoup kids there who only need a small push to be able to help lead Nigeria when the time comes.
And for the ones who are so "concerned" about the kids in foster homes here, sheebe we call this place the land of milk and honey now? Hehn hehn, the way I see it at least they are here abi? And in case y'all didn't know there are "celebrities" who are all over those issues already through charity events. However, how frequently do we here about such things for the children of Africa? Oh oh... Now people are finally throwing their focus over there and we are already jumping into conclusions. Anywho, I'm not crucifying anyone for their opinions sha o(and I hope this is vice versa). Okay I think I got everything out. Besides I need to stop here or else I'll continue.
Dear Madonna, thank you. Love always.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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