They are doing a WONDERFUL thing, but they are only doing it because it is “popular” and “trendy” to do so.

We wish they would do it out of the goodness of their hearts, and not becasue it gives them more media attention

I don’t mind it; I think it’s a kind thing to do.

My mother says it’s ridiculous because there are kids in America that need families. She doesn’t realize that they’re not starving or anything in the US government’s care.

they do it for publicity not because its the right thing. u would know if u lived here.

You are absolutely correct! People are crazy and just criticize on the smallest of things. well nothing is wrong with them, they are great people!! and its an amazing thing to help children in need, people shouldn’t be looking at that in a negative way at all!

Madonna & Angelina don’t live in the united states. The only negative thing i know about adoption is that white children never get placed with colored families. why is this?

Well if you search the net there are alot cases of kids be kidnapped and trafficked from their families to satisfy american adoption needs Lets face it they didnt and wouldnt adopt an older child or disabled or diseased or a bunch of other things. Alot of uneducated parents are being coersed and signing their healthy good looking childeren over thinking its some sort of exchange program thinking they will get them back or talk to them while giving them a better life in america. With the amount of money paid to private attorneys you would be surprised what they will do to find you the perfect babyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7524514.stm

Madonna BOUGHT David and Mercy, pure and simple.

Last time I checked, human trafficking was illegal. Remember the slave trade, anyone? Madonna has had so much negative press lately that she thought buying another kid to add to the brood she already has would cast her in a more favorable light.

David’s father is still alive. David was NOT in an orphanage. He was not being abused. If Madonna truly cared about what was best for David, she could have donated the money she paid for him to his village. Then his BIOLOGICAL father could have raised him with proper food and water and he could’ve gone to school with his relatives and friends, rather than be uprooted from the only life he’s ever known (not to mention his culture, heritage, and native language) to live with a rich white woman.

In principle I have nothing against them adopting as they are giving the children they adopt a far better lifestyle. What I object to is the way they go about it. If the average person (or couple) off the street adopts then they have to abide by the laws of the country they are adopting from which includes living in the country for x amount of time. Madonna comes along and chucks money at the government then if she doesn’t get what she wants straight away she chucks a tantrum offers more money then gets what she wants. This portrays the image that a child is just another assessory for her and takes away from the real issue. Another thing that bugs me about Madonna is she lied to David’s father and that is so very wrong. He didn’t understand fully what would happen when David was adopted and she broke her promise about contact.

Nothing that is a beautiful thing however some people criticize because they think they are doing it to keep fame

I don’t have a problem with people who adopt a child through following the rules of adoption from that country. Madonna wanted a heap of exemptions because she donated money. That sets a precedence in inter-country adoptions that’s most adoptive parents even find unacceptable. Gosh even my own husband who doesn’t give a rip about celebrities even had a few words to say about Madonna on this one, and they weren’t good.

Angelina did live in Africa for a at least 2yrs. She followed the protocol at least. She worked in orphanges so I can see how she became an adoptive parent that way.

We all want these kids to have a chance at life, but at what cost to them? If they can stay in Africa and be sponsored than I’m all for that. If they can’t then lets make sure the right thing is done by the child and its truly in their best interests NO Exceptions no matter how much money a person has in the bank. Inter-country adoption needs to be treated with more respect than she has done.

Werner.—-Your figures–

one day—– 34,000—children die.

one week 238,000–children die.

one mouth 952,000—children die.

12 mouths 11,424,000–children die

Then if your figure’s are right then l would say Africa needs evey child its got to self survive.

THAT is one problem with Madonna and Co playing around in Africa with children lives.The second is, its the only whey they can make news head lines these days.

Third is, .money talks.—THE fourth is they are now a bunch of has beens and thats where they should stay–yours–

I agree with you…its a wonderful thing. I adopted twins from China and I love them as Im sure they love there beautiful babies from Africa. But many people don’t like International adoption. I have been criticized because I supposedly stole my children from China which i think is a bunch of bs. Its a wonderful thing and hopefully the world will see that soon.

1. Both Madonna and Angelina Jolie (but especially the former) are using international adoption as a means to get the spotlight. I don’t think it’s right for adults to use children as a forum for grandstanding and career boosting.

2. Madonna adopted from a country that requires a lengthy in-country waiting period as part of their established international adoption laws. Sure, it’s inconvenient. Most foreign couples looking to adopt probably can’t afford to just take six months off work and live in Africa. But that was the *law*. Madonna successfully circumvented that law, which shows to me, a general disrespect for the laws and culture of the children she adopted.

3. Madonna’s second child, Mercy, had family in-country that were willing and able to care for her. International adoption should be the last resort, when there is no family willing or able to raise the child.

4. As an international adoptive parent, I cringe at how the media portrays celebrity adoptions. The description of the process is not realistic. You don’t just fly to Ethiopia and pick out a pretty baby girl. There is a lengthy process involved with being approved to adopt, then being matched with a child. The problem is, Americans as a culture tend to want what they want, and want it now. When the adoption process takes longer than expected (because according to Oprah, you just go pick one out!) the prospective adoptive couples start getting demanding with the agency, even going so far as to travel to the country and *demand* that the government drop whatever they are doing and take care of *their* adoption. Right now.

Like I said, I am an international adoptive parent. My children are from Africa, in fact. It’s a matter of how it was done and how it was portrayed that concerns me.

I think its a wonderful thing people will talk as long as they have a mouth sometimes good sometimes bad. I’m sure they have lost no sleep over negative comments. I applaud them . I as well am going to adopt but i will doing it stateside

Adopting one or two children does nothing to address the real problems going on in impoverished countries. It is just the celebrities collecting children and feeling like saviors when they are often sidestepping the laws to acquire these children.
Personally, I would rather stay in my own country and culture and language than live my life as someone’s pet.

And wasn’t Madonna funding the orphanage that Mercy was living in? If it was such an awful place and she was funding it, what does that say about Madonna?

They are high profile people so undue attention is paid to their actions. Some people may feel that they should be adopting underprivileged children in their own countries first.

Dear Werner,

Wouldn’t it be even better if we could INSTEAD, actually improve the conditions for all people who live in less than ideal situations while allowing them the opportunity to remain within their original families, communities and cultures?

http://allafrica.com/stories/200906160213.html