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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 13:51:07
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Little David Banda has been whisked into Britain from Malawi this morning by his new Nanny. What ethical issues does this case raisw for African children is it right for Madonna to be able to bribe officials to get her way? In the long run is David's placement with Madonna good for his holistic development bearing in mind, money cannot compensate for mental or emotional health or install within David a positive cultural identity. I'd like to hear your views on this subject. I wonder how much Madonna actually knows about Malawi culture so that she can support David. Is this a regressive step for African development or a new trade for transracil adoption? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6057676.stm
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 17 Oct 2006 13:56:04 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 13:55:29
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this was wrong, because she could have helped his family to get a business education or something, also what about his wife's family, baby david's relatives did they know what was going on.
Angeline Jollie, waited months and followed procedures for her child. Achild has the right to a good hom, healthy life, but the 2 million she paid to the orphanage would have improved his life and others so much more.
Yes she is above the law, i bet if i went to malawi i would have to wait. Rules were put inot place for people to wait 18 months, but for madonna, to the front of the line, collect child and go. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 14:29:03
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| This world is all about MONEY. MONEY TALKS for Madona and other celebrities! Don't worry the child is very lucky albeit tragedically lost mum at birth. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 18:25:35
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Nothing makes up for a mothers love. It is sad how many children grow up without their mothers love, for whatever reason.
I think when a child is small it is best kept within the extended African family. Then perhaps later he/she could go to uk or USA for further education and travel to experience another way of life and have support from another family to take the financial burden.
For the children I help I see my role as auntie or guardian, rather than mother. I have one child in Pirang I am especially close to and I say to her mum that I will be her second mum. If ever anything happened to her I would step in and take the responsibility (like the idea of a god parent). Her mother is reassured by that. Sometimes she is very ill and she gets comfort from knowning I would help her child. BUT I WOULD NEVER TAKE THE MOTHERS PLACE, OR TRY TO.
Whatever adoption procedures there are they should apply the same to everyone. The interests of the child should be central to the procedures. NOT the interests of the persons wishing to adopt.
I hope the boy will be well cared for and have a happy life. It will be interesting to see his development over the years. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 18:29:28
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| How did the baby get a visa so quikly. Infact an immigrant visa may take years to be approved even if one is qualified. In the gambia one has to have an appointment to be called for interview and sometimes takes a long time to be called. Does that mean a relaxing of procedures. Skaespeare was right when he said: WHEN BEGGARS DIE, THERE ARE NOT COMETHS SEEN, THE HEAVENS THEMSELVES BLAZEFORTH THE DEATH OF PRINCES. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 18:31:18
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| Thanks Bev for those wonderful comments missing love of your parents especially your mother at a tender age. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 18:48:47
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This is a tabloid topic.
Of course someone like Madonna gets visa, adoption papers etc. which means she can buy a child. If this boy is only a PR tool for her ('Jolie has one - me too!') or not nobody can say, atleast he/she knows her personally. I don't know her. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 19:27:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
...............What ethical issues does this case raise for African children is it right for Madonna to be able to bribe officials to get her way?
there is no evidence that she bribed anyone. lets get our FACTS right and stop being reactionary and emotional. there is no such thing as African Law in the first place.
if we look at it the otherway round , are we commenting, and reacting because it is Madonna. how many children are adopted legally/illegally every year in Africa and it never makes it to Bantaba or BBC. are those kids not worth the same attention as David.
She has not committed any crime.it is not illegal to adopt. those who wait 18 months etc are those who fill a forms and try to adopt through an Adortion agency like in the UK, the Social Services. if you see a child and want to adopt them with the consent of the parents its a quicker different story!!
the child's father was aware of the situation on every step and has agreed to it even being promised that the child will visit to know his roots. Several children in the gambia join their family in the UK, USA at a very young age for a chance of a better life. technically its adoption. did we ever talk about it!!
what no one has talked about is that this child's mother, has died and whether Madonna is capable giving motherly love to the child. this money cannot buy and is immeasurable. i think she can and thank her for trying.
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 19:39:08
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This child needs security and love. Only time will tell if Madonna will provide that.
Would it have been better to give financial support to a childrens home and school rather than uproot a child? I am not sure. Children do need a mother figure. Generally they dont do well in a childrens home situation where they have to share love, and someone is being paid to care for them (however good a job they do).
Children need to feel they are loved unconditionally, that they are special to someone, that they matter to someone. If Madonna can provide that, then fine. Being an adoptive parent or foster parent is not something to take on lightly.
I am considering being a foster parent in the uk. I would be interested to hear from anyone else about their experiences. As I am a special needs teacher I would consider fostering autistic children to give relief to parents and so on. My own daughter leaves home next year probably and I feel I would have time to help another child then. I am having my first interview next week. It is a very long procedure in the uk. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 19:47:15
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IF for example you were to go to Kolior, meet a family and decide to adopt a child whose mother had died and they agree to it, you then take take child back to the UK with you promising the parents that you will let her visit kolior on an affordable basis.
would you have committed a crime or done something unethical simple because as a woman you feel you have love to share???
ofcourse not, neither would it be a long procedure as well. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 19:59:36
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There is a child in Pirang that I mentioned before. I have been offered her to take to england. She wants to come with me. I am just uneasy about whether it is right for her. I decided to leave it till she is older.
What paper work is required? Her family would let me take her tomorrow. They trust me and I would respect that trust and the Gambian culture. I could take her home twice a year. I still hesitate, I suppose because of the political correctness of people like Sister Omega that think cross cultural adoption is a bad thing.
I want to do what is right for her. So I will wait for the moment and see. But please dont doubt, I do love her. I cry when I leave her. She sits on my knee the whole day. The feeling is there, so I could become her second mother if ever that was decided. My daughters are fine with this too. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 20:03:39
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| Bev, how old is the girl? |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 20:10:16
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Njucks, Madonna still has to get authorisation from the British Authorities for them to decide whether or not they think her and her husband are suitable adoptive parents for David. The adoption process in Britain let alone the child's immigration status is yet to be decided. Then there are the ethics of transracial adoption because over the past twenty odd years African children up for adoption must go to people from as similar cultural background as possible. Ok Njucks it has been proven that Madonna gave Malawi Authorities backhanders but let's face it if she wasn't a millionairess she'd still be waiting for an appointment to see the Malawian Authorities.
Gambiabev good luck with your foster care interview next week, I wish you all the best because respite care is essential for parents/Carers especially when children in your care are with someone who is completely aware of there challenges and potential like yourself.
Love of course an essential ingredient for adoption but you can't instantly fall in love with a child briefly over two weeks. It takes a biological mother 9months to bond with her unborn child, and even more sometimes after she's given birth. Adoption is as gambiabev nothing to be taken lightly and is a lengthy process for a reason. Madonna has a choice of two local Authorities to register with either in Westminster or Wiltershire County Council if the council approve the adoption after going through their marital history, sex life, financial status and medical history. The application will then go to the Education Department for a certificate of eligibility.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 17 Oct 2006 20:14:12 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 20:14:17
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 haha ok dont get emotional. i was just drawing attention to the fact that if we blindly ignore Madonna's money and hence our prejudice , then its almost 100% impossible to tell her feelings.
regarding paper work, the reason i raised it is because the problem is not on the Africa Side, but on the european side.
first to get a him/her a visa your embassy would like to know your relation to her in which case you will need to show that you have legal permission from her parents. the papers associated with this business can be called adoption papers which you can get easily if they fully consent. the law cannot stand in your way if the parents agree to it.
secondly back in Europe/UK to get her to school etc you know what best is required as a teacher. but once anyone has legal entry into any country its not a problem to be part of the system.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 20:37:57
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| As I say in everything, the rights of the child FIRST. |
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