5/4/2009
I hardly know anything about Madonna’s stardom or singing, but her recent news on adopting another child from Malawi aroused my interest.
Madonna, a soon-to-be a single mother of three, with great wealth, wants to adopt a second child from poverty-stricken nation is admirable, and indeed shows her humanity of the highest degree. While many philanthropic millionaires are prepared to part with their money supporting charitable organisations or programs, Madonna goes one step further by sharing her love with the orphans. Whether she is going to raise the child personally or employing a nanny to do it on her behalf, the adopted child will no longer have to suffer the torture of nature’s elements, be fed, clothed, educated and medically looked after.
Short-sighted public will view that her action of adoption as selfish and against human rights. People who can afford food to fill their stomachs do not understand what real hunger is. They might go on 40-hour fasting campaign just to experience the suffering, but after which hunger is just another word. Continuous hunger and poverty do not give much hope and dignity to the sufferers. What can these do-gooders do to help alleviate such reality?
Madonna has fame and wealth. Her sincere action is not for publicity; she was greatly saddened by the decision of being knocked back by the Malawi’s High Court in adopting the second child. Her facial expression revealed her disappointment and sadness from within. She wanted this girl, Mercy, to be a sister to the first adopted child David, both are three years old.
What she has done and hopefully continues to do may be considered as an act of “pay-forward”. I do not believe she will ask for any financial return from her adopted children, but I do believe her goodwill will probably influence many more people with good intention to follow her footsteps. Further, when these adopted children grow up, they may do a better job than Madonna in helping more needy people, in Malawi or anywhere else in the world.
This is not the end of her journey to adopt Mercy. While Malawi’s High Court’s concern that the case could open the flood gate for trafficking children seems legitimate, Madonna’s previous adoption has set a precedence and thus provides a good hearing of her appeal.
Financial support does not necessary express love and humanity. Nothing is more comforting, fulfilling and getting a greater sense of security than a cuddle from another human, especially that from a mother.
Madonna, a soon-to-be a single mother of three, with great wealth, wants to adopt a second child from poverty-stricken nation is admirable, and indeed shows her humanity of the highest degree. While many philanthropic millionaires are prepared to part with their money supporting charitable organisations or programs, Madonna goes one step further by sharing her love with the orphans. Whether she is going to raise the child personally or employing a nanny to do it on her behalf, the adopted child will no longer have to suffer the torture of nature’s elements, be fed, clothed, educated and medically looked after.
Short-sighted public will view that her action of adoption as selfish and against human rights. People who can afford food to fill their stomachs do not understand what real hunger is. They might go on 40-hour fasting campaign just to experience the suffering, but after which hunger is just another word. Continuous hunger and poverty do not give much hope and dignity to the sufferers. What can these do-gooders do to help alleviate such reality?
Madonna has fame and wealth. Her sincere action is not for publicity; she was greatly saddened by the decision of being knocked back by the Malawi’s High Court in adopting the second child. Her facial expression revealed her disappointment and sadness from within. She wanted this girl, Mercy, to be a sister to the first adopted child David, both are three years old.
What she has done and hopefully continues to do may be considered as an act of “pay-forward”. I do not believe she will ask for any financial return from her adopted children, but I do believe her goodwill will probably influence many more people with good intention to follow her footsteps. Further, when these adopted children grow up, they may do a better job than Madonna in helping more needy people, in Malawi or anywhere else in the world.
This is not the end of her journey to adopt Mercy. While Malawi’s High Court’s concern that the case could open the flood gate for trafficking children seems legitimate, Madonna’s previous adoption has set a precedence and thus provides a good hearing of her appeal.
Financial support does not necessary express love and humanity. Nothing is more comforting, fulfilling and getting a greater sense of security than a cuddle from another human, especially that from a mother.