Madonna Adoption

Madonna’s bid to adopt a three-year-old girl called Mercy, failed in Malawi yesterday. The manner in which the global media reported this sad news was both inhumane and insensitive. Journalists maliciously enjoyed Madonna’s discomfort, relishing the fact that the legal authorities in little, feeble Malawi thwart this woman, who usually gets whatever she wants.

We shouldn’t forget that because of this decision a small child is forced to remain in an orphanage.

The judge denied Madonna’s bid to adopt the child on the basis that she has not lived in Malawi for the required period of residency, which would mean an 18-month stay. The pop diva will appeal the judge’s decision, but appeared to be shocked by the negative decision, as all the signs were that the adoption was purely a formality.

Judge Esme Chombo quoted G. K. Chesterton. “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up.” She continued, “Residence denotes some degree of permanence. It does not necessarily mean the applicant has a settled headquarters in this country. It seems dangerous to try and define what is meant by residence. In the present case…Ms. Madonna may not be the only person interested in adopting the so-called poor children of Malawi. By removing the very safeguard that is supposed to protect our children, the courts by their pronouncements could actually facilitate trafficking of children by some unscrupulous individuals who would take advantage of the weakness of the law of the land. “

She concluded, “Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children the law seeks to protect.”

The judge has taken a legally correct but strict interpretation of her country’s laws, but there was precious little mention of the unfortunate little girl in the middle of this controversy. The same laws were treated very differently by the judge dealing with Madonna’s adoption of her son David, which took place in 2006.

I am not a fan of Madonna musically or an admirer of her strident, diva type character but she is clearly a far superior hope for the well being of Mercy than life in an orphanage.

In the end, Mercy, a lovely little girl will remain in care in Africa and a willing, rich and loving (if not lovable) mother in America are to be forced to live on separate paths. It’s a pity the courts in Malawi don’t show more mercy to this little girl.

An local man carried a sign outside the courthouse, it read, “Adopt me Madonna” which perfectly summed up the situation!