Madonna has a history of causing controversy. She is no stranger to being under media scrutiny for her actions, from kissing Britney Spears during a performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards to her recent divorce from Guy Ritchie. The most recent media coverage concerning the singer, however, has little to do with videos posted on YouTube and million-dollar settlements, but more to do with the harsh reality of life.
According to a Calgary Herald article Monday, Madonna reportedly filed an appeal to a Malawian judge’s rejection of her adoption of 4-year-old Chifundo James, whose name translates to ‘mercy.’ The Herald reported that the girl is living at the same orphanage from which Madonna adopted her son, David Banda, in 2006. On April 3, Madonna’s adoption of James was rejected on the basis that the singer did not meet Malawi’s residency requirements for adoption.
In filing the appeal and making her argument for the judge to approve the adoption, Madonna seems to be missing the reasoning behind the decision in the first place.
The Herald reported that Madonna told a Malawian newspaper in an e-mail that she ‘want(s) to provide Mercy with a home, a loving family environment and the best education and health care possible. And it’s my hope that she ‘hellip;’ will one day return to Malawi and help the people.’
The argument being made by the judge is not whether the singer can support James – there is no doubt Madonna can provide her with a life in which there is no danger of going to bed hungry. The judge denied the adoption because Madonna failed to meet the restrictions Malawi has set for the protection of its children.
Madonna has every right to continue her fight to adopt James, but she must do so within the Malawian legal system. Hundreds of parents spend years waiting for their adoptions to be finalized, and Madonna must do the same.
Being famous is not a valid reason for circumventing the laws.
