"I said I would be happy to ... bring him back to your village and help you financially raise him. And he said no," Madonna told Today show co-anchor Meredith Vieira. Banda concurred in the Bunte interview. "She knows what to do with a lot of money, and I don't," he said. "I could not have started anything with the money, and in the end it would have only spoiled things for me and David."
Although Malawian law bans adoptions by non-residents, Madonna was granted an exemption — an "interim order" granting custody for 18 months, giving Malawian courts time to "evaluate" the new parents "per the tribal customs of the country." Erm, yes — David is now getting tribal with Madonna and her other two children and husband Guy Ritchie in their London manse.
Coincidentally, Madonna has committed to generating at least $3 million to help her Raising Malawi organization fund orphanages, and is setting up a childcare center that will benefit as many as 1,000 children a day. All the proceeds of her new book, The English Roses: Too Good to Be True, are going toward the cause.
Did she get preferential treatment? Blatantly. Is it justified? Probably. Is David's life "better"? Materially, of course. David Holmes, of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, said two weeks ago, "In a perfect world, inter-country adoption would not exist. We would be able to invest in every country so that they could develop systems and services for children and families to stay in their countries."
But it isn't a perfect world.
Article comments
1 - Charlie
Eric,
I find it difficult to ascertain enough facts about this story to make an educated judgement on the social, political or procedural propriety of the adoption.
Nevertheless, I sense that Madonna tried to navigate a very rough sea of conflicting information and emotion as best she could. Touched by a child's plight, she chose to adopt, love, nurture and raise him to health and happiness.
A simple affirmation of humanity, for which David's deceased mother might perhaps whisper a gentle "thank you", I would suggest.
2 - Eric Olsen
I believe I basically agree Charlie - it's all complicated by such messiness as this current PR campaign, which is clearly intended to change some perceptions and the overall tone. The "did he visit or did he not" aspect seems quite crucial to the story, and there are enough people who would know that it would seem like the "truth" should come out about it.
3 - Deano
At the end of the day - is the child better off? The answer is indisputibly yes.
4 - Eric Olsen
I don't think there has ever really been much doubt of that Deano - I think the question has been the "sustainability" of this kind of model, the "drop in the bucket" aspect
5 - Deano
Oh it's a highly unsustainable model.
Sometimes, even though you are shovelling the incoming tide with a fork, you still need to do it.
6 - Eric Olsen
I agree - she did fully commit herself and take a life-changing stand
7 - manny
madonna has won me back as a fan. i saw the former madonna the world fell in love with on dateline last night: strong, defiant, and bitchy. god bless her and i hope the people who tried to put a negative spin on this burn in hell.