Madonna to adopt Young Girl

The Toronto Star
March 29, 2009

Today, Madonna confirmed her plans to adopt a young Malawian girl. A spokesperson recently told the press that Madonna is indeed following the regular channels for adoption, rather than using her fame to "jump the line" and receive preferential treatment as many have accused her of doing. For the first time since her 3-year-old adopted son, David, left Malawi in 2006, she took him to visit his biological father. Another of Madonna's spokespeople told the press that she will "..always be committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship with David's Malawian family and roots". Madonna has been in the African nation this past week, touring the country and visiting the day care center supported by her charity, with her adopted son David, 12-year-old daughter Lourdes, and 8-year-old son Rocco. The main aim, however, as reported by the press, is to adopt the 4-year-old Malawian girl named Chifundo "Mercy" James. An adoption application has been said to be under way according to a Malawian welfare official. He referred to the need for relative "anonymity", given the sensitive nature of the case. The young girl's biological mother, who was 18 at the time of the child's birth, was unmarried and died soon after Chifundo was born. Her father has little contact with his daughter, but is said to be alive, nevertheless. Madonna has been critized by many NGO's for her recent adoptions of Malawian children. They have said that adoption should merely be a last resort for children, and that the child should be taken care of by her biological family if at all possible. On the other hand, people have said that this adoption would give immense opportunities to the child, which she would otherwise be unable to have, living in the impoverished nation of Malawi.

In my opinion, this issue is multifaceted and controversial. There are certainly two sides to the argument as to whether Madonna should or should not adopt this child. While it is clearly in the child's best interest to be cared for by her own family in the cultural context that she was born into, one can make the argument that being adopted into a loving and caring family with greater resources cannot truly be wrong. People can argue against the morals and ethics of the situation, but I believe that Madonna should have the right to adopt "Mercy" James if the child's own family cannot care for her appropriately. She is committing an act of kindness and selflessness, changing the young girl's life forever. While people say that she is doing this for her vanity, reputation, and because it is merely a celebrity trend, I believe that this is a cynical view. She is giving the young "Mercy" a home to live in with resources to have a much better lifestyle and quality of life than she would otherwise have, living in the impoverished nation of Malawi. The opportunities for this Malawian girl are now immense. In a statement released to the press, Madonna's lawyer commented on the significance of the Malawian court decision approving this adoption by Madonna when he said,"It is a positive and beautiful judgment that will have an impact on Malawi’s adoption laws." (http://foreverparents.com/2008/05/madonnas-adoption-approved.html) Only time will tell if these intercultural celebrity adoptions will truly result in a healthy and well adjusted child, but from what we have seen so far, these adoptions have been life-altering and beneficial for the adoptee. The celebrity adoption controversy can be compared to the controversy that surrounds charitable and outreach endeavors by the wealthy even in our own community. Many have stated the cynical claim that the well-off in our society seek to assuage their guilt by donating money to the poor as a means of gaining politically correct status. They see that some try to keep up with their neighbours or outdo them by donating more or by sending their children to more outreach opportunities in order to raise their status in society. I believe however that one cannot be so cynical when it comes top acts of selflessness or charity. Regardless of the motive one can argue that in the end the underprivileged do benefit. Also one can argue that on the journey to donating your time or money, many will truly experience the underlying virtue of giving to your fellow man. The journey of self-discovery comes in many forms and we cannot be so self-righteous ourselves that we reject acts of kindness whatever the underlying motivation or form.

War Crimes Charge a Conspiracy, Sudan Says

The Toronto Star
March 5, 2009

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir stated that the decision by an international tribunal to arrest him on war crimes charges is a conspiracy in an attempt to destabalize the country and disrupt the new peace efforts in Darfur. After the warrant was issued, al-Bashir told a Cabinet meeting that the court, the UN, and international organizations operating in Sudan were nothing but "tools of the new colonialism". He said that their goal is to bring Sudan and its resources under their control. Al-Bashir's government retaliated immediately, expelling 10 leading internationl humanitarian organizations from Darfur including Oxfam, CARE, and Save the Children. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called these actions "a serious setback to lifesaving operations in Darfur". The expelled groups protested, saying that they had no connection to the court and without them, 2 million war-weary Suadnese would face a crisis, as many would be living without basic needs. Al-Bashir, however, still believes that the aim of these organizations was to disrupt peace efforts in Darfur. He stated thet everytime the country makes an attempt at a peace deal to end the conflict, it is hit with a new international decision against the deal.

The arrest warrant against Al-Bashir issued by the International Criminal Court is the tribunal's first against any head of state. UN officials said that because he remains president of the country, they will continue to deal with him. Since the war in Darfur began in 2003, 2.7 million have fled their homes and up to 300,000 people have died. This is all due to the rebel ethnic African groups who, complaining of "discrimination and neglect", took up arms against the government in Khartoum, an Arab-dominated city. Al-Bashir says that his government will act quickly against anyone who tries to help the ICC arrest him. He says that they will "act as a responsible government...but we will be responsible and firm with anyone who tries to get at the stability, security in the country or whoever uses their position and presence in Sudan to violate the law, the stability and security".

In my opinion, this argument is fundamentally flawed. If the ICC wishes to arrest al-Bashir, he should concede without argument and plead innocent in a human rights court if he is truly innocent. His views on this matter are truly skewed, as he believes that all are "out to get him" and bring down his government through draconian measures. Expelling the humanitarian organizations from Darfur was a grave error on his part, as it imperils the lives of thousands and destabilizes an already suffering economy. The people of Darfur who have suffered so much already do not deserve a leader who places the value of his own power before the lives of his citizens.

Taliban Bomb Kills Children

The Toronto Star
March 3, 2009

Last week, three Afghan children were killed by a Taliban bomb. Although Canada had originally been implicated in this incident, it was clearly not the fault of Canadian soldiers. After the tragic explosion, forensic scientists analyzed the bomb, and deduced that it was most likely an old munition, possibly left from the Soviet occupation of the country. This relic was likely made into a trap for oncoming soldiers, scientists believe. This great tragedy that occurred last week touched off "a burst" of anti-Canadian sentiments in the small village of Salehan, where young children ages 4, 12 and 13, were killed. From the outset of this bombing, Afghan police blamed the obvious culprit: the Taliban. They theorized that the young children had simply come across a booby trap that may have been meant for Canadian soldiers instead. Military officials are perturbed as to why villagers were so eager to blame Canadians in this troubling matter.

In my opinion, this incident is deeply troubling and a true reflection on the sad reality of the situation in Afghanistan. While Canadians are trying to keep peace and save as many lives as they can, not everyone can be saved. This bombing is a sad reflection on this reality. I believe that the Taliban are truly reckless and mercenary in their placement of "booby traps" and do not care whatsoever about the lives of any innocent civilians or children. This is an awful sentiment to have, considering this war does not concern those innocent people that are caught in the battle. The most disturbing question however is why and how the villagers blamed the Canadians in this matter? Clearly there is a great deal of confusion among the Afghanis about who to trust in this battle that seem to rage forever. The reality is that Canadians are not to blame in this situation, and all the blame must be put upon the Taliban who have taken civilian lives without remorse in the past. By casting blame on Canadian troops, the Taliban militants clearly seek to turn villagers against peacekeeping forces in an attempt to better their own chances at regaining power. The Canadians must keep up their fine work of peacekeeping in the Middle East.