Of course they do! They have enough money that they can buy anything. People will bend over backwards for that kind of cash.

Yes they do, but we have to remember that there are MANY children that need to be adopted. With all of the recent media coverage (and special attention) perhaps those considering adoption will reach out to begin the process.

i think the more pertinent question should be if celebrities who do get special treatment when adopting can provide a safe, loving and comfortable home. and if they can set a admirable example, i don''t care if the process is undercut or expediated.

What are we comparing this too ? I mean sure we watched Madonna and some other celebrities through this process but maybe other less wealthy then these have also gotten this treatment but the media does not focus atttention on these people. So what is our measure towards the preferential treatment these celebrities are apperntly getting.

As an adoptive parent (who adopted internationally), I find the expediency offered to celebrities... well... frustrating, to say the least.

To become a parent through adoption, my beloved and I had to go through almost a year of home study, a variety of educational processes, and be dealt with by bureaucracies in one province in Canada, federally in Canada, by the national agency in China and by the provincial agency in Anhui.

Two and a half years later, we became the extraordinarily happy parents of one of the most wonderful children in the universe.

But its still frustrating to see celebrity, or power, or money, or whatever, make things move just this side of light-speed.

I honestly do not believe that celebrities get prefential treatment. What they have, is money, and lots of time. If you have both then you are in the club providing you have the desire to help out one child.

But if you are not famous we won't know about it. Your neighbours might but they won't broadcast it to the press because it won't be a big deal ... nobody knows who you are, compared to the Madonna's of the world. She only needs a first name! Maybe it is just envy that causes anyone care.

wgr

Celebrities get their name in the news doing just about anything - just because the media is reporting it doesn't mean they get any kind of special treatment - just more notoriety. I only pray they are adopting for the right reasons and not for more PR. Only time will tell.

Sorry there wasn't a "I don't care" option.

Probably no more than when adopting from a guy.

The issue of adoption has become significant because it is international adoption and transcultural/transracial adoption. Also, one has to wonder about the class and gender issues associated with the public conversation. When Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman adopted children, did it receive the same level of attention?

I have nothing against anyone adopting a child. I do hope people who adopt do it all for the right reasons.

So what?! I wish more people would adopt. I served in Rwanda and the number of orphaned children was heart-breaking. How dare anyone castigate anyone who steps up to adopt! Shame on anyone taking offense at this. At least a celebrity has the means (and regulative public scrutiny) to care for these people.

I would suggest that they probably do get special treatment, but i would also suggest that they also raise a lot of attention to the issue. Does this mean they SHOULD get special treatment?

discuss...

DON'T KNOW----DON'T CARE...........

WHEN 30,000-35000 KIDS DIE EVERY DAY FROM EXTREME POVERTY, WE SHOULD ALL BE ADOPTING A CHILD....WHETHER PHYSICALLY OR THROUGH NGO'S AND OUR PRECIOUS CASH....YOU SEE WE ARE ALL CELEBRITES, WE ARE ALL WEALTHY IN NORTH AMERICA...WE NEED TO LIVE IT OUT.

I do not believe that celebrities get any preferential treatment. Once again the media has created a problem where one has not existing. What is reported is the physical transfer of the child, we never hear all the red tape, paperwork or emotional strife that 'celebrities' have actually had to endure.

We never seem to hear about any wealthy 'regular' citizen's successful attempts at adopting a baby; the trouble lies in people's compelling need to put others on a pedestal and then once they are there, make every attempt at knocking them down. Sounds more of a sick hunting ritual, rather than respecting our fellow man.

Just be happy that a child is now being given the attention, love and care it needs.

Why adopt from abroad??? there are so many children in our own country/state/city etc. that (imo) should be the first in line for cdn/american parents. We/they help in other ways to contribute to their living and beliefs, not to mention the charity work. If we dont take care of our own who will?

jmo Shann

Of course they get special tratment,money always works that way.If the celeb checks out ok then why not.

actually I think the special treatment is by the media attention that they are given. We just never hear about the non celebraties that do the same thing - yes it happens.

I am also a parent of a child adopted internationally. My adoption took place while I lived and worked in the country of my daughter's origin. It was an agonizing, lengthy process for me. Through the years I have struggled with feelings of having once again, as a rich, powerful foreigner, taken the precious resources of a country whose poverty is the direct result of my affluence. Sure, there are WAY TOO MANY children without parents. As a society we need to care for them. The real solution is to work toward creating just societies where children can be cared for in the families and cultures of their origins. I'm happy to say that I know the United Church supports partner organizations in the global south that are working toward real solutions with communities that are trying to care for orphans whether as a result of the HIV & AIDS pandemic, war or whatever. Adoption has been a blessing for me, but it's not the only or the best solution for the world's orphans.

Although celebrities are in the limelight all the time, I really think adoption should be a very private thing. As celebrities can manage to do things out of the eyes of the sutterbugs, I don't think showing off your new adopted child is necessary. It's like "look what I can do because I'm a celebrity", so yes I definitely believe celebrities get special treatment when going through adoption procedures.

If they have the resources and the willingness to help these children then I am happy they choose to do so.

Society is a bit hypocritical to one one hand blast celebrities for not doing any good with their wealth and status and then on the other hand blast them when they try and do some good.

I lived and worked in Ethiopia for three year. The fact is in Ethiopia (and I hear the same about other African countries), is that there is a culture against adoptions. In these cultures, extended families are supposed to take care of orphaned children. When the extended families reject (or can't afford to take care of) the children, they go into an orphanage...and they stay there.

In Ethiopia it is almost unheard of for a Ethiopian family to adopt a child out of an orphanage. The lucky ones that gets into a orphanage will likely stay there until they age out. The unlucky ones who can't get into overcrowded orphanages often end up on the street. In Ethiopia, the government has tried to start a Foster Family-style program with little success.

So, if these celebrities get special treatment when when they adopt from abroad, who cares! Let's raise awareness, let's get these kids into ANY loving family that will take them, so they don't have to live their life in or orhanage, or worse, on the street.

Why don't they adopt from their own countries? The orphan children here need homes to. People should be adopting because it is the right thing to do not because it helps your popularity.