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There is plenty of irony in the central complaint that Madonna used her influence to expedite the process and waive requirements. I can attest to the fact that “rule bending” is an art form in Malawi. It permeates just about every fiber of life on some level or another, INCLUDING adoption prior to the M Fray. “Rule bending” can be required to get the proper medical... more

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Let’s take a look at the main issues that are being raised by the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), a coalition of sixty-seven human rights non- governmental organizations (NGOs) surrounding the M Fray. The following is a collection of quotes given mainly by the chairman of the HRCC:

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From Idi Amin to apartheid to the Rwandan genocide to Robert Mugabe to female genital mutilation to the Janjaweed in Darfur, significant and disturbing human rights abuses are, to some, nearly synonymous with modern Africa. Indeed, there are many human rights abuses great and small plaguing the continent (and yes, the entire world, U.S. of A. included.)

Malawi, though never... more

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Like in America, Malawians would do just about anything to find a way to give their children, the children in their care, a better chance at a good life, whatever that may be; even if it means sending their children away.

“Away” doesn’t necessarily require going across an ocean: many over-burdened parents will give one or more of their children to a relative that has the means... more

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In Malawi, as throughout Africa as a whole, families are strong and children are everything: they are not just an indicator of virility, but of wealth. They are caretakers of the other children. They help around the house. They will be carriers of unwritten history for the entire family and clan as they absorb the stories and histories told by their grandparents and parents only to one... more

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Generally, no matter how strong one must be to survive, how hard life seems to be in Malawi, most people just get on with the art of living ... with plenty of joy and laughter thrown in for good measure. I have seen women with one or two children strapped to their backs, bent over tilling their fields with short handled hoes suddenly stand up, stretch a bit and start singing, dancing... more

Again, sorry for delays, but... the dog ate my homework... wait, no, that wasn't it, it was the aliens... um, no, sorry, now I remember... my technology is eating me alive... SEND HELP!!!! Thanks for bearing with me. This is continued from HERE

So here we are, at the point where the little picture becomes the big picture and the most important difference between our Jethro fiction and the M fray non-fiction... more

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There have been many un-sung adoptions of children from either different races and/or nationalities by celebrities of various standing in the past, but lately the ‘trendy’ ambience around the adoption of children from undeveloped/third world/whatever-other-condescending-term-one- might-want-to-use countries has created a whole new level of hubbabaloo. It seems as though the new mantra... more

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Is our scenario on the “what-if” trail so different from the real live M fray? Well, yes and no. The core of the situation is the same, but some key details are very different. It seems to me most of the hooplah and hystronics have manifested from two main points of departure between the tales: too much of a good thing often seems to turn into a bad thing, and the U.S. of A is the... more

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Now what if for some strange reason, Jethro’s case came to the forefront of media attention, the chances of which are slim to none. Would anyone other than those completely against any adoption (the “banning” business is just too black-and-white in a world of gray shades to broach right now, so let’s leave it for another discussion) have a problem with the agreement between Earl and the... more