[Continued from HERE.]

There are a few more ideas that I believe could go a long way to addressing some of the issues raised by the M Fray. The concern that children lose their heritage by being taken to other countries because of adoption can be true. I have seen children still living in their original country with their adoptive American parents have no connection to their culture,... more

[Continued from HERE.]

Back to analysis and next steps...

Grains of learning and improvement from the M Fray can be harvested not just by Malawian law and adoption officials, but also by the international adoption community. Malawi is not the only place where “legal-style adoption is a foreign concept,” with systems flush with a different set of dynamics than the Amero-European norm.... more

[Continued from HERE.]

If the M Fray is the harbinger of important laws and issues not only being discussed, but positive changes made in the mass of ambiguity and lack of attention to real-life, post-AIDS orphan issues in Malawi, then to me, the M Fray has been worth the drama. As a Malawian professor... more

[Continued from HERE.]

I have this thing… no, it’s not a disease (well, at least I think it’s not.) My thing is that I believe that anyone, EVERYONE, should be allowed to complain and rant and get up on soap boxes and poke holes in everything around them … BUT … I believe that somewhere in there, the privilege of the rant requires that some conclusions are drawn and what remains in the transitional ether is the... more

[Continued from HERE.]

I believe that many of the other contradictions come from the very genteel nature of most Malawians, a nature that can be summed up in two words: "no problem."

Even if there is a huge problem, most Malawians will say "there is no problem, but…" They will then proceed to tell about the problem that isn’t supposed to be a problem, periodically insisting, "but there is no problem" throughout the... more

[Continued from HERE.]

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

[Continued from HERE.]

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:

[Continued from HERE.]

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

[Continued from HERE.]

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

[Continued from HERE.]

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