Adoption is not a Publicity Stunt

Quick quiz: what is the newest trend among celebrities to gain media's attention? Is it owning a dog, going to rehab or adopting third world children?

If you guessed the latter, pat yourself on the back because no one else will.

Celebrities are adopting third world children for two reasons: it's a lot faster than domestic adoptions and whirlwind attention is given for international adoptions because it's promotional gold and a publicist's dream.

Two great examples are Angelina Jolie's binge adopting of three children from three different countries, and Madonna's casual "I'll take that one" adoption in Africa.

According to Parents.com, couples seeking to adopt a domestic newborn have to wait for a birth-mother to choose them, which can take three months to three years. In comparison, international adoptions are a favorable alternative because it usually takes less than two years.

Although Jolie works with United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), it does not seem coincidental that she started adopting during production of the first Tomb Raider movie. Jolie said she chose to adopt Maddox Jolie-Pitt after seeing how less-fortunate Cambodia can be for children, but there are plenty of domestic orphans who fall into the less-fortunate category.

There are between 19,000 and 25,000 infants adopted domestically each year, which according to USNews.com is becoming rarer. Since international waiting periods are shorter they become the greatest opportunity to "purchase" a child and promote oneself through public love. The overall number of international adoptions in the United States has risen along with the disturbing trend, according to statistics from National Public Radio, which say they rose from 7,093 in 1990 to more than 22,000 in 2004.

This situation is saddening because the public takes notice and wants to be just like their favorite actors and celebrities. Paris Hilton's infatuation with Chihuahuas and the ensuing Chihuahua craze made almost every little girl want one.

Madonna is no saint and has been accused of using her celebrity status to speed-up adoption processes. Out of the kindness of her heart, she chose which toddler she would adopt from a group of sprouts. Isn't it interesting that Madonna was going on tour in Rome and recently wrote a book for her new son.

Jolie and Madonna have looks and money but, when they need to advertise a tour or a movie and career they jump on the band wagon of "let's adopt a baby through international means." Children in the United States need homes and loving families but are not good enough because press won't recognize a domestic adoption as much.

According to Los Angeles Daily News, as of April 2006, 78,960 children in California were waiting for homes in foster care systems.

Hey Celebes if you want to adopt tots, then take time to adopt one from your own country. It's understandable that offspring all over the world are starving and have no homes, but the "Material Girl's" new son already had a father.

All children deserve a home but, if these tykes are used as "props" for a real life movie, it is highly unethical and disturbing.