Samieschotz's comments

Celebrity Adoption - Helping or Hurting the Adoption Community?

28 Sep 2008 08:02 PM

Thank you for your post on the celebrity adoption issue. Adoption is very important, and I know in American society it may even be seen as taboo; but, with the influx of celebrities choosing to adopt children, which would otherwise grow up in bad conditions and or unhealthy environments, it is becoming more popularly accepted. Although I do think adoption is a great option, I myself do think that celebrities making adoption a trend is not always helpful. I feel theses orphans, in some cases, are being used as publicity stunt. You did mention Angelina Jolie as one of the celebrities who has adopted children, but when she adopted her first son Maddox, she did so right after her scandalous break up with her former husband Billy Bob Thorton. Secondly, Meg Ryan brought her child home from China after tabloids has accused her of cheating on her ex Dennis Quaid. Maybe these celebrities had always planned on adopting, but their timing was closely connected to when the media put a spotlight on their personal lives. Also, because of the emotional connections made when adopting a child, I was wondering if you thought that growing up in the spotlight is the best thing for these adopted children? I have a close friend who is adopted and growing up she told me that she and other adopted children she knew had problems grasping who they really were. I would imagine that growing up in the public eye, for an adopted child, would only make these children more out of touch with their place in the world. I do think that with the celebrities' help of adopting children it has become more "normal", which I think could better the adoption community. What I find the most concerning is that it is now a trend in Hollywood and adoption should not be trendy. The children are not little dogs that you can carry around in a purse. It is a serious commitment to take care of child and all that goes with it.