For me, the bottom line is that the issues being highlighted in Madonna’s case certainly are relevant to intercountry and transracial adoption as a whole, celebrity or not. Personally, I *do* believe that adoption is, in part, a selfish act, just as the motive behind choosing to bear a child biolgoically is, in part, self-serving.

Because you seem like a new visitor to my blog, you might not realize that most (though not all) of the people who visit here are either adoptees, adoptive parents, or (birth) mothers — as Jo mentions above. Many of those who are none of the above are close to the topic of adoption in some other way. And many who engage in the discussion here are approaching the topic of transracial adoption as people of color who are here as allies to those of us who recognize that race and ethnic heritage are irrefutably central to transracial/intercountry adoption and TRAs’ identity process.

I most certainly honor the opinions of the adoptees and (birth) mothers who are involved in the discussion. To discount our voices because we are not adoptive parents is nothing short of an insult.