BALLZ! Express Yourself With BALLZ!

Madonna and David Banda along with Lourdes and Rocco arrived in America yesterday (29OCT06). Madge who has already told her story on Oprah prepares to further defend her controversial adoption by appearing on NBC News, The Today Show AND Dateline. Meanwhile, how do we feel about little David? Isn’t he a cute child? What really caught our eye (apart from his cute button eyes) was his Kabbalah bracelet!

Madonna finally addressed her planned adoption on the ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ in an interview that aired yesterday. The Material mom spoke to Oprah via satellite from a TV studio in London and revealed that she has only the best of intentions for the 13-month-old African boy named David Banda. She also shared a few home pictures of David, the kids, and Guy Ritchie. Here are a few highlights from the interview:

Madonna on the negative media surrounding David’s adoption: “I didn’t realize that the adoption was causing any controversy until I came back. There were a million film crews in the airport and press camped outside my door. I don’t read newspapers or watch television, but all of my friends have let me know what everybody’s talking about and what’s going on in the news. So it didn’t really hit me until I got back to England. It’s pretty shocking.”

Madonna on David’s fathers claim that he was misled into signing over his son: “I do not believe that is true. I sat in that room, I looked into that man’s eyes,” Madonna says. “I believe that the press is manipulating this information out of him. I believe at this point in time, he’s been terrorized by the media. They have asked him things, repeatedly, and they have put words in his mouth. They have spun a story that is completely false.”

Madonna on how Lourdes and Rocco reacted to the new addition: “They just embraced him, and that’s the amazing thing about children. They don’t ask questions. They’ve never once said, “What is he doing here”, or mentioned the difference in his skin color, or questioned his presence in our life. That is an amazing lesson that children do teach us.”

Madonna on the state of David’s health: “When I met him, he was extremely ill. He had severe pneumonia, and he could hardly breathe. I was in a state of panic, because I didn’t want to leave him in the orphanage because I knew they didn’t have medication to take care of him. We got permission to take him to a clinic to have a bronchial dilator put on him. … He had pneumonia and was given an injection of antibiotics. He’s still a little bit ill, not completely free of his pneumonia, but he’s much better than he was when we found him.”

Reuters reports a senior Malawian government official on Monday dismissed untrue remarks by Yohane Banda, who said he was misled into signing over his son David for adoption by Madonna.

Over the weekend, Banda, a Malawian peasant farmer who gave up his 13-month-old son to be adopted by Madonna made a statement saying that he never really intended for his son to be adopted by Madonna. Banda who cannot read or write depended solely on what senior government officials told him and now accuses them of misleading him and tricking him into signing the adoption papers.

“when David grows up he will return back home to his village. If we were told that she wants to take the baby as her own we could not have consented because I see no reason why I should give away my son.”
 
“It would have been better for him to continue staying at the orphanage because I see no reason why my child should be given away forever when I can feed him,” he said.

But his comments were denied by Penson Kilembe, director of child welfare in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, who told Reuters the ministry explained every aspect of the process to Banda and his family.
 
“We explained every detail and Madonna herself explained her intentions in the face of the judge and in Banda’s presence,” Kilembe said. “He (Banda) was asked several times in court if he understood what was going on and he said he did.”
 

 

Madonna has issued the following statement about her decision to adopt a baby from Malawi and the media speculation that she received preferential treatment during the adoption process:

My husband and I began the adoption process many months prior to our trip to Malawi. I did not wish to disclose my intentions to the world prior to the adoption happening as this is a private family matter.

After learning that there were over one million orphans in Malawi, it was my wish to open up our home and help one child escape an extreme life of hardship, poverty and in many cases death, as well as expand our family.

Nevertheless, we have gone about the adoption procedure according to the law like anyone else who adopts a child. Reports to the contrary are totally inaccurate. The procedure includes an 18-month evaluation period after which time we hope to make this adoption permanent.

This was not a decision or commitment that my family or I take lightly.

I am overwhelmed and inspired by my trip to Malawi and hope that it helps bring attention to how much more the world needs to do to help the children of Africa.

My heartfelt thanks for all the good wishes I have received and I hope the press will allow my family some room for us to experience the joy we feel to have David home.

Madonna Ritchie
October 17, 2006
London, England

(Source)

Despite Malawi rules, Madonna was allowed to take David from his home country to hers. The 13-month-old baby boy that Madonna is in the process of adopting, arrived at Londons Heathrow airport this morning and was escorted by police officers.

Madonna and hubby Guy Ritchie were no where to be seen, but little David was carried off the flight and went straight into the arms of a woman who covered his head with a light gray coat to avoid eager photographers from getting a glimpse of the little boy as he made his way to his new home.

Madge is said to be thrilled about the new additon to her family.

She was quoted as saying: “It’s so worth it. He’s just the best baby ever. Guy and I have never been happier.”

David will join Madonna’s other children, Lourdes, 9, and Rocco, 5.

(Source)