tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645839568564602372.post3772120842249222195..comments2024-01-16T20:32:16.809-06:00Comments on Teaching Anthropology: Celebrity in the Classroom: My Angelina Jolie RantPamthropologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061905270637904812noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645839568564602372.post-34105565268982593272008-07-03T19:21:00.000-05:002008-07-03T19:21:00.000-05:00I suppose the short answer is contained within the...I suppose the short answer is contained within the post. I, concurring with the government policies of most African nations, would prefer a world in which children are not "given up" to orphanages because of poverty. And perhaps celebrities who say they care for African concerns should not follow that method of expressing that care; as if we can solve the poverty of Africa by taking the children of Africa (with the implication that this makes us noble and caring).<BR/><BR/>Jolies' adopted daughter Zahara, for example, has a living mother and a grandmother who gave her up under the murky circumstances produced by the daily poverty often typical in many African countries. The mother reports that she fled when she could no longer bear to see her daughter dying of malnutrition and the grandmother gave her to the local orphanage with the socially-accepted reason for adoption in many parts of Africa-- a designation of "AIDS orphan". Most of my research revealed that street children and "AIDS orphans" have families that want them but simply can't afford the extra mouth. Wouldn't it have been far better to create a viable life for this family as an intact unit?<BR/><BR/>And yes, I do question Jolie's drive to adopt. But that is a discussion best left to a psychology blog, perhaps?<BR/><BR/>I don't like The Gap "Red: campaign either. I think its weird the way many Americans think you can solve problems by buying something. T-shirts and bracelets. Commodity Fetishism at its highest?Pamthropologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04061905270637904812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645839568564602372.post-46900700570976560502008-07-03T10:46:00.000-05:002008-07-03T10:46:00.000-05:00Could you explain a little more why it is wrong of...Could you explain a little more why it is wrong of Angelina Jolie to adopt an orphan?Larry C. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07221413574357600924noreply@blogger.com