Bullock's controversial adoption

There has been a lot of discussion lately about Sandra Bullock's divorce and subsequent adoption. This discourse has not been focused on her husband's many infidelities, or even how cute the baby, Louis Bardo Bullock, is, but rather the child's race. Bullock, white, adopted an African American baby from New Orleans.

This is what the magazines, newspapers, talk show hosts and public have decided is the most interesting and important aspect of the news story, which is utterly ridiculous.

The adoption of African American babies by white celebrities has been an ongoing trend. Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Brad and Angelina, and Madonna have all adopted black children.

According to CNN, the adoption of African American children in the US has increased by 12 percent.

This increase has prompted many to believe that adopting black babies is the new trend, like carrying a dog around in one's purse. Sandra Bullock, to those buying into the whole 'trend' idea, is just another follower.

This idea has brought her some negative publicity, even though she deserves praise. Bullock gave this child an entirely new and brighter future. The media should focus on this instead of the child's race or whether Bullock is following a trend.

The most important aspect of this news story is Bullock's admirable action and the fact that there are many other children in similar situations all over the US, and abroad, who could use the same help and care.

This baby will not grow up in foster care; he will grow up in a loving, stable environment. There are thousands of other babies just like him out there, and the media should use the story as an opportunity to spotlight this issue.

But instead of round table discussions about the 510,000 children in foster care (childwelfare.gov), the media chooses to focus on the baby's race.

Who cares if the baby is black? Who even cares if these celebrities specifically chose a black baby because it is the "in" thing to do? All that matters is that these children are getting a better life, and the media needs to recognize this.

Race should not play a major role in this discussion, or any role for that matter. The media and the public seem to only care about the child's race, but he is more than a skin color.

He is a baby who needs love and stability, and he will be getting that from a life with Bullock.

Some also argue that the child will have identity problems being raised by a parent of a different race.

These issues, however, have no merit when you consider that this child could have grown up without parents of any race at all.

Obviously, in an ideal world the child would be raised by his own parents in an affectionate and secure environment.

But this is not a perfect world, and Sandra Bullock should be praised rather than ridiculed for completely changing one child's life.

Anna Woelfel is a freshman communication major.