Wild Child Angelina Jolie Changing the World One Kid at a Time

Angelina Jolie first broke into the public's eye as superstar world-renowned model. She transferred her body and fame to movies where her acting in "George Wallace" in 1997 and "Gia" in 1998 won Angelina acclaim and accolades. The accolades served as a precursor to an Oscar in 2000 for "Girl Interrupted. For Angelina Jolie, life has been a large screen epic played out in real life.

Not so humble beginnings

Born in 1975 to actors Marcheline Bertrand and Jon Voight family life was far from stable. Her more famous Oscar winning father would walk out and leave the following year. Her mother would step back from acting to raise Angelina and brother James Haven. As the young child grew older, she would display signs of depression. The woman has confessed to being "a cutter". Cutting is a form of self-injury more common to young girls and often linked with depression. It is considered an aberrant mechanism for coping with inner or mental anxieties. In brief, Angelina knows what is it to live through a painful childhood. Maybe, that childhood pain is responsible for her more philanthropic efforts as an adult.

Make faces of fame

Model, movie star, one of the prettiest pretty people and more wild-child than woman are words used to describe the early adulthood of Angelina Jolie. Whether based on fact or fiction, Miss Jolie became as famous for her sinful indulgence in the high-life as much as being one of the sinful indulgences of the high-life. The world-renowned heartbreaker added to her fame portfolio by ending a high-profile marriage to Billy-Bob Thornton with a broken heart of her own. This may have been part of the beginning of the end to Jolie's old perspective toward her place in this world.

Mothering Maddox

During her marriage to Billy-Bob, Angelina took on the mantle of Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations. It was on a tour of Cambodia that Angelina began the life changing process which eventually including the eventual adoption of her first child, Maddox. She credits Maddox for completing the turn of the key to change in her life. Despite all the headlines, Angelina Jolie has become more enamored with what she can do in this world, than what she has done. Though I suspect the wild child within her will always live on. As the maturing woman might tell you in her own words, "That's a good thing."

Continuing the mission in the face of her critics

Angelina has continued to tour the world adopt children and live a life in her own mold. Currently and counting the latest adoption of a third child, Jolie has four children. This includes one of her own with boyfriend, Brad Pitt and three international adoptions. Critics have claimed this is a form of sensationalism to garner news clippings and self-promotion. They protest loudly, the starlet is doing more harm than good. Others make the point, if she were that serious, why she has not she adopted a child from the U.S.

Where those charging hypocrisy are committing hypocrisy

I understand the chants of promotionalism. I understand the indignant that Angelina Jolie has taken her causes abroad instead of at home. What I do not understand is why people will not consider Angelina is doing something many people with money and the power of celebrity are not doing. Angelina Jolie is using her own fame and fortune to make a difference. Her goal is to bring to light worldwide problems. Even long after her post at the U.N. expired the woman continues trekking around the world for her cause. To all her critics I ask, can you name 25 superstars that have shown more philanthropy than opulence?

An overview

I believe there is an ideal that is being overlooked. I believe when you take into account that ideal, there should be less controversy and more action. We are united on this planet by the grace of being a member of the human race. It is the bond that ties us all. As our own history has taught us, being isolationalist only brings trouble to our front door. You may not like that Angelina Jolie with family in tow is bringing light to other nation's plights instead of our own. Yet, those nations need a spokesperson to the more secure and wealthy nations. Even on our worse days, our quality of life is better. Do you think they are different from us? Only in ideals, color, or religion do those differences exist. There is not one American who likes a person coming up to them and saying I am better than you are. Why, should anyone non-American have to tolerate it as well?

Respect, Support and Action

We begin world unity by respecting other people's way of life and opinion. Respect them and you will see the good. We should offer support when someone takes a stand in attempt to make a positive difference. Anyone can sit in an armchair and spout how it can be done better. If you can say it, then take action and do it. You do not have to like someone to see the good in them.

I learned a valuable lesson in life

In "A Holiday Legacy," I wrote about a woman an ex-addict and friend whom I lost back to her addictions. The lesson, "Even when you have nothing, you always have something to give" will be with me for the rest of my life. Just because Angelina and Brad have more money than ten of us will ever see in a lifetime doesn't mean they are the only ones who can make a difference. If you do not agree with their methods than find out how you can take part in implementing yours. Thinking goodwill acts will never replace working to make them a reality.