Oh, Madge (sigh). Madonna has Jolie-Pitt Envy

Madonna wants into Africa. She feels she can help. She identifies with the plight of children and the poverty of the country of Malawi. It's a spiritual thing.

Apparently, its a telepathic thing as well because this all consuming outreach effort is being organized without her ever setting foot in Africa.

While noble deeds, particularly in forgotten corners of the world, should probably be accepted regardless of the motivation, apparently if you are an international entertainment figure helping others only holds an appeal if there is a touch of the exotic. Why help the poor in London, Los Angeles or Detroit when you can be seen as a great (white) hope to the poor (black) huddled masses in a destitute swath of Africa?

While this may sound cynical, it is only so in comparison to the experiences of thousands of volunteers from relief agencies around the world who work for years in parts of these countries as unsung, and unpublicized heroes. They help others without needing to see their gestures reflected back upon them to affirm that they are more than just light-weight public figures. At the same time these volunteers are working with children and families trying to encourage a sense of dignity for self, and for country, something that is rather difficult to do when help arrives in the form of a savior-celebrity from a foreign land.

Its often said that its not what you do while people are watching that is important, its what you do and how you behave when no one is watching that offers a truer window into your soul. When a clebrity is on a mission it seems like someone is always watching, at just the right time. Because when the camera's are rolling for Angelina, or Oprah, or now Madonna, they rarely show the whole picture:

"A Western security force has effectively taken over the small African nation of Namibia. A beach resort in Langstrand in Western Namibia has been sealed off with security cordons, and armed security personnel have been keeping both local residents and visiting foreigners at bay. A no-fly zone has been enforced over part of the country. The Westerners have also demanded that the Namibian government severely restrict the movement of journalists into and out of Namibia. The government agreed and, in a move described by one human rights organization as ‘heavy-handed and brutal’, banned certain reporters from crossing its borders.

However, this Western security force is not a US or European army plundering Namibia’s natural resources or threatening to topple its government. It is the security entourage of one Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the celebrity couple better known for living it up in LA than slumming it in Namibia."

While Madonna may want to "get in on a good thing" in Africa, a modern day equivalent of ladies from the gilded age who wanted to be on the board of the local museum or opera company, if she is really looking to help others in ways that are equally meaningful then take a short walk through some of the poorest neighborhoods in London or Detroit. Does she really just want to pull a "Lohan"?

Lindsay Lohan is so excited about her charity trip to Africa, she's trying to convince all her celebrity pals to join her.

The actress will go to Kenya with chariorganizationion The One Foundation to visit local schools and clinics and help draw attention to AIDS and poverty in the East African country. Lohan can't wait to make a difference and has been ringing around her friends to persuade them to go as well. She says, "I'm really excited because I'm planning a trip to Kenya with The One Foundation. BONO introduced me to it.

"I'm also trying to get other people on board - in fact, I only just told KATE BOSWORTH about it last night. I want to set up orphanages for underprivileged and abused children. That's the main thing I'm focusing on in my time off."

Madonna, step off your high horse and out of your gilded cage and leave your PR assistant behind. If you are at a point in your life where your children and your religion have inspired you to help others, then pursue it with a pure heart. It's one thing to be trying to stay ahead of the trend curve to remain popular and relevant in the entertainment industry professionally, but when that obsession extends into works of charity it begins to seem almost...desperate.