Time Magazine (July 13, 2009) contained an essay entitled “Why Marriage Matters” by Caitlin Flanagan. Ms. Flanagan documents the marital trainwrecks such as that experienced by the Edwards” and Sanford’s. She concluded that the marital breakup statistic is the single-most force causing hardship to this country’s masses. She quotes Leonard Michaels: “Adultery is not about sex or romance. Ultimately, it is about how little we mean to each other.”
Ms. Flanagan examines the toll divorce exacts from children. While we recognize that marital bliss is something of great worth, we are not prepared to put in the hard work and sacrifice to get to this point. The essay concludes with the question of what marriage’s purpose happens to be. Is it meant to give pleasure to adults or does it haver the traditional purpose of ensuring the new generation’s safe passage into adulthood? (She bypasses MANY other possibilities.) The final verdict? “What we teach about the true meaning of marriage will determine a great deal about our fate…” Divorce is no longer a taboo subject. Nor should it be. How we, as a nation, divorce is still a black mark on our national image. Divorce need not be WW III. Often it is made so. Time to bring sanity back to our lives. Your local mediator can tell you how to do so.
Filed under: Divorce mediation, Family Mediation, Mediation, Negotiation, Uncategorized , Divorce, Divorce mediation, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, Marriage, Sanford
