'MARRIAGE' NEWS- March 2006: The REAL Proposal For Marriage magazine

"Marriage In The News" is not a representation of The Real Proposal magazine...

The news articles and features presented below are simply an indication of how topical, controversial, and all-encompassing the issues surrounding marriage are throughout our society--and the world-- today. Some of the views and opinions expressed, and their respective web sites, do NOT reflect the views or opinions of The Real Proposal™ magazine. Many are highlighted largely to reiterate that the alarming statistical trends on the chaotic state of "Marriage" and "Family"--outlined in "A Mere Glimpse"--will continue unabated without a fundamental grasp and purposeful dissemination of TRUTH on the issues.

Russell, Kimora Lee Simmons Split People Magazine - By Stephen M. Silverman with Tiffany McGee, Mar 31, 2006
Rap mogul Russell Simmons and his wife Kimora Lee Simmons are splitting, a rep for Kimora confirms to PEOPLE. Russell issued his own statement Friday afternoon, saying: "Kimora and I will remain committed parents and caring friends with great love and admiration for each other. We will also continue to work side by side on a daily basis as partners in all of our businesses." . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Russell Says He and Kimora Can Still Save Marriage Vibe.com, By Mark Lelinwalla, April 04, 2006
More on Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee! AllHipHop- Mar 30, 2006
With all the talk about Russell and Kimora divorcing, it might all be pure BS. So, word is the doting pair are supposed to be in Jamaica today with Louis Farrakhan, Freddie Jackson, Roberta Flack at the inauguration ceremony for the new Prime Minister there. So, I will let you know if this is true! Word is they will be down with the international dignitaries. We need our Hip-Hop royalty. Still, rumors say that Russell is already seeing a model named Denise Vasi, 23, and Kimora is dating a certain rapper that’s been mentioned on these pages plenty. . .

The Divorce Dilemma:
Sociologist finds that even amicable divorces are likely to have negative effects on children University of Texas at Austin- By Michele Bryant, Mar 30, 2006
While amicable divorces are certainly better than the alternative, particularly when children are involved, a new national study shows they still take a toll on children’s overall wellbeing, as well as their own future marital success. Surprisingly, persons whose parents had a good divorce had, on average, the least successful marriages of any of the categories of persons compared. Their results differed significantly from persons whose parents had bad divorces involving destructive behaviors or low-conflict but not happy marriages. Results for that group were considerably poorer than those whose parents had a happy marriage. . .

Husband Camps Out on Roof to Get His Bed Back
His Two Kids Sleep in the Bed With Him and His Wife ABC News - Mar 29, 2006
—James Wilson has been camping out on the roof of his home and calling himself "not only the CEO and director of the National Association of Desperate Husbands," but "also a card-carrying member." So what will it take to get the 33-year-old independent marketing consultant from Redford, Mich., to come back down?. . . . Valentina Wilson said she was prepared to let James stay up on the roof because she was confident that he would return home on his own. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: 'Daddy Wars': Fathers Strike Back: More Fathers Feel Conflicted Over Work and Family ABC News-GMA, By Jen Brown, Mar 8, 2006

Husband James Wilson camping out on roof to get his bed back

Victories in the marriage debate Town Hall- DC- By Maggie Gallagher, Mar 28, 2006
History is written by the victors. So it is particularly fitting that New York's own Institute for American Values (where I was once an affiliate scholar) should release two scholarly reports on the marriage debate by Norval Glenn and Tom Sylvester. Professor Norval Glenn is one of the nation's top family scholars, a sociologist at University of Texas-Austin widely respected for his methodological rigor. Report No. 1, "The Shift," is a painstaking effort to investigate the widespread perception that expert opinion on whether and how much marriage matters actually changed in response to new scientific data. Glenn and Sylvester analyzed every study on family structure that appeared in the premier Journal of Marriage and Family between 1977 and 2002. They conclude that yes, between the late '70s and the late '80s, a definite change is visible: Scholars began to report increasing concern about the effects of divorce and unmarried childbearing on children. . . . . . Report No. 2 by Glenn and Sylvester is "The Denial." It analyzes "common arguments" used by scholars to downplay the importance of family structure for children. . . . .

Forget Prince Charming. Women need to save, invest, buy a home

Forget Prince Charming: Women Need to Save, Invest, Buy a Home Bloomberg - By Joan Oleck, Mar 28, 2006
(The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Bloomberg.)
. . . So begins "Money, a Memoir'' (Henry Holt, 269 pages, $23), one of two useful new books on the subject of how women make -- or elude -- financial decisions. Perle, a former book publisher, calls money "the great unexplored territory'' for women: "We've granted it the authority to single-handedly make us feel safe and cared for. We twist ourselves into impossible shapes to please and stay attached to the people and institutions that dole it out.'' She uses her own survival story to explore the tendency of women to equate money, usually from a man, with happiness. That dependence plays out in schoolgirl fantasies of Prince Charming's arrival (carrying buckets of cash) and our dismay when he behaves less than, well, princely. A Man Is No Plan. . .

Marriage: A social justice issue Townhall.com- by Jennifer Roback Morse - Mar 27, 2006
Our culture glamorizes early sexual activity, unmarried sexual activity, and unmarried childbearing. But these cultural influences have very different implications for poorly educated, low-income women of color, than for the elite opinion-makers who graduate from exclusive universities. . . . Oddly enough, the one great cultural issue that has tremendous impact on black America’s wealth is hardly ever approached in this way. This one policy area has the potential to increase black wealth, education and power. This major cultural course correction could reduce drug use, delinquency and violence, especially black on black crime. I am speaking of course, of marriage as a social justice issue. Yet, liberal elite opinion is strangely silent on the potentially revolutionary importance of marriage to the black community . Marriage is a protective factor against social pathologies. Marriage generates and preserves wealth, unlike other family forms which dissipate wealth. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: 'Marriage Is for White People' Washington Post, US- By Joy Jones, Mar 26, 2006

Perelman vs. Barkin: Scenes from a broken marriage
Tough Love: What happens when mogul and a movie star get married? Contracts get signed, and the drama begins. . . New York Magazine, USA - By Geoffrey Gray, Mar 27, 2006 Issue
. . . But not this New Year’s Eve. Tonight, Perelman and Barkin weren’t speaking, a friend of Barkin’s says. They hadn’t been intimate for months, and Barkin speculated Perelman might be cheating on her, the friend says, although Barkin had no evidence. As the clock approached midnight, hundreds of revelers in linen shirts and party dresses had gathered on the docks, as they do each year, to watch the fireworks and toast in the New Year. On the Ultima III, the guests soon stood waiting in place for the big birthday moment. Perelman’s cake was ready, the candles flickering. But Barkin was elsewhere, on the top deck with a friend, not at Perelman’s side. “The tension,” one observer says, “was thick.” Back in New York the next week, people close to Barkin say, Barkin was still raw from the fight they’d had on the boat. Even so, she never thought that weeks later, she’d be served with divorce papers and booted from her home. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Ex- Ex- Ex MEN: The Remarrying Kind NYTimes.com- By Kate Zernike, Jan 29, 2006

Perelman vs. Barkin: Scenes from a broken marriage

'Marriage Is for White People' Washington Post, US- By Joy Jones, Mar 26, 2006
I grew up in a time when two-parent families were still the norm, in both black and white America. Then, as an adult, I saw divorce become more commonplace, then almost a rite of passage. Today it would appear that many -- particularly in the black community -- have dispensed with marriage altogether. But as a black woman, I have witnessed the outrage of girlfriends when the ex failed to show up for his weekend with the kids, and I've seen the disappointment of children who missed having a dad around. Having enjoyed a close relationship with my own father, I made a conscious decision that I wanted a husband, not a live-in boyfriend and not a "baby's daddy," when it came my time to mate and marry. . . . And that's when the other boy chimed in, speaking as if the words left a nasty taste in his mouth: "Marriage is for white people.". . . I was stunned to learn that a black child was more likely to grow up living with both parents during slavery days than he or she is today, according to sociologist Andrew J. Cherlin. . .

With this contract, I thee wed Seattle Times, United States - By Eileen Ambrose, Mar 26, 2006.
Put yourself in Anna Nicole Smith's stilettos. At 26, you marry a Texas oil tycoon more than 60 years your senior. He dies a short time later. A decade goes by, and you're still wrangling with your stepson over the multimillion-dollar estate, all the way to the Supreme Court. It could have been avoided if you and your fiancé had drawn up a prenuptial agreement. Maybe it's a stretch to imagine yourself in the former Playboy Playmate of the Year's situation. But with the start of the wedding season, it's a good time for engaged couples to consider whether a prenuptial contract is for them. . . .

Should you say, "I do"
Premarital counseling may prove to be priceless The Jackson Sun-TN, By Tonya Smith-King, Mar 27, 2006
For couples considering premarital counseling, there are benefits beyond the huge break they can get on their marriage licenses. . . . Marriage licenses are $33.50 with premarital counseling and $93.50 without it, a $60 difference. . . Tennessee's divorce rate was 6.5 per 1,000 people in 1990, according to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control. That rate has steadily decreased over the years to 4.9 per 1,000 in 2004, the latest statistics at the CDC's Web site. But that's still above the national rate of 3.7 per 1,000. Couples must get at least four hours of premarital counseling to qualify for the discount. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Pastor gives tips on making marriage last The Jackson Sun- By Tonya Smith-King, Mar 27, 2006

Same-sex marriage battles escalate USA Today -By Joan Biskupic, Mar 23, 2006

WASHINGTON — Gay rights advocates are pushing to legalize same-sex marriage with an unprecedented wave of lawsuits in state courts, while those seeking to ban such unions are gaining ground in state legislatures. The contrasting strategies reflect how judges have begun to show a willingness to expand the rights of same-sex couples at a time when many state lawmakers — and most Americans — are cool to the idea. Several key developments are likely soon. The top state courts in Washington state and New Jersey have heard arguments brought by gay men and lesbians. Either court could open the door to a second state joining Massachusetts in allowing same-sex marriages. . . The legislative moves against gay marriages aren't limited to the states. In June, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to begin debating a measure intended to lead to a U.S. constitutional amendment banning such marriages. The proposals in legislatures and in Congress partly reflect public-opinion polls, which for five years have indicated that about 60% of Americans oppose legalizing same-sex marriage. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Wave of lawsuits targets bans on same-sex marriage USA Today- Joan Biskupic, Mar 23, 2006

Poll finds US warming to gay marriage San Francisco Chronicle, USA - By Wyatt Buchanan, Mar 23, 2006
Opposition to same-sex marriage dropped sharply across the country during the past two years, though just over half of Americans still oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center released Wednesday. The poll also showed increased support for allowing same-sex couples to adopt children, and substantial backing for the rights of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. . . .The Pew center's national poll of 1,405 adults, conducted from March 8-12, found that 51 percent opposed same-sex marriage and 39 percent supported it. In February 2004, as same-sex couples were marrying in San Francisco, a Pew poll found 63 percent of Americans opposed the right of gays and lesbians to marry and 30 percent in favor. The margin of error in the latest survey was plus or minus 3 or 4 percentage points, depending on the question. . . .Any shift toward support for same-sex marriage has yet to show up at the polls, however, Since 2004, voters in 13 states have passed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage. At least seven states will vote on similar measures in November. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Poll: Acceptance of gay marriage has grown since 2003 decision Boston Globe-By Will Lester AP Writer, Mar 22, 2006

Deleting Dad Townhall.com, By Kathleen Parker, Mar 22, 2006
. . . This past Sunday, the New York Times was replete with stories that answer both Dowd's question and that posed by Thurber and White. Not only are men not necessary, but neither is sex in many cases. The cover story of the Times' Sunday Magazine, for instance, was headlined "Looking For Mr. Good Sperm" and featured women who have given up on Mr. Right and are searching instead for a good vial of sperm. . . While such distilled summaries can't tell the whole story, the unspoken essence is that women have all the power when it comes to children, and men are only as good as their sperm count. . .There's something terribly wrong with this picture, and it is this: These are sad stories that reveal symptoms of a diseased culture in which human relationships have no moral content and children are treated as accessories to adult lives. Yet, these trends are portrayed as the latest gosh-gee fashions. A society in which women are alone, men are lonely, and children don't have fathers is nothing to celebrate. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: WANTED: A Few Good Sperm New York Times (Free Subscription)- By JENNIFER EGAN, March 19, 2006

The Meaning of Marriage (Part 2)
Interview With Princeton's Robert George Zenit News Agency, Italy - Mar 22, 2006
PRINCETON, N.J. --Proponents of same-sex "marriage" often claim that allowing same-sex couples to marry cannot possibly harm anyone else's marriage, as the relationship is distinctly private. This argument prompted scholars from across the disciplines to gather together to offer distinctly "public reasons" for the preservation of the institution of marriage as a male-female union. Their results have been gathered into a new book, "The Meaning of Marriage: Family , State, Market and Morals" (Spence), co-edited by Robert P. George and Jean Bethke Elshtain. . . .

Q: You describe the good of marriage as a "one-flesh communion of persons." Is that a distinctly religious concept?

George: No. The intrinsic value of marriage, understood as a comprehensive, multilevel sharing of life founded upon the bodily communion of sexually complementary spouses and naturally ordered to procreation and the upbringing of children, can be grasped, and has been grasped, by people of different faiths and by those of no particular faith. The teachings of most, if not all, religions extend to marriage in one way or another, but the good of marriage can be known, and is known, by reason, even when unaided by revelation. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: The Meaning of Marriage (Part 1) Interview with Princeton's Robert George

Gay marriage now, polygamy later U.S. News & World Report - John Leo, Mar 22, 2006
Bloggers are probably getting too worked up over the new polygamy TV show, Big Love. One show doesn't create a real-life trend. But critics are right (as Rick Santorum was right) when they say the gay marriage debate opened the door to legal approval of polygamy. A New Jersey appellate court judge wrote that if marriage is couched only in terms of privacy, intimacy, and autonomy, then what nonarbitrary ground is there for denying the benefit to the polygamous unions whose members claim the arrangement is necessary to their self-fulfillment? Traditional conceptions of marriage and the "privileging" of marriage drop out of the debate once courts, such as Massachusetts's highest court, define marriage in terms of feeling and choice. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Once same-sex marriage is OK, polygamy's next Star Tribune- By Katherine Kersten, Mar 16, 2006

What women really want Palm Beach Post.com- By Mark Schwed, Mar 22, 2006
My wife digs me. Really. She does. Here's why: I work hard at the office, and she stays home with the kids. (She's the perfect mom. I tell her all of the time.) There's more: When I get home to our McMansion on the McOcean, I whip up dinner, wash the dishes, help the kids with their homework, then lavish her with me. I light candles. Rub her feet. Spread rose petals on the bed (which I will clean up later). I tell her she's fantastic. And I really, really listen. In short, I am the ideal husband. And I am a complete fantasy. . . . .
Thoughts on marriage, shoes, and love gone bad Post-Gazette.com- BY Peter Leo, Mar 22, 2006
. . . The other shoe falls. . . . Now that we've dispensed with that insidious stereotype, have you noticed how women never have enough shoes? Liz Perle has. Her new book, "Money, A Memoir: Women, Emotions and Cash" (Holt), analyzes why women "spend more on face creams and shoes than we do on our retirement funds." M. P. Dunleavey, a personal finance columnist, has no quarrel with Ms. Perle's thesis, but, she asks: Guys don't have money problems? . . .

A good thesaurus would resolve the 'marriage' debate St Paul Pioneer Press, MN By JOE SOUCHERAY, Mar 22, 2006
Apparently we are in agreement that the traditional definition of the word "marriage" is the union of one man and one woman, and that presents the conundrum. Really what is at issue in Minnesota and elsewhere in the Western world is the expansion of the word to include arrangements other than one man and one woman, for example, two men or two women. Well, no. The union of two men or two women would have to be called something else because words mean something and "marriage" is taken. It would be like the architects of a game in which a ball is struck with a mallet through wire hoops insisting that their game be called "baseball." No. Baseball, it would have to be pointed out, is different from this new game and a new name, "croquet" perhaps, would have to be invented. Croquet, huh? OK, croquet it is and thus the world has both baseball and croquet. . .

The Meaning of Marriage (Part 1)
Interview With Princeton's Robert George Zenit.org, Mar 20, 2006
PRINCETON, N.J. --Debates about the institution of marriage are often characterized as clashes between religious adherents and secularists, which imply the debate is one between faith and reason. However, a new collection of essays from across the academic disciplines argues that marriage need not be defended solely through appeals to religious authority or tradition. . . .Scholars presented papers on their academic discipline's contribution to our understanding of marriage, and each of the disciplines offered profound insights into the importance of marriage both for individuals and for the nation. The papers did not invoke revelation, religious authority or sectarian reasoning. This was the best of what's been termed "public reason" at work. And the conclusions from everyone at the conference were that: a) marriage matters; b) marriage is in crisis; and c) we could be facing the virtual abolition of marriage if we go down the road of same-sex "marriage." Professor Elshtain of the University of Chicago and I decided to compile these essays into a book because the information and arguments we were fortunate enough to have heard at the conference need to be disseminated throughout our nation. Every American who cares about civil society, child well-being and the condition of marriage in our culture needs to know about the scholarly findings reported in this collection. . . .

Reasoning Behind France's Rejection of Same Sex Marriage Published in English LifeSite, NY - By John-Henry Westen, Mar 20, 2006
MONTREAL(LifeSiteNews.com) - In late January, a 30 member parliamentary commission of the French National Assembly published a 453 page Report on the Family and the rights of Children, which rejected same-sex marriage. That report, available only in French, has been carefully examined by Louis DeSerres the bilingual national co-ordinator of 'Preserve Marriage - Protect Children's Rights' who has produced an English-language two page executive summary of the reasons behind the report's rejection of homosexual 'marriage'. . . DeSerres, told LifeSiteNews.com "Referring to the rights of children as a human rights issue, the report argued that children 'now have rights, and to systematically give preference to adult aspirations over respect for these rights is not possible any more. ". . .

RELATED ARTICLE: French Government Report Says No to Homosexual "Marriage" LifeSiteNews.com, By John-Henry Westen, Feb 16, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Canadian Group Applaud France's Decision to Reject Same Sex Marriage Halifax Live, Canada - Mar 20, 2006

Needed: Leadership for a nation adrift Townhall.com- By Star Parker, Mar 20, 2006
. . . As we spread freedom around the world, I think there is concern, judging from much of what we see going on at home, that we're losing a sense of what the pillars are that hold our own free society together. If we're losing our compass at home, can we really spread the word abroad? This is a subject blacks know well. It's why the marriage issue struck as responsive chord as it did in this community. We know from what we have seen in our own communities that when core traditional values collapse, when the integrity of families collapses, when life becomes cheap, when property has no meaning, there is no freedom. . . It seems like common sense that a society where there is no longer clarity on the most basic things like what constitutes a family and what it means to be married is one lost and confused place. This poses a threat to our country as much as any hostile force from abroad. . .

HBO's 'Big Love': What taboo? Human Events Online- By George Neumayr, Mar 20, 2006
. . . Press accounts about “Big Love” have noted that its creators are gay, which underscores that the opposition to polygamy from gay activists over the last few years is nothing more than political posturing. They know that polygamy is perfectly consistent with the logic underlying same-sex marriage but can’t say that lest it stall that drive. Once marriage is accepted as “man-made,” humans can make it, unmake it, and remake it at will. And after that point any prohibitions are simple arbitrariness. Gay activists, for largely PR reasons, will sometimes insist upon the sacredness of “two,” which is oddly arbitrary, since they justify their position on the grounds that marriage has no natural, pre-existing character to it. At least the creators of “Big Love” are ignoring this fakery and following the premises of same-sex marriage to its logical conclusion. . .

RELATED BLOG: The Next Civil Rights Frontier? TownHall.com- D. Son's blog, Mar 20, 2006

Gay marrriage question begs resolution Yale Daily News- Peter Johnston, Mar 20, 2006
Is gay marriage immoral? Merely asking the question infuriates many Yale students. In response, they walk away in a huff, angry and indignant -- they don't engage the questioner at all. Those who do engage skirt the content of the question, responding with a theme of their own: "How can you question the personal choices of others?" or "Don't impose your opinions on me!" Of course, the question does nothing of the sort; it simply gives voice to a subject that is on everybody's mind. At least, the subject should be on everybody's mind. Some say that gay marriage is the civil rights issue of this generation, while others think the idea's prominence in the public sphere constitutes the height of depravity. . .The question is illegitimate only under the condition that a moral standard does not exist. But Yale students are quite committed to the existence of a moral standard. . .

Author find that husbands aren't as shallow as we've been led to believe Seattle Post Intelligencer- By Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje, Mar 18, 2006
Journalist Neil Chethik was sick of the stereotypes -- the ones that say men are louts who don't value their marriages, who operate as psychological juveniles next to women who do all the emotional heavy lifting in the relationship. Married for 19 years -- very happily, thank you -- he knew something was amiss in this picture. So he started asking men about their marriages. . . A writer in residence at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, Ky., Chethik published his results in a new book, "VoiceMale: What Husbands Really Think About Their Marriages, Their Wives, Sex, Housework, and Commitment (Simon & Schuster; $15.64). What he found was that many men find their stride in marriage -- a fact that should make wives very happy. . .

Q: What made you want to write this book?

A: The image of men on television and movies is that they're idiots who can't change a diaper or boil water, and all they care about is beer and sex. When I looked around at the people I knew, and all the people I've interviewed in 20 years of writing about men, I saw this vast chasm between the image of men and what men are really like. . .

White Bible Ceremony seals a marriage in sanctity and spirit

White Bible Ceremony seals a marriage in sanctity and spirit PensacolaNewsJournal.com, FL -By Reginald T. Dogan, Mar 18, 2006
Before a man and woman unite in holy matrimony, the man's best friends usually throw a no-holds-barred bachelor party. For the woman, a more subdued bridal shower is the prenuptial plan. Too often, lost in the fleeting flurry of parties and wedding details is the real meaning of what's about to take place, and that's when a White Bible Ceremony can refocus the prospective bride and groom on faith and spirituality.... But given renewed emphasis on faith, religion and family, the White Bible Ceremony has seen a resurgence in recent years. The ceremony symbolically seals a marriage in sanctity and spirit of Christian faith. . . Patricia Threadgill, mother of the future bride, read about the religious custom in the June 2005 edition of Southern Lady magazine and loved the symbolism of the ceremony. So did her daughter. . .

Readers offer their own advice to wife in troubled marriage South Florida Sun- Sentinel, Mar 18, 2006
EDITOR'S NOTE: Several readers took issue with Pastor Bob Coy's March 11 column, in which a woman asked if she should stay with her verbally abusive husband. Quoting Scripture, Pastor Coy recommended she "go the extra mile by humbly submitting to your husband, as unto the Lord.". . .

Dear Rev. Coy: I am surprised and dismayed in your response to Mrs. P.B. of Fort Lauderdale. You basically left her to hang out there all alone in her efforts to deal with her abusive husband. You could have made her aware of the groups of abused women who meet on a regular basis to give mutual support and encouragement. She would know that ways exist between submission and divorce that would help her in her misery. In addition, you gave Mrs. P.B. no aid in dealing with her husband. I would think that Calvary Chapel has men who have been abusers, and have reformed not because their wives submitted in fear, but because other men persuaded them that there are better ways. . .

Discuss issue of adultery with mate instead of dodging subject Pacific Daily News- By Norman Analista, Mar 17, 2006
How many people do you think are engaging in extramarital affairs? Who really knows? Based on how often the subject pops up in rumor mills, however, it seems like more and more people are messing around. I'm bringing up the touchy subject of adultery not to judge anyone, but rather to make the point that it's an issue married couples should openly discuss -- especially if they want to thwart the threat of infidelity from damaging their relationships. . . .Movies like "Unfaithful," soap operas, romance novels and other forms of media glamorize the act of adultery. Their misleading implications are always: "Want passion? Go outside of your marriage, because the person you exchanged vows with and pledged to give you their heart and soul is incapable of making you feel pleasure and excitement." Couples who want to prevent an affair not only need to commit to being honest. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Maintaining a healthy marriage:
"A Weekend to Remember" brings couples together to focus on building marriage and families Pacific Daily News, By Jojo Santo Tomas, Mar 18, 2006

Discuss issue of adultery with mate instead of dodging subject

Pandora and Polygamy The Washington Post, By Charles Krauthammer, Mar 17, 2006
And now, polygamy. With the sweetly titled HBO series "Big Love," polygamy comes out of the closet. Under the headline "Polygamists, Unite!" Newsweek informs us of "polygamy activists emerging in the wake of the gay-marriage movement." Says one evangelical Christian big lover: "Polygamy rights is the next civil-rights battle.". . . As Newsweek notes, these stirrings for the mainstreaming of polygamy (or, more accurately, polyamory) have their roots in the increasing legitimization of gay marriage. In an essay 10 years ago, I pointed out that it is utterly logical for polygamy rights to follow gay rights. After all, if traditional marriage is defined as the union of (1) two people of (2) opposite gender, and if, as advocates of gay marriage insist, the gender requirement is nothing but prejudice, exclusion and an arbitrary denial of one's autonomous choices in love, then the first requirement -- the number restriction (two and only two) -- is a similarly arbitrary, discriminatory and indefensible denial of individual choice. This line of argument makes gay activists furious. I can understand why they do not want to be in the same room as polygamists. But I'm not the one who put them there. Their argument does. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: The Next Civl Rights Frontier? D. Son's blog, Townhall.com, Mar 20, 2006
Polygamists, Unite! They used to live quietly, but now they're making noise Newsweek- By Elise Soukup, Mar 20, 2006 Issue
. . . There's a sound legal argument for making the controversial practice legal, says Brian Barnard, the lawyer for a Utah couple, identified in court documents only as G. Lee Cooke and D. Cooke, who filed suit after being denied a marriage license for an additional wife. Though the case was struck down by a federal court last year, it's now being considered by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Barnard plans to use the same argument—that Lawrence v. Texas, the 2003 sodomy case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that individuals have "the full right to engage in private conduct without government intervention," should also apply to polygamous relationships. . .

Polygamy Drives Plot of New HBO Dramedy
Mormonism -- Polygamy and the Latter-day Saints The Seoul Times-By Gail Pennington, Mar 17, 2006
Imagine "Desperate Housewives" if Bree, Lynette and Gabrielle were all married to Tom. The resulting super-family might be something like the one headed by Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) in the new HBO dramedy "Big Love," making its debut Sunday after "The Sopranos." For Bill, a mild-mannered Everyman who lives in Utah (more about that later) and owns a home improvement store, wife No. 1 is Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn). The others call her "boss lady." Wife No. 2 is Nicki (Chloe Sevigny), who abuses the family budget with her home-shopping habit. No. 3, the youngest, is Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin), who's confident about little except her sexuality. . . . When everyone joins hands as Bill prays for his "loving family sealed together through time and all eternity," it's possible to think this polygamy thing might really work. Well, Wisteria Lane looks pleasant, too. Actually, we soon learn, the Henrickson family is dysfunctional times three. . . Executive produced by Tom Hanks and his Playtone partner Gary Goetzman. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Paxton finds romance (times three) in 'Love' MSNBC.com, Mar 15, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: The Joy of Sects- HBO's 'Big Love' Creative Loafing.com- Atlanta, By Curt Holman, Mar 15, 2006

Once same-sex marriage is OK, polygamy's next Star Tribune- By Katherine Kersten, Mar 16, 2006
. . . "Big Love" is just a TV show, you say? But cultural expression can pack a powerful wallop - witness the much ballyhooed bid by "Brokeback Mountain" to normalize same-sex attraction. Influential voices are already calling for allowing polygamy. Last week, New York Times libertarian columnist John Tierney endorsed itslegalization in a column titled "Who's afraid of polygamy?" . . . . Today gay marriage supporters' mantra is, "How does my same-sex marriage harm your marriage?" Down the road it may be, "How does my marriage of two men and a woman harm your marriage?" If we don't answer the first question with resolve -- making clear that "one man-one woman" is at the heart of marriage in Minnesota -- we may not have a chance to answer the second. . .
Polygamy and the Marriage Market: Who Would Have the Upper Hand? New York Times (Free Subscription), United States -ROBERT H. FRANK, Mar 16, 2006
MOST people believe that consenting adults should be free to do as they please, provided they do not cause unacceptable harm to others. The difficult question, of course, is what constitutes unacceptable harm. The debut on Sunday night of "Big Love," the new HBO series about a polygamous fictional family in Salt Lake City, has touched off renewed debate about this question. Barb, Nicki and Margene, the three heroines of "Big Love," chose to marry Bill Henrickson, a successful businessman able to provide generously for their extended family. Mr. Henrickson chose to marry them. Should society outlaw such arrangements because they cause unacceptable harm to others? If so, who is harmed, exactly, and how? Economic theory, it turns out, has interesting things to say about these questions. The traditional argument against plural marriage is that it harms women, particularly younger women who may be coerced to enter such marriages. Needless to say, society should prohibit forced participation in any marriage, whether plural or monogamous. But mature women who freely choose plural marriage reveal a preference for that arrangement. So if plural marriage harms women, the victims must be those who prefer monogamy. . .

Phil Collins' son blames marriage split No3 on insecure childhood Mirror.co.uk, UK - By Fiona Cummins, Mar 17, 2006
PHIL Collins' son yesterday blamed the collapse of the pop star's third marriage on "childhood insecurities". Simon Collins, 28, claimed his multi-millionaire father split from Orianne, 33, after six years of marriage due to low self-esteem. . . .The pair have been living in different houses since the New Year after "growing apart". However, mum-of-two Orianne appeared to be unaware yesterday that the marriage split was about to become public. She had denied she was parting from Phil just hours earlier. She insisted: "It is absolute rubbish to say we are separating or divorcing.". . .
Marriage Woes for Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra Post Chronicle -By Jack Ryan, Mar 17, 2006
Rocker Dave Navarro has confirmed that his marriage to sexy actress Carmen Electra is in trouble, confessing the couple rarely gets to enjoy quality time . . . It's like the old adage says, you have fun with a freak - but you don't marry one. . .
Pitt-Jolie marriage rumors rife CNN.com- Entertainment, Mar 16, 2006
LAGLIO, Italy (AP) -- Speculation spread once again that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie would wed on these Italian shores -- perhaps this weekend. George Clooney is a friend of the Hollywood couple and his lakefront villa in the town of Laglio is cited in Italian news reports as a credible location for such a ceremony. Saturday has been mentioned as a possible date. . .

Drive to reduce forced marriages  BBC News- UK, Mar 16, 2006
A drive to reduce the number of forced marriages of British citizens is due to be unveiled.
The campaign by the government's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) is backed by actor and writer Meera Syal and former EastEnders star Ameet Chana. More than 250 cases are reported to the FMU each year, most of which involve links to south Asian countries. A decision by the government is also expected soon on whether to outlaw forced marriages. More than 250 cases are reported to the FMU each year, most of which involve links to south Asian countries. A decision by the government is also expected soon on whether to outlaw forced marriages. . .   Forced marriage is a form of domestic violence and a human rights abuse. The victims often face emotional and physical abuse. "We are determined to help young people at risk and protect their right to choose whom they want to marry . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Forced marriage made me suicidal BBC News-UK, Emily Buchanan, Mar 16, 2006

Da Vinci author finds his marriage on trial The Age, Australia -By James Button, Mar 16, 2006
This week the extraordinary case of Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh versus publishers Random House has taken on new dimensions. It is a plagiarism (technically, breach of copyright) suit that has revealed much more. It has cast new light on the weird way that the world's best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, was written. It may be a lesson in the perils of the internet. And it is a portrait of a most unusual marriage. . . Arguments close on Monday, after which Justice Peter Smith of the British High Court will decide whether author Dan Brown stole the architecture and central theme of Holy Blood, Holy Grail — a 1982 book by Baigent, Leigh and another author — for The Da Vinci Code. Millions of dollars in royalties and the fate of the blockbuster film of Brown's book, not to mention common understandings of copyright law, hang on the result. . .

Marriage Protection Amendment Approved by House State Government Committee SOLANCONEWS.com, PA -Mar 15, 2006
HARRISBURG -- Legislation sponsored by Rep. Scott W. Boyd (R-Lancaster) that would allow the people of Pennsylvania to amend the state's Constitution to specifically define marriage as a union between one man and one woman was approved today by the House State Government Committee, clearing the way for it to be voted on by the full House. Boyd's Marriage Protection Amendment (House Bill 2381) passed out of the committee by a 15-13 vote. . .
Mormon in legal gay marriage faces cutoff Seattle Post Intelligencer -By Jennifer Dobner, Mar 15, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY -- A gay man who is a lifetime member of the Mormon church could be facing disciplinary action and excommunication after legally marrying his partner in Canada. Buckley Jeppson, 57, said he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that a disciplinary council will address the matter. . . "If the person later decides to reject these core principles, they have the right and freedom to do so," she said. "However, they cannot reasonably expect to reject the most fundamental teachings of the church and still wrap themselves in the cloak of church membership. Of course, they would be welcome to continue to attend church services.". . .

Marriage Protection Amendment approved by House State Government Committee

'Desperate Housewife' Nicollette Sheridan gets engaged to singer Michael Bolton

'Desperate Housewife' Nicollette Sheridan Gets Engaged ABC News -By BUCK WOLF, Mar 14, 2006
When Nicollette Sheridan arrived at the Oscars with a huge diamond ring on her left hand, reporters asked if she and boyfriend Michael Bolton had an announcement to make. "No," she said, with the same coy grin she flashes as Edie Britt on "Desperate Housewives." "Do you?" Now it's official. The 42-year-old actress and the 53-year-old are engaged, the actress's rep tells ABCNEWS.com. . . The couple began dating in the early 1990s, and recently rekindled their relationship. Sheridan was previously married to "L.A. Law" actor Harry Hamlin. Last year, after she split from fiancé Nick Soderblom, she and Bolton reconnected during the Christmas holiday. .

Big Love, from the Set National Review Online- By Stanley Kurtz, Mar 13, 2006
It's getting tougher to laugh off the "slippery slope" argument — the claim that gay marriage will lead to polygamy, polyamory, and ultimately to the replacement of marriage itself by an infinitely flexible partnership system. We've now got a movement for legalized polyamory and the abolition of marriage in Sweden. (See "Fanatical Swedish Feminists.") The Netherlands has given legal, political, and public approval to a cohabitation contract for a polyamorous bisexual triad. (See "Here Come the Brides.") Two out of four reports on polygamy commissioned by the Canadian government recommended decriminalization and regulation of the practice. (See "Dissolving Marriage.") And now comes Big Love, HBO's domestic drama about an American polygamous family. . . We don't need to talk about all the claims for the cultural significance of Will and Grace or Brokeback Mountain. Have a look at this fascinating piece from the Salt Lake City Tribune, " Will the polygamy debate ever be the same? ". . .

NJ Law Journal comes out in favor of gay marriage

NJ Law Journal Comes Out in Favor of Gay Marriage Blue Jersey.net, Mar 13, 2006
This is a big deal. Today the New Jersey Law Journal, which is read by thousands of lawyers, judges and their staffers across the state, endorsed marriage for same-sex couples. This is the same paper that in the past was only willing to support civil union. Some excerpts:
". . . The state's reliance on the historical definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman fails in our view because it seeks to use past discrimination to justify continuing the practice. The fact is that society no longer subscribes to the so-called "traditional" view of marriage, which derives from a time when wives were deemed chattel, when they could not own property in their name, and when they could not be raped by their husbands. None of these "traditional" views of marriage remain part of our jurisprudence.
Each time our American society has pondered extending fundamental rights - from emancipation, to women's suffrage, to Civil Rights, to interracial marriage, to gay and lesbian adoption - a vocal majority has feared that the extension of our basic rights to the minority would alter the American way of life. Those fears have always proved unfounded, even if the majority was not always ready to immediately accept the change.. . ."

The Age of Desperation Townhall.com, By Daniel Son, Mar 12, 2006
. . . But to me, it’s not the particularities of the plot or the specific events in the lives of these women that makes the show gripping. Rather, it is the social commentary that the program provides that I find principally engaging. All these women possess things that one group or another in society would deem as critical to the happiness of a woman — whether that be a high-powered career, a husband, children, more than enough money to go shopping with or a voluptuous figure. Yet, no matter what their lot in life may be, none of these women seem truly content with where she is — indeed, they have thus become desperate. . . . Essentially, the underlying message that Desperate Housewives conveys seems to be counterintuitive in the age of feminist clamoring for independence and rights. Why would Gabrielle choose a child to hamper her freedom when she has almost unlimited material resources at her disposal? Why wouldn’t Lynette love her job where she gets to be her own husband’s boss (most recently) and where she makes a lot of money? Why would she prefer to be there for her children, nurture them, and be there for them to turn to? That doesn’t make sense within a feminist framework. . . .

Dads: No cash for unwanted children
In lawsuit, activists argue if women have right to decide fate of fetus, fathers can decline financial role The Detroit News- David Shepardson and Eric Lacy, Mar 9, 2006
A national men's rights group plans to file a federal lawsuit this morning in U.S. District Court in Detroit, claiming that fathers have the legal right to opt out of the financial responsibilities of supporting a child they didn't want -- in a claim they dub "Roe v. Wade for Men." A Troy lawyer for the New York-based National Center for Men said he will file a long-shot lawsuit on behalf of 25-year-old Matt Dubay of Saginaw that seeks an order declaring the Michigan Paternity Act unconstitutional. Dubay recently was ordered to pay support for his 8-month-old daughter. . . After three months, they stopped dating -- but soon afterward, she told him she was pregnant. "It's just not fair. She has options in this. As a man, I have no options and am forced to live with her choices,". . . The National Center for Men and its president don't want to be able to force women to have abortions or give up a child for adoption. They want to be able to go into court before a child is born and renounce parenting responsibilities -- and 18 years of child support. "More than three decades ago, Roe v. Wade gave women control of their reproductive lives but nothing in the law changed for men. . .

Haven't we had our Phil of get-love-quick schemes?

Haven't we had our Phil of get-love-quick schemes? Hub, MI –By Matt Katz, Gannett News Service, Mar 8, 2006
Asking Dr. Phil for advice is weird for a number of reasons. First of all, the tough-love self-help guru - who was once Oprah's sidekick, and is now the official relationship adviser on the dating site Match.com - rarely smiles. Sometimes, he yells. On Valentine's Day, he even made Paula Abdul cry on TV. I mean, is that necessary?. . . . The last thing that's weird about getting advice from Dr. Phil is the fact that you're getting advice from Dr. Phil. This is a man who humiliates people on national TV and then has those people thank him. This is a man who wrote a book about weight loss even though he's kinda, well, heavy. He has been telling America how to fall in love since the '90s, and it's getting annoying already. . .

Can you choose your baby's sex? Independent, UK - Mar 8, 2006
Many parents long for a son or hanker after a daughter. As new research shows that strong women are more likely to give birth to boys, Roger Dobson sorts the science from the old wives' tales. . . It is now possible, with the help of fertility doctors using embryo selection, to choose the sex of a child, although the technique is not available in the UK. And parental demand for sex selection has never been greater. But other methods of sex selection, albeit those that claim lower success rates than pre-implantation diagnosis, are being increasingly used, and research carried out among infertile women shows that four out of 10 would opt to choose to the sex of the child. . . Position, orgasms and coffee - theories from the wilder side. . .

Q & A: Is marriage without sex worth keeping? Newsday, NY -Mar 8, 2006
DEAR AMY: I am a 55-year-old woman married for two years to a 63-year-old man. During our courtship of six months, we shared an adequate sex life, but after he moved into my home (and our subsequent marriage), we have only been intimate about six times in the past two years. There is no physical reason for his problem. We have gone to counseling and he says that he loves me but that he operates on two levels. He feels that sex has nothing to do with love. . .
Marriage before 30 too much too soon?
Columnists Lydia Lovric and Krista Boryskavich present their version of She Said She Said on the topic of marriage before 30. Winnipeg Sun- CA, By Krista Boryskavich, Mar 7, 2006
POINT: A mature decision requires a mature person to make it, and many people in their 20s simply don't have the life experience to commit to a meaningful, lasting relationship. The 20s are a time for transitioning into adulthood, figuring out who you are as an individual and learning how best to live your new grownup life. Not rushing into a marriage you may not be emotionally or financially equipped to handle. . .

COUNTERPOINT: Marriage before 30 too much too soon? Winnipeg Sun-CA, By Lydia Lovric

'Bachelor' couple Travis Stork and Sarah Stone admit they've broken up Reality TV World- By Steve Rogers, Mar 7, 2006
After a week of silence, The Bachelor: Paris couple Travis Stork and Sarah Stonehave admitted that their romantic relationship is over, with Travis citing The Bachelor's requirement that its couple remain apart until after the show's finale episode airs as a reason for their breakup. . . According to Travis, the fact that both of them happened to live within walking distance of each other made his attempts to comply with the terms of the show's contract significantly more complicated. "I remember one day Sarah was running down the street, and I walked out my front door on my bike and I instantly saw this person darting across the street, through traffic. I'm like, 'That's Sarah. Do I look, do I not? What do I do?' Of course, what do I do? I bike in the opposite direction. It's strange to have to live that way." . . . .

'Bachelor' couple Travis Stork and Sarah Stone admit they've broken up

Dana Reeve dies of lung cancer CNN -Mar 7, 2006
Dana Reeve, the widow of the actor Christopher Reeve, has died of lung cancer at age 44, according to the Christopher Reeve Foundation. In August, less than a year after her husband's death, Dana Reeve -- a lifelong nonsmoker -- announced she had cancer. She died Monday night. . . Reeve had succeeded her husband as the chairwoman of the foundation, which funds research for new treatments for spinal cord injuries and works to improve the quality of life for people suffering from paralysis. Christopher Reeve died in October 2004 at age 52 after falling into a coma. He had been paralyzed since a horseback riding accident in 1995. Reeve was widely admired for the support and love she showed for her husband and for her assistance in his care. . .
Health Issues: Lung Cancer and Women: A Mysterious Link ABC News - Mar 7, 2006
Dana Reeve's passing from lung cancer highlights a grim but important fact about the disease: It is a common and lethal attacker of women, even among those who have never smoked. Of the approximately 20,000 to 25,000 nonsmokers diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States each year, a greater proportion of them are women, according to Women Against Lung Cancer. Unfortunately, the five-year survival rate remains relatively low. Only about 15 percent of people diagnosed survive five years or more. Breast cancer has an 88-percent survival rate, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance. Why does this discrepancy persist?. . . .

Desperate Feminist Housewives: Why wanting equality makes women unhappy

Desperate Feminist Wives
Why wanting equality makes women unhappy Slate.com- By Meghan O'Rourke, Mar 6, 2006
In The Feminine Mystique, the late Betty Friedan attributed the malaise of married women largely to traditionalist marriages in which wives ran the home and men did the bread-winning. Her book helped spark the sexual revolution of the 1970s and fueled the notion that egalitarian partnerships—where both partners have domestic responsibilities and pursue jobs—would make wives happier. Last week, two sociologists at the University of Virginia published an exhaustive study of marital happiness among women that challenges this assumption. Stay-at-home wives, according to the authors, are more content than their working counterparts . . . Of course, conclusions like these are never cut-and-dried. This study is based on surveys conducted between 1992 and 1994, and measuring marital happiness is a little like trying to quantify sex appeal. But the data are nonetheless worth pausing over. . .

Health & Parenting Issues: The Battle Over Childhood Obesity is One That Parents Must Fight - and Win BlackAmericaWeb.com- By Joseph C. Phillips, Mar 6, 2006
According to the National Institutes of Health, the percentage of overweight and obese children has doubled since 1976. Children with a body mass index at or above the 95 percentile for height and sex are considered overweight. The BMI is not a perfect measure. More muscular bodies will register a higher BMI, and this has led some to claim the case is being overstated. Discussions about the folly of the BMI can rage on 'til the cows come home, and it won’t change a thing. We know fat kids when we see them! . . . I may as well confess that, as concerned as I am for the kids and their health, I am most worried about myself. When it comes to sweets in general and chocolate in particular, I have no self-control, so I suppose my son comes by it honestly. My kids have me to tell them when enough is enough. Who will stop me?. . .

Parenting Issues: The feminist anti-kid crusade Townhall.com, By Carey Roberts - Mar 5, 2006
Call it one of those simple yet profound truths: only a father can help a boy become a man. And only a daddie can teach a girl about healthy male-female relationships. Both dads and moms are unique and special. Maybe that’s why dads love to mix it up with rough-and-tumble play. Perhaps it’s why fathers teach kids a thing or two about risk-taking. And no doubt it has something to do with that tough love thing. Countless studies point to the same conclusion: kids with hands-on dads do better in school, in the community, and in life. I could almost write a book about it – and fortunately, someone already has: Father Facts. But there’s a somber side to this story. Kids who lose their fathers are two to three times more likely to get in trouble with the law and are more likely to suffer from a broad array of social pathologies. . .
Parenting Issues: Raising Boys That Feminists Will Hate Townhall.com, By Doug Giles - Mar 4, 2006
Parent, if you have a young son and you want him to grow up to be a man, then you need to keep him away from pop culture, public school and a lot of Nancy Boy churches. If metrosexual pop culture, feminized public schools and the effeminate branches of evanjellycalism lay their sissy hands on him, you can kiss his masculinity good-bye—because they will morph him into a dandy. . .

Spousal Spats: Bad for the Heart? FOX News –Mar 7, 2006, By Miranda Hitti.
When husbands and wives argue in a hostile, controlling way, their hearts may not like it. So say researchers at the University of Utah. They studied 150 healthy, married couples, most of whom were in their early 60s. The study covered two key questions: How did the couples fight? Which husbands and wives had more coronary artery calcification?. . . .
From divorce to helping others Greensboro News Record, NC- By Jennifer Atkins Brown, Mar 5, 2006
-- Curt Dean says he never imagined the positives that would come out of the painful experience of a divorce 13 years ago. . . Dean not only turned that difficult point in his life into triumph, he also decided to use what he learned to help others. Associate pastor of single adults at Lawndale Baptist Church for the past seven years, Dean leads the church's Divorce Care support group, a 13-week program offered in the fall and spring. The program is open to the community. . . Dean said he does not initially tell participants about his own divorce. "As the opportunity affords itself, I share," he said. "It's as if the words I share have much more impact because I've been down that road." . . .

Desire and marriage: Life's easier if your partner adores the way you look

Desire and marriage: I love your body
Life's easier if your partner adores the way you look. Just ask Nigella. But what happens if your body changes? Independent, UK- By Lucy Bulmer, Mar 4, 2006
...Life is a damn sight easier if your partner adores you just the way you are - particularly if you've just put on 20lbs. And as any man whose woman has put him on a diet will tell you, this isn't just a concern for the gentler sex. Which begs a lot of questions. What defines what we view as sexy? What happens when your partner's gorgeous body changes with the years? How far are you allowed to go in asking them to work on it? . . .
Is there enough sex in that marriage? Vanguard, Nigeria- By Chioma Anyagafu Mar 3, 2006
WE said when we started last week that sex is a healthy exercise. It is relaxing, healing and good enough to keep body and soul together. That is in marital relationship. We are not talking about sex between adolescents especially these days when pre-marital sex should be discouraged for several reasons. So, this issue is an adult discourse. It is not for the young or those outside the marital relationship but they can read it for future purposes, that is, if one has reached the age of marriage and is expected to go into it any time. So, in this edition, we continue our discussion on sex. . .

Uphold traditional marriage for a healthy nation Roanoke Times, VA- By Misty Mealey, Mar 4, 2006
. . . In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson espoused the idea that human beings have some rights simply because we are human. These inalienable rights are intrinsic to us and as such, the government cannot bestow or take them away. The government is not the source of our rights, but the protector of them. This principle applies to marriage, too. Some in our culture believe that the state defines marriage, in addition to controlling the rights of access to it. But just as is the case with our human rights, the institution of marriage precedes and transcends the state. This is why traditional marriage proponents do not call upon legislatures so much to define marriage, but to uphold the traditional definition of what makes a marriage in the first place. In essence, marriage is a permanent, exclusive covenant of love and life between a man and a woman. This basic understanding of what constitutes a marriage is rooted in what philosophers call natural law and what I call common sense. . .
Government study affirms marriage Today's Family News, Canada - Mar 3, 2006
For the sake of the children involved, a new French parliamentary report concluded that marriage should not be extended to include same-sex couples, LifesiteNews.com reported in February. “Marriage,” the 450-page study affirmed, “is not merely the contractual recognition of the love between a couple; it is a framework that imposes rights and duties . . . designed to provide for the care and harmonious development of the child.” Commissioned by the president of France’s National Assembly, it recommends against any move by France to legalize gay marriage, gay adoptions or the use of new reproductive technologies that would enable same-sex couples to procreate. . .

Your state will have to deal with same sex marriage Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX - By Brent Thompson, Mar 3, 2006
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) – Our culture slipped even further away from its historical roots Nov. 18 with the finding of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health. In its ruling, the court equated sexual preference with race, and wrote that laws against same sex marriage were no different than laws that once forbade interracial marriage. That means that gay couples, according to the Massachusetts court, have the right to get married. Short of amending the state constitution to forbid the practice, the Massachusetts legislature will have no choice but to make laws enabling same sex marriage. You may think that your state is immune from the effects of this cultural earthquake. After all, you may live in one of the states that have enacted some version of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Think again. . .

Your state will have to deal with same-sex marriage

Perfect Marriage Ends in Shocker ABC News.com -By Deborah Roberts, Mar 3, 2006
Have you ever met that guy who seems too good to be true? The handsome, warmhearted guy all the girls wanted to date, or even marry? That was Dr. Todd Calvin, a prominent dentist in Lakewood, Texas, a small tony suburb just outside Dallas. . . At 26 years old, Darlene Doxey got swept up in Todd Calvin's warmth and charisma when they met 13 years ago. It was "his blue eyes," she said, that caught her attention. "He was nice-looking and had good ambition. We both had a tremendous love for music and both loved kids." In other words, Todd was a great catch. But what Darlene never suspected was that her handsome new boyfriend kept a troubling secret. . .

RELATED QUIZ: To Conceal or Reveal? Take The Secrets Quiz

Parenting Issues: De Facto Parenthood The Weekly Standard - Vol 011, Issue 24, By Sara Butler Nardo, Mar 6, 2006 Edition
Eleven years ago, Page Britain gave birth to a baby girl, assisted by her partner of six years, Sue Ellen Carvin. Nine months before, Carvin had helped artificially inseminate Britain with sperm donated by a friend. Britain and Carvin raised the little girl together until their relationship ended just before the child's sixth birthday. Then, Britain tried to prevent Carvin from seeing the child. Carvin went to court, petitioning for visitation rights despite having no legally recognized relationship to the child. In November, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that Carvin does indeed have legal standing from which to seek visitation. To achieve this result, the court dipped into the magician's hat of common law (loosely defined) and pulled out a rabbit: de facto parenthood. . . And gays and lesbians are not the only ones seeking de facto parenthood; Youmans v. Ramos, one of the cases that defined de facto parenthood in Massachusetts, involved a dispute between 11-year- old Tamika's father and her aunt, who had raised Tamika while her father was away serving in the military. . .
Parenting Issues: Poisoning children, too? Townhall.com, By Brent Bozell - Mar 3, 2006
. . . Scene after scene concluded with a comedic punchline revolving around soiled diapers, flatulence, mucus and God-knows what other bodily excretions, while my little boy and his friend giggled in delight. Thanks, Hollywood. . . The Parents Television Council has released the results of a new study that examined what Hollywood is producing for children ages 5-10, before and after school and on Saturday mornings, on eight different networks. The numbers should be enough to trigger a double-take for any parent. . .

Jennifer Aniston, from rock to hard place
In the shadow of Pitt and Jolie, she struggles to refurbish her image MSNBC - Linda Holmes, Mar 3, 2006
... When their marriage ended, it was a sad Hollywood breakup of the kind that occur maybe five times a year and fall into the category of "major." Publicists issue statements. Best wishes are usually exchanged. Readers of People and Us say, "Huh. They always seemed happy." It was not the breakup that turned Aniston's life into theater of the absurd — it was Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Jolie was already a glamorously strange icon, known for her unconventional marriage to Billy Bob Thornton, her stormy relationship with father Jon Voigt and her zealous affection for her brother. She's also probably the last person you would want to see enter your ex's personal life: You know drama will follow. . .
Sophia Bush plays fraud card to seek marriage annulment San Jose Mercury News, USA - Mar 3, 2006
Ripping a page from the Renée Zellweger playbook, Sophia Bush is seeking to annul her brief marriage to her "One Tree Hill'' co-star Chad Michael Murray, citing fraud. Zellweger cited the same thing in the annulment of her marriage to chrome-domed, hat-wearing country star Kenny Chesney in December. According to papers filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Bush married Murray on April 16 and the pair separated five months later. . .
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe attend marriage counselling Monsters and Critics.com, UK - Mar 3, 2006
The beautiful actress has confessed the pair - who have two children, Ava, 6, and two-year-old Deacon - needed help keeping their relationship on track. She also admitted they still have to work hard to keep their romance fresh. . .
The star-crossed business of divorce New Zealand Herald, New Zealand -By Andrew Gumbel, Mar 3, 2006
... To most ordinary mortals, marriage might be a union of two people who do their level best to stay together until death do them part. But in Hollywood a marriage is many more things : it's a business proposition, a media event, and something that sells newspapers and glossy magazines and pays the rent of enterprising, sometimes unscrupulous, photographers and gossip writers. Unsurprisingly, Hollywood marriages - laden as they are with money, raging egos and interests beyond the mutual attraction of two much-photographed people - fail much more often than others. Around six out of 10, according to one estimate, end in divorce, and that creates a whole new industry of family lawyers, business consultants, home refurbishers, psychological counsellors and, yes, more grist for the celebrity-gossip mill. . . .

Meg Ryan says Crowe no home wrecker Herald Sun, Austrailia- By Nick Papps, Mar 3, 2006
HOLLYWOOD actor Meg Ryan has opened up about her affair with Russell Crowe, declaring the Australian actor is no home wrecker and even took a bullet for her. As Crowe prepares for the birth of his second child with wife Danielle Spencer, Ryan has given fresh details of her six-month affair with Crowe while married to actor Dennis Quaid. Ryan yesterday defended her relationship with Crowe, claiming her 10-year marriage to Quaid was already over when she had her affair with the Oscar-winning star of Gladiator."It was not a healthy marriage for long time," Ryan said yesterday. "It was never about another man, it was about what my and Dennis's relationship could not sustain.". . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Meg Ryan: I Had an 'Unhealthy Marriage' People Magazine - By Todd Peterson, Mar 2, 2006

Minister Admits Presiding at Lesbian Unions Washington Post- By Lisa Leff, Mar 2, 2006
SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- A Presbyterian minister accused of marrying two lesbian couples in violation of the faith's position on same-sex unions admitted Thursday that she officiated at the weddings, but said she was following both her conscience and the couples' wishes. The Rev. Jane Spahr of San Rafael has been charged with official misconduct for conducting the ceremonies in 2004 and 2005 and violating her church's constitution. . . Spahr, 63, a lesbian and longtime activist, directs a group lobbying for greater inclusion of gay Presbyterians in the church. If found guilty by the Presbytery of the Redwoods, the church's regional governing body, she could face anything from a rebuke to being forced to leave the ministry after more than 30 years. . . .
Same-Sex Couple in Splitsville SUNY The New Paltz Oracle, USA - By Elizabeth Griffin, Mar 2, 2006
The first gay couple to be unofficially married in New Paltz, Billiam vanRoestenberg and Jeffrey McGowan, are splitting up after two years of marriage. VanRoestenberg told midhudsonnews.com of the split and that he is “very distraught” over it. McGowan is said to have been the partner that sought the separation. Almost exactly two years ago, on Feb. 27, 2004 New Paltz Village Mayor Jason West married 25 same sex couples. McGowan and vanRoestenberg were the first to walk down the aisle. . .
The marriage revolution Michigan Technological University Online Lode, MI -By Eric Jackson, Mar 1, 2006
.. . “That editorial prompted an angry letter from Einar Westergaard, a spokesperson for the Green party’s youth wing: ‘We are trying to achieve a sexual revolution and counteract the hierarchy that gives heterosexuality privileges and represses other forms of social life.... The two-person standard is part of society’s heterosexual norm...(whereas it is our) aspiration to make the laws as norm-free as possible.... Marriage is not the key to homosexual, bisexual and transgender liberation. What’s essential is the battle for norm-free, sex-neutral legislation, and a society without heterosexual norms.’” On occasion, the frank honesty of the radical left overcomes their need for keeping the real aims of the revolution safely hidden. . . .

Four myths about living together without marriage

Four Myths About Living Together Without Marriage Human Events -By Janice Shaw Crouse, Mar 1, 2006
In the United States, living together instead of marrying has become the norm for couples -- half of young adults aged 20-40 are cohabiting instead of getting married. Cohabitation has increased nearly 1,000% since 1980, and the marriage rate has dropped more than 40% since 1960. Some see substituting living together for marriage as an insignificant shift in family “structure.” Those who are better informed realize that the shift has disastrous ramifications for the individuals involved, as well as for society and public policy. The faulty reasoning leading young adults to make such a poor choice must be exposed. Here are four myths surrounding the shift.

Myth No. 1: Living Together Is a Good Way to “Test the Water”
Many couples say that they want to live together to see if they are compatible, not realizing that cohabitation is more a preparation for divorce than a way to strengthen the likelihood of a successful marriage -- the divorce rates of women who cohabit are nearly 80% higher than those who do not. . . .

A Valentine to Marriage ParamusPost.com, NJ - By Mike Dennehy, Mar 2, 2006
Kay and I will be married 45 years in August. How can that be? I’m only 18 But it’s true. I guess you can say with assurance: “45 years that’s a long marriage”. These days I would have thought “long marriage” was an oxymoron. We’re inundated with reports of celebrities being married for a weekend or going from one marriage to another like Brad Pitt and Jennifer-or is it Angelina? Seemingly bouncing from bed to bed like Tom Cruise jumping off a couch. Not so according to a report in the Sunday NY Times recently. . .The Times article states in fact the rate of divorce has fallen by 25% since 1981. Further- more couples will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversaries than ever before. . .

Marriage = equality Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa - By Anastasia de Waal, Mar 1, 2006
... Marriage and feminism came properly to blows in the Seventies. Germaine Greer famously branded married life “a legalised form of slavery’’ for women: politically and economically, women were subordinate to men, and the dynamics of marriage seemed to perpetuate this inequality. Financial reliance on male breadwinners made marriage synonymous with dependence on men. Together with the divorce laws, this dependence made it very hard for women to leave marriages. The way to reject male dominance was to reject marriage. Throwing marriage out with inequality was to throw the baby out with the bathwater. . .
Why are DFLers scared of voting on same-sex union? Star Tribune- By Katherine Kersten, Mar 1, 2006
. . . The marriage amendment's opponents have launched a campaign to convince you that the amendment is a bad idea. Their bag of tricks includes soothing words -- "same-sex marriage is only about making marriage available to more people" -- coupled with bruising tactics such as branding you a hate-monger if you oppose it. As the legislative session starts, here are some of the lines you'll hear:

The marriage amendment is unnecessary. Opponents note that Minnesota already has a law limiting marriage to one man and one woman. But in states such as Iowa and Maryland, similar laws are under legal assault. Activist state courts can throw out a Defense of Marriage law like Minnesota's as discriminatory, unless it is backed up by a similar provision in the state constitution.
The marriage amendment is divisive. What delicious irony! Same-sex-marriage supporters themselves created the rancorous dispute they now lament, by relentlessly promoting a radical social experiment that is essentially unique in human history. Besides, when a dispute is over principle -- the Civil War, the struggle for women's suffrage, or the nature of marriage, our most fundamental social institution -- divisiveness is a price worth paying. . .

What Makes Wives Happy? WebMD - By Salynn Boyles, Mar 1, 2006
-- What do wives really want? A new study shows that for the typical American woman a happy marriage combines both modern and traditional ideas of partnership. In a survey of 5,000 married women, wives who felt that their husbands were emotionally engaged were the happiest in their marriages. But wives who worked outside the home were not as happy as wives who didn't. Far more than financial status or equal division of household chores, the single most important predictor of marital happiness among the women in the study was the level of their husbands' emotional engagement. Wives who shared the view that marriage is a lifelong commitment with their husbands were also happiest in their relationships. A more controversial finding was that women in the survey were happiest when their husbands were the main breadwinners for the family and when they did not work outside the home. . .