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RyanH
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According to a recent study I came across in the TIMES a few weeks ago, all across Europe, more and more Europeans are opting not to marry. The definition of what constitutes a family continues to expand, precluding the traditional notions of a family as "mom and dad"---instead including more modern notions of just "mom" and kids. The following are some of the highlights that were reported:
--Half the kids in Norway have parents who are single or living together. 49% of all births in 1999 were to unwed parents. In Iceland the figure was 62%. In France it was 41% and in Britain it was 38%.
--Even in Ireland, a traditionally Catholic country, 31% of births since 1999 have taken place outside of marriage---a figure matched by the United States.
---Also, public figures themselves are demonstrating the success of the individual themselves. Prime Minister Blair's chief spokesman has three children with his companion.
--In Ireland, the prime minister has been with his companion, the de facto first lady of the country, for a number of years.
--In Norway, an unmarried member of Parliament, became pregnant while she served as the country's oil minister and is now raising her son on her own. And, the country's own crown prince lived with his girlfriend, a single mother with a toddler, before finally marrying her last year.
Now my view of the situation here in America: While President Bush seeks to expand government and carry the mantle of the "BIG GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT" by enacting government programs to promote marriage, other countries are promoting the indivdiual with laws favorable to both single parents and to unmarried companions.
Isn't it time, Americans consider following some of Europe's policies by finally recogning that marriage has failed to solve many of our society's domestic problems? For example, thousands of children with married parents often commit crimes and develop substance abuse problems, while often many children from single parent homes become model citizens.
By enacting more equitable laws for single parents and providing more government assistance, Americans too, would finally see that marriage is not always necessary for a healthy society and moreover, the individual can triumph as well, if given the same equal opportunities....
Ryan.
--Half the kids in Norway have parents who are single or living together. 49% of all births in 1999 were to unwed parents. In Iceland the figure was 62%. In France it was 41% and in Britain it was 38%.
--Even in Ireland, a traditionally Catholic country, 31% of births since 1999 have taken place outside of marriage---a figure matched by the United States.
---Also, public figures themselves are demonstrating the success of the individual themselves. Prime Minister Blair's chief spokesman has three children with his companion.
--In Ireland, the prime minister has been with his companion, the de facto first lady of the country, for a number of years.
--In Norway, an unmarried member of Parliament, became pregnant while she served as the country's oil minister and is now raising her son on her own. And, the country's own crown prince lived with his girlfriend, a single mother with a toddler, before finally marrying her last year.
Now my view of the situation here in America: While President Bush seeks to expand government and carry the mantle of the "BIG GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT" by enacting government programs to promote marriage, other countries are promoting the indivdiual with laws favorable to both single parents and to unmarried companions.
Isn't it time, Americans consider following some of Europe's policies by finally recogning that marriage has failed to solve many of our society's domestic problems? For example, thousands of children with married parents often commit crimes and develop substance abuse problems, while often many children from single parent homes become model citizens.
By enacting more equitable laws for single parents and providing more government assistance, Americans too, would finally see that marriage is not always necessary for a healthy society and moreover, the individual can triumph as well, if given the same equal opportunities....
Ryan.
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