Is Marriage Dead? Anna Nicole Smith.

With the growth of divorce and the ability of persons to get most of the benefits of marriage without marrying, is marriage dead?

Indeed, the death of Anna Nicole Smith, but even more, her life, helps to capture marriage in modern time. She first married a man by whom she had a child, divorced and eventually married a man who had children decades older than she was. All of this came to a crescendo in the 2 years preceding her death. She had a Supreme Court hearing - she won. She had a chance to inherit hundreds of millions of dollars.

She recently died. Her tragic death, indeed, her tragic life captured in essence much of the life of modern society.

Madonna Adoption

TrueMarriage.net

The adoption of a young boy by Madonna raises serious issues for all of us. In no respect can anyone think that the material girl would be a good mother or would provide a good home.

Only her current wealth or income supports her ability to adopt.

See TrueMarriage.net for a more complete discussion.

Daddy

TrueMarriage.net

The importance of fathers in family life is often misunderstood. Many common sense rules help to enforce the notion of fatherhood. One of these rules is that nobody outside of a marriage may challenge the paternity of a child conceived during the marriage.

This notion is under attack.

See Truemarriage.net for the full story.

TrueMarriage

TrueMarriage

Children and Bankruptcy

"Consider a few facts. Our study showed that married couples with children are more than twice as likely to file for bankruptcy as their childless counterparts. A divorced woman raising a youngster is nearly three times more likely to file for bankruptcy than her single friend who never had children."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3079221/
reviewing the Two Income Trap.


American society, as well as Western civilization has devalued the importance of raising children by parents, while involving the state in such childraising at the same time.


Given the value of children to society, this fact proclaims to America what our structures have created. When even married couples with children - those who form the backbone of a society - are twice as likely to file for bankruptcy as their childless counterparts - the devaluation of children is crystal clear - you are better off in America if you do not have children.

You are better off in Western Civilization if you do not have children.

This is the message of despair to our country and our civilization.

Dolphins

TrueMarriage.net

In this article, Amy Sutherland explains how watching animal training helped her to work better with her husband. Although the language is in the lingua franca of animal training, it provides insights into human behavior as well. Indeed, this article explains how patience and kindness -- properly applied -- can improve any relationship -- not just a marriage.

It is a humorous read. Of course, not every situation can be handled as this article indicates. Nevertheless, how many of us find that it is not some fundamental issue that causes a marital dispute, but some small repetitive behavior.

Colorado Common Law Marriage

TrueMarriage.net

Marriage, especially the common law variety, is a great indicator of a society. Approximately 10 states recognize common law marriage today. In its original form, common law marriage is a recognition by society that persons have held themselves out as married and have acted as if they are married. Therefore, the state will recognize that fact for purposes of inheritance, legitimacy, etc.

What common law marriage shows is that issues of marriage arise for purposes of the state when inheritance or legitimacy issues arise -- and are not otherwise taken care of by will or cannot so be done. The state needs to become involved at that point, and needs a default position to take so that people can order their lives accordingly.

Thus, for instance, children born between two persons who have lived together should or should not have rights based upon whether or not the persons are married. The law recognizes a profound human reality - when men and women choose to live together - a reality naturally arises that society needs to manage.

This is not true "naturally" of any other coming together or men or women. Thus, common law marriage helps us to recognize what marriage is and why it arose.

This case is particularly interesting because the common law and the statutory law conflict.

http://www.courts.state.co.us/coa/opinion/2006/2006q2/04CA0740.pdf