by Elizabeth Reeves
The sacredness and value of marriage in modern society is being completely lost. Look around! The proof is everywhere. From Kim Kardashian’s apparent publicity stunt of a 72-day marriage to the more common practice of being married in a “Little White Chapel” by a man who claims to be Elvis, one begins to question the value of a commitment to another person. In case those examples didn’t exemplify my point, here’s a new develop in ignorance: Leftist lawmakers in Mexico City are trying to make it possible for newlyweds to avoid divorce by giving them an easy exit strategy, access to temporary marriage licenses. While this is not a piece of legislation that is a part of current American culture, the idea has been planted. Who’s to say this will or will not be put into action in our own country? It’s important that we as a nation stand firm in our belief in commitment and emphasize the stability of our family structures.
The proposed reform would allow couples to determine the length of their marriage, essentially doing away with lifetime commitment. “The proposal is, when the two-year period is up, if the relationship is not stable or harmonious, the contract simply ends,” said Leonel Luna, the Mexico City assemblyman who co-authored the bill. The contracts would include provisions on how children and property would be handled if the couple decides to split after the two years. Why only two years? According to MSNBC, approximately half of Mexico City marriages end in divorce, usually in the first two years.
Do I think if a marriage is miserable that a couple has every right to call it quits? Of course. Do I think marriages should have trial-runs like rental cars or computers do? No, absolutely not. Saying marriage is a trial is saying there is a great chance it will not work out. Think about it: Couples would be walking into a relationship with the preconceived notion that the partnership isn’t even going to work out! If that isn’t a recipe for disaster, I don’t know what is.
Partnership is about knowing how to make decisions together. The decision will be more serious and thoughtful if one has to truly consider the level of commitment and treat the companion as a life partner and not a rent-a-partner. The decision will force individuals to consider the relationship in terms of how the couple argues, makes decisions, shares goals and truly loves each other. “Give it a whirl” is not the basis for a meaningful relationship that withstands time and trends.
You can’t tell me there isn’t going to be devastation and emotional upheaval of the end of a relationship. You will still have some financial distress in terms of things you have purchased together. What if there happens to be a pregnancy? Now a child has been brought into this trial-run, which changes the game completely.
This relationship trial does not work cohesively. There is always the possibility that one person is trying to make it work and the other has just found an easy way out. All relationships have rough patches. If your rough patch happens to fall on the eve of the end of the contract, instead of working through the problem for the better of the family, then that just becomes an escape hatch. Instead of working through something that otherwise would have been a minor problem, the couple may end up making an emotional decision that could end up ruining a life. “In sickness and in health”? The promise of these vows is no longer, because if something gets a little uncomfortable or difficult, have no fear — contract is up!
Children learn by watching, and this proposed law is teaching little children that it’s OK to not be committed, which is not beneficial to future generations and the development of the culture of society. We need to be developing stronger, not weaker, family units. Relationships, people and the children as a result of these relationships are not disposable. We need to focus on building up families by making bonds stronger rather than making it easy to move from one partner to another. It is our responsibility to send a message to other countries, as well, about the value of binding, loving and committed relationships.