Being what it has become, the world today has no problem at all with much of anything- and our focus on our personal gratification has come to be of the utmost importance in the planning of our lives. However- isn't there a core idea in the Constitution that, your rights end, where another person's begin? Where does that leave our children? How is it that parents are fully within their rights to drag their own children through the hellish and psychologically damaging experience that characterizes divorce?

Isn't it just a little bit too easy? I can speak on this subject with less stigma because my parents are, in fact, not divorced and obnoxiously in love. Therefore, I live in terror of becoming a Divorced Person, not living in a happy-ever-after fairytale like my parents. It's insanity that that should be a fear to have- but it's absolutely justified, considering that at least half of married couples divorce.

As if to prove my point, as I write this, I just received a text message from the guy I'm currently dating. It reads: "So, I think my parents are going to settle it up in court tomorrow."

How is this so casual that it can be sent in a text message this way? Am I the only person that finds this disturbing? I have dated several guys from ugly divorce situations, and I will be the first to say that dating someone from that kind of situation, is particularly difficult. Although many are more damaged than others, there's often a subtle edge, a kink, if you will, in their belief system about love. Some shove it away, while others try to maintain The Perfect Relationship, clinging to it so hard that it damages itself. When I encounter people like this (which is often, obviously), I can't help but feel somewhat enraged that this was allowed to happen to them, that people are so wrapped up in their own desires that they completely disregard everyone around them. I've seen nice people turn into absolute monsters over getting every piece of revenge they can on their soon-to-be ex-spouse. A person getting a divorce is often so focused on winning that they're practically bloodthirsty. I've seen happy families unravel at the first hint of disappointment.

Don't get me wrong- I'm not saying that there's never a good reason for divorce. I'm also not saying that every divorce ends in disaster- I'm sure there are many that are handled quite gracefully. However, it seems these days that any rough patch is cause enough for ripping apart families, separating children, and ruining finances. As well as damaging your children's ideas on love and relationships for years to come. The ease with which people throw divorce on the table shows an ugly, uncivilized side of our nature as a people.

Is it worth it? If the person you married is so unbearable, I ask you- what caused you to marry them in the first place?

Things that came to mind while I wrote this:

Two movies:

The Break-Up (Widescreen Edition)
In the Land of Women