"Whither Marriage"

So this week, CBC News Sunday had a report about the decline in marriages from a few years ago. And personally, I find a lot of problems with this.

First of all, the report tells us that last year, "51.5% of the population age 15 and up had never been married, divorced, seperated, or widowed". Now I don't know about you, but how many 15, 16, 17, and 18 year-olds do you know who've gotten married? Or divorced? Or even widowed for that matter!! So obviously, when factor in anyone ages 15-20 who have more than likely never been in a legally-bonding relationship, your statistics are going to be low.

Then this Barbara Kay woman goes on to tell us how we're having less kids, because we're marrying less, and that in turn is leading to a population decrease. Which in fact may be true, but there are certainly lots of unmarried couples who have kids and a lot of married couples who don't have kids. So marriage doesn't always lead to having babies! Which doesn't mean we aren't "thinking about the future at all".

So Ann Marie then goes to tell us how we aren't necessarially "rejecting marriage" but in fact are a more self-aware society and know what it is we want in life and states that single people "just want to make sure it's right" and that they "want to be with the right person" so they can relax and "live in the present", which I couldn't agree more with!

Then Barbara goes on to tell us that single people are selfish and that you're truly happy when you're with someone else. And that when you have kids you're fulfilling your potential. Which I can't say I agree with, because that's kind of like saying you can't be happy without a family. But I personally know many couples who have been with each other for decades, who don't have children, who are very happy. Basically Barbara digs herself a hole she can't get out of because I can't agree with her at all.

Basically I believe that there isn't a subconcious thought for wanting or not wanting kids. I just think and believe that some people do really want to get married, and some really don't. Some people strongly would like children, and some people strongly do not. Whether or not it's for the right or wrong reason, people are different, and we just need to recognize that and not judge.