Some Say Love...

Some Say Love...

I agree with Whelan's article, Pure Sex, Pure Love: Stop Looking for Your Soul Mate! I think single people today build up great anticipation to find "the one." They expect their soul mate to be perfect. That puts pressure on a relationship from the start. If people are seeking perfection in a significant other, they can give up looking now. I think committed relationships should contain trust, respect, similar values and beliefs, and future plans. I do not think one person should be your "everything." If a person is concerned with finding a soul mate, they will always question if the person they married truly is "the one." The Song Down By The Water by The Drums expresses the message of love being there for you when you need it most. The chorus says, "if you fall asleep down by the water, baby I'll carry you all the way home." The song also holds the message of loving the same person forever. I think marriage is a permanent bond that should only be broken in extreme cases. The song Ho Hey, by the Lumineers, holds a similar message in saying, "I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart." It implies the lovers are soul mates but does not seem obsessive or perfect. My favorite song, King and Lionheart, by Of Monsters and Men discusses a strong love where the two stick together through all challenges. "And as the world comes to an end, I'll be here to hold your hand, cause your my king and I'm your lionheart." They promise their love will stay the same in difficult times. In the song I Will Follow You Into The Dark  by Death Cab for Cutie, a similar message exists. The singer vows to stand with his love after death. He describes their deep love and says it will never die. In The Ballad of You and I by Melee, the singer relates love to a song that is constantly with him. "Every day that comes, every year gone by, lies the Ballad of you and I." I think the best love songs are about passion and togetherness. In all of these songs, long-term relationships are described. None of the songs reference sex or partying. They focus on true love that withstands time. 

The Changing Face of Marriage

The Changing Face of Marriage   

I grew up in a stable household with two married parents. We went to church every Sunday. My parents taught me about God and the Church from an early age. The domestic church was apart of our family from the beginning. I think children should grow up in stable houses and be taught religion from their parents. However, I know this is not an option for many families in America. My family has had a huge influence on my personality. It has shaped me into the person I am today. I am thankful that I grew up with such an amazing family. My Aunt was a single mother for 12 years. I know she struggled to provide for my cousins and blamed herself for not providing the ideal life. I think children are better off in stable, two parent households. In some cases this is not an option. If one parent if is not invested in the family or cannot provide for a child, he or she will not be able to raise the child. 

  

I think it is interesting that divorce rates are lower for college graduates. I plan on finishing college and would like to get married one day. I do not think many people plan on getting divorced before having kids. In most situations, the divorce occurs after the kids are grown. If I get married, I will only seek a divorce if it is the only option. I want my children to grow up the same way I did. I also do not think children should be victims to multiple marriages. In many cases, divorced parents get remarried. I think this would confuse children because then they would have a new parent and possibly even stepsiblings. 

I think the best environment to raise a child in is a family with two dedicated parents.

Marriage and Vatican II
50 years ago, Bishops met in Rome to update Church teachings with modern society. The issue of marriage played a large role in the council and is in question today (para. 8). Marriage is sacred to the Church and is seen as a noble vocation (para. 10-11). Today, the Church's teachings on marriage are being challenged (para. 17). Gay marriage is not accepted in the Catholic Church. Many liberal Americans are advocates for gay rights. Media today openly accepts homosexuals. Shows like Ellen or The New Normal receive high ratings as homosexuality is generally accepted in America. Currently, the national government does not recognize gay marriage. Few states accept it. Slowly but surely, gay rights in America have increase. "Don't ask, don't tell" was recently repealed allowing homosexuals to serve freely in the armed forces. President Obama expressed his support for LGBT to prepare for the up-coming election; he is the first presidential candidate to do so. The Catholic Church works to maintain traditional values when it comes to marriage (para. 24). The teachings of Vatican II on marriage do not coincide with today's society.

Dating: What's the point?

Dating: What's the point?

I do not think that dating is "practice for divorce." I think people date to discover themselves. As a relationship progresses, daters can learn what they want/expect in a good marriage. However, I think there is a big difference between casual hook ups and dating relationships. The word dating suggests some form of commitment and mutual interest. Hooking up is usually meaningless and does not last in the long run. The article by Christine Whelan suggests hooking up is an ambiguous term. Very few people surveyed believe hook ups lead to relationships. The majority of those surveyed believe they do not lead to anything and are just casual. I think people seek relationships for companionship or a deeper form of friendship.