December 29, 2009

Banality of Divorce

Personally, I think marriage and divorce are societal inventions that have really little actual meaning left in them these days. If approximately 50% (or 51%) of marriages end in divorce, is it really meaningful or worth it to get married in the first place? Especially since most marriages end in the first 5 years? I don't know. But while reading this article, it just brought up some questions on whether or not marriages and divorces have just become social banalities today.

Happy Christmas honey - here's a divorce voucher
LONDON (Reuters) – Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? Is your marriage or a friend's going through a rocky patch? How about a divorce voucher?
In an unusual take on the season of giving, a London law firm is offering Christmas gift vouchers for divorce advice.
The firm, Lloyd Platt & Company, which normally charges 325 pounds ($530) an hour, said it had been swamped with enquiries since it launched the vouchers early last week.
So far, more than 60 have been sold -- a snip at 125 pounds for a half hour session with a divorce lawyer.
The firm's founder, Vanessa Lloyd Platt, said she had been amazed at the response to the vouchers. "They seem to appeal to an enormously widespread spectrum of people looking for that 'must have' gift for Christmas," she said.
A spokesman for the Church of England called the vouchers sad.
"Divorce is a very personal matter and not really suitable for the idea of gift vouchers which are presents from other people," he said.
Demand for the vouchers could soar over the next few weeks.
Christmas tends to be a particularly stressful time for families, with a huge rise in people seeking advice each January, Lloyd Platt said.
(Reporting by Elizabeth Fullerton; Editing by Steve Addison)

Today's Random Quiz:
You Are Dependable and Trustworthy

You approach the holidays with drive and determination.

You're usually the one who does all of the organizing and work.

You love being in charge of Christmas dinner, decorating the tree, and picking out presents.

You know that everything will be perfect, as long as you're the one behind the wheel.

Of all the types, you're the most likely to search far and wide to find the best deal on the gifts you give.

You're also the most likely to have a very detailed system for how you wrap and label presents.


No comments: