Livin’ on the Fault Line

We have a new proposal at the Virginia General Assembly courtesy of Del. Bob Marshall (R-13) (as if giving us a bill providing specific definitions of “carnal knowledge” weren’t interesting enough) to prohibit no fault divorce for couples with minor children.

Here’s a link: http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2007/hb2798/

Now I’m all for doing everything we can to keep families together, and I also hate seeing children hurt. I know that it causes pain and trauma to children when one of the people they love, whom they’ve grown accustomed to living with, isn’t a regular member of the household any more (even if custody is shared). But I’m just not convinced that allowing one party to hold another hostage in what might be a combative arrangement is the right approach for the parents or the children. There ought to be more creative solutions to promote family stability and to discourage divorce when possible but at the moment I haven’t seen any more plausible solutions offered.

In the 1960’s “fault” was required for a divorce to be granted throughout the country I suppose. I know this from the education in family law I received from a popular television show called “Divorce Court” which I and my friends would watch after school in our early teens. Actual (supposedly) divorce cases were reenacted by actors playing the parts of the parties to the divorce action. I learned about adultery, and abandonment and when all else failed and someone still wanted out, there was the ever popular “mental cruelty” which was proven by the hysterical and heartbroken partiipants in the drama.

I hadn’t thought about it in decades, but when I heard about the “fault” bill I remembered that my friends and I used to “play” Divorce Court during slumber parties. We composed elaborate skits in which we made up sordid details of fictitious dysfunctional marriages. While one of us played the heartbroken betrayed wife, another would play the sassy, defiant and scantily clad mistress who prissed up to the “witness box” pursuant to subpoena. It was great fun.

Yes, little girls, take heart. If this bill passes you can read all about the private lives of people (as played out in open court) right there in all the papers. And you’ll never have to be bored at a sleepover again.

aprilacain copyright 2007

~ by vjp on January 15, 2007.