Divorce, Adultery and Mayhem

I'm a compulsive news-reader. Maybe it's an addiction. I just like to know what's going on in the world.

The last few days have been pretty sad news-reading days. There's been a much-more-than-fair share of violence and protests, on top of accidents. Add to that Steve Jobs' new liver and I'm sure that some bottom rung overnight new typists have been working hard.

What has bothered me most this week, however, have been two cases of highly publicized adultery. First, there was Jon & Kate Gosslin, who decided to "call it quits" after 10 years of marriage, because it's what's best for their children. Since when is it best for children to lead two separate lives, one with each parent? Divorce is not best for their children. It's what seems best for themselves right now. Getting out of a relationship that has hit a hard patch and renounce a covenant they entered into 10 years ago by walking onto a courthouse and arranging the paperwork? Nothing easier than that, apparently.

I hold a firm belief against divorce, except for cases of domestic violence and repeated adultery. But I'm not about to impose my belief system on someone else. However, I hope, no, wish fervently, that they have the sense to retreat into some much-needed privacy so their eight children (please, stop calling them kids, it sounds diminutive) can adjust to their new lives privately and NOT in front of a camera with the whole world watching.

The other instance of adultery was Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina. First he simply disappeared at the end of the legislative session, and his staff said he went to hike the Appalachian trail. I thought "good for him! I hope he gets some quiet time to himself". Then they redacted that statement, and not even his wife knew where he'd gone. Then he said he went to Argentina to visit Buenos Aires, which he said was a beautiful city. A few hours later he admitted to an affair with an Argentinian woman.

Did he really think he could disappear for a week, not telling his wife where he went, without causing some sort of stir? Apparently he admitted (privately, I can only assume) to the affair five months ago. Are we to believe that he simply continued his affair? The man had to fly to a different continent to see this woman. He didn't just bump into her again at the store after not seeing her for several months. No. A trip to Argentina is something very intentional (and planned. and pricey.).

So there. Two highly publicized cases of adultery. I'm glad the governor of SC admitted to his affair (at least he tells the truth, part of the time?), and I can only hope that the Gosslins somehow realize that they need to step out of the limelight, because, after all, they're only doing what's best for their children.