To Marry or Not To Marry--Is That Really A Question?

With all the news about Warren Jeffs lately, in addition to a comment in the news by Hugh Hefner concerning his relationship with Holly Madison and company, and the acrobatics surrounding Britney Spears, my mind has turned, on several occasions, to pondering the . . . stupidity (for lack of a more appropriate word) of Americans. Now, I believe that the polygamist circumstances Warren Jeffs has formulated in Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah is abusive, wrong and illegal. However, is there something worse in the near-comical, sex-centric, non-committal attitudes of American "monogamists" these days?

Hugh Hefner considers himself a monogamist (despite living with three women--go figure). Hefner, along with his counterparts, may very well fit the definition of a novelistic, back-stabbing leech. He has dedicated his lifetime to devaluing women (no, there is nothing glorious or right in selling your chastity for a monetary price--for a valuable woman is worth more than gold), opening wide the path that leads to adultery, promoting addiction to pornography and taking advantage of "the little guy;" all at the expense of ill-spent finances, lost marriages, abusive acts, misguided people, less-than-desirable expectations and never-ending tragedy. He stealthily sends images of women into the minds of vulnerable youth. He is a sophisticated sleaze bucket, proverbially disguised in sheep's clothing. If he were to hear these things, would he care? Of course not. At present, it is generally accepted that every Hollywoodian and their counterpart has a naysayer who they can choose to ignore by taking advantage of their freedom of speech as a shield of justification for subversion and, more specifically, a man overcome by money knows no remorse.

What does that have to do with Warren Jeffs? Well, when it comes to polygamy, there is a sense of disgust with a man who would sleep with several women--heaven forbid Hefner, and myriads of other men, sleep with more than one woman!--and true, the problems with polygamy escalate when young women/children are involved. Notwithstanding, in the case of adulthood, here's the dilemma: since when did a marital contract (in essence, a piece of paper) determine that though a man be bound contractually--or, in Hefner's case non-contractually "committed"--to one woman, he can inconsequentially live with several more and proclaim to be a monogamist? Will the day arrive when the other women in such a man's life be given life insurance and health coverage as would be the case in a polygamist relationship? Sure it will--in fact that day is already here. If you're as astute as Hefner, simply start a business and insure the women in your life under the business name without claiming any obligation to them emotionally. Is he smart or is the court system simply superficially inconsistent (see my previous post)? Either way, Hefner's attempt to escape the titles of Polygamist and Adulterer is hypocritical at best.

Such sophistry of men has sadly trickled into the lives of what would otherwise be successful individuals--such as Britney Spears. Perceptions are skewed, market of moral values is having a 70% off sale and many continue to find themselves dissatisfied with the ones they "used to" love. It seems that there is a massive misunderstanding when it comes to what marriage entails. Though governments may allow people living together to become this or that, one thing remains--no matter how you display or portray it, marriage is the only bond that defines a true man or woman willing to work to love one another. Alas, as we continue to condone the actions of pitiful, non-committal men and gutless women to counteract, globally and nationally, we will continue to see men and women hold at arm's length the commitment of a lifetime--marriage. In the end, persons avoiding that commitment will continue to shrivel into their cave of self-gratification and low-class acceptance of their failure to become loving men and women.

Ultimately, would you rather rub shoulders with a polygamist man who has the decency to keep promises, offer commitment and work through the hard times as opposed to a man who marries one woman with the intent to hoard more for personal gratification and perhaps leverage? I'll stick to the middle, the Meridian if you will, and remain married to one woman, my dream come true, and courageously practice fidelity to her forever.