Jon and Kate, Public Officials and You?

Townhall.com ^ | June 30, 2009 | Rebecca Hagelin

[Kaslin]

From "reality show" stars like Jon and Kate, to politicians, to the folks next door - what we thought were the most solid of marriages are falling apart.

Viewers tuned in to TLC's "Jon and Kate Plus 8" because it gave them hope that it's still possible to have a big, happy family led by a mom and dad who overcome all odds due to their undying commitment to each other. (Now that Jon and Kate are getting divorced, you would think that they, or TLC, or show executives would pull the plug on the program so the children can at least suffer in privacy. But, alas, it seems that everyone is willing to cash-in on exploiting the little lives and hearts as their emotions unfold before a national audience. This is the most disgusting abuse of television we've ever seen. Our own family refuses to sit and gawk as this real-life family emplodes - I hope you will ban the show in your own home too.) Others supported political leaders who we thought would fight to uphold timeless values, including the institution of marriage. Many of us are now feeling a bit sick to our stomachs at revelations of infidelity - and are beginning to wonder if there's any real hope left for this sacrament called marriage.

Our toxic, liberal media culture will tell you that the "old-fashioned" institution of marriage must be abandoned or reinvented with the times. This laissez fare and often hostile attitude feeds the selfishness at the root of all marital ills. Many people now casually shrug their shoulders and decide in advance that if they aren't happy in marriage they will just walk away. It's time to obliterate this cavalier attitude toward the most sacred of relationships.

Marriage is vitally important to both our personal and national health. Consider this stunning trend: in 1950, for every 100 babies that were born in this country, 12 were born to a broken family; today, for every 100 babies that are born in America, 60 are born to a broken family. If we continue along this trajectory, our nation is doomed. The family unit has always been the basic building block of civil society. If you damage the DNA of the family unit, you end up radically changing the nation as a whole, and with tragic consequences. Not least among them are the broken hearts and lives of our children.

Fidelity, commitment and selflessness are timeless values that we must uphold in our own lives -- regardless of who else may have trouble doing so. They are the keys to having strong, happy individuals and strong, happy families. The social science data is clear: men, women and children are all better off financially and emotionally when they are part of an intact family unit where mom and dad are fully committed to each other. (Visit The Heritage Foundation's www.FamilyFacts.org for more information.)

We know in our hearts this is true. Yet how many of us really work or sacrifice to make our own marriages strong? We're willing to give our "all" to our jobs and even our hobbies. So why not start spending as much time on building your relationship with your spouse as you do on your favorite TV shows and sports? Can you imagine how vastly improved your marriage would be if you put even half the energy into it that you put into your career?

And if you need professional help, please get it. Forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration are as important as fidelity and commitment - and there are counselors who can help guide you and your spouse to embrace them. Just make sure yours believes in biblical guidelines and is determined to help you save your marriage. A good place to find one is www.FamilyLife.com.

It is an amazingly beautiful experience to be married to a man who is fully committed to me and who I know loves me unconditionally. But there is something even more fulfilling than having a faithful mate: Being the person that my husband can depend on. Being the one who says, "I have your back. You can count on me. I will always love you."

Vow today, anew, to become that person. Refuse to give up or to abandon the heart that trusted you with theirs.

[Vermont Lt]

If anyone could remain married to “Kate” it would prove that men have become totally emasculated. She is a nasty one.

[BornToBeAmerican]

Yes, Kate needs a major attitude adjustment.

[SouthDixie]

I had never heard of this show until they started plastering them all over the news.
Like a train wreck I had to look and was about as impressed as the reality show about metermaids.

[burroak]

Since you had never heard of the show, my cynical opinion may carry some weight.
The only way for this train wreck to keep running is to have a possible life altering event to be injected over which gets resolved by reuniting - permitting the show to run into infinity, with each of the little girls marrying a dufus and practicing all of the emasculating skills taught by their shrew of a mother.
At this point, the story line has hit the fallow years, not much going on. The story line must leave the kids until they get to those troublesome years times 8.

A divorce will just kill the show for the long run.

[rusureitflies?]

yup, think the same...kate just isn’t the incubator i’d choose to live my life with.... like, where’s the love? TV really prowls in the dregs.. more folks seeking truth from the godless and there’s no way that’ll satisfy the soul..

[PeanutbutterandJellybean]

TLC is nothing more than a “ratings whore.” They sensationalize this garbage just to get people to tune in. I read that soon, (if not already, I no longer watch) Jon's girlfriend, (another money grubber) will make an appearance on the show. Maybe there wouldn't have been a divorce, if there wasn't all of this fame, notoriety, and money. Jon and Kate couldn't handle it. It's all me, me, me, and "woe is me." All they see now is stars and $$$. What family really wants the world to know all the intimate details of their lives? This is all about the MONEY, for the production company, TLC and for the Gosling's. The money has gone to their heads, and the children are the means to make that money. The children have nothing close to a normal childhood. Meanwhile, there are 8 children who are slowly turning into spoiled, narcissistic, obnoxious brats, who in 20 years will be on a shrinks couch because nobody is tuning in to watch the minutia of their day to day lives. Maybe when this series dies out, tune in for the next one, the meltdown and destruction of their lives.

[AAABEST]

The show was a train-wreck waiting to happen.

Completely unnatural procreation between two self-centered, neurotic parents, with the interjection of a media circus and lots of money.

The deplorable parents are everything that's wrong with modern couples. Jon is an immasculated, wussy weakling, metrosexual and Kate was a greedy wannabe jet-setter and insufferable nut-crushing nag who thought she could have it all. Then to boot, they both - according to reports - go and carry on adulterous relationships.

Then they have the nerve to pat themselves on the back on national TV, telling everyone how they put their children first. If these frauds cared about their kids, they wouldn't have put them through all of what they did.

I just feel so badly for those poor little innocent kids. They're the losers in all of this and will have to suffer greatly because of the actions of their pathetic, lost parents.

[shorty_harris]

I had never heard of this show until they started plastering them all over the news.

Same here. I watch very little television (and certainly not this junk), yet I've heard of this show. It's part of popular culture, and you can't escape it. So much for "Don't like it? Don't watch it!". It's not easy to ignore.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Just think...teenaged angst x 8.....

[Vermont Lt]

Several years ago my wife and I had horrible “issues.” We spent a lot of time working on our communication, listening, respect, and appreciation for each other. In the 15 years of marriage top that point we had no fights. Nada. None.

My wife was NOTHING like Kate...but we worked hard at getting through it. At first I was ready to pack it in, but I loved my wife and kids.

7 years later I am more in love with my than ever. She saved me. I really believed that God was working through her for me. And I was not a religious guy, then.

TV is not the real world. A reality TV show of our lives would have been long and boring. Incremental changes cannot come through a 13 week season. AND many people today do not have the patience to work. And they have egos too large to allow them to get help. And they are too afraid to accept God’s existence and to step out of themselves and see him in action.

TV is good for cartoons and football. Aside from that it is too easy to get sucked into crap.

[blam]

They didn’t ask us for money to support their eight kids...they’ve got that going for them.

[laotzu]

Outstanding! Truly.

My compliments.

[Tax-chick]

... it's still possible to have a big,reasonably happy family led by a mom and dad who overcome all odds due to their undying commitment to their children, even during periods when they weren't speaking to each other , and not only that, it's very expensive to split up.