American Family: A Rant

Some of the stuff I was reading for sociology really got my blood a'boilin', so I just really want to get this out of my system. Pass it on if you agree with me.

If you know me at all, you probably know I come from a happy (albeit mentally unstable) family. My parents have been together over 25 years. By now, they've discovered pretty much every possible way to piss one another off. They also know how to forgive and forget, how to work things out and do what's best for the family. They know how to think about more than just themselves; to remember that through thick and thin, come hell or high water, they are in this together to the end. They also apparently remember that every good fight deserves good makeup sex. Ew. :x

That said, it amazes me how many people are still getting divorced these days. And it's not even the divorce itself that pisses me off; it's the constant bickering and fighting that continues afterward. Take custody battles: how often do the parents in these situations actually fight for custody of their kids simply because they love them and want to be a part of their lives? Not often, as far as I've seen. Many divorced couples will squabble with each other in lengthy legal battles over the kids purely because they ran out of other shit to fight over. Seriously, are these people aware that their kids are living, breathing things? This is not a car or a record collection you people are fighting over; they're people.

Guys, listen carefully to me: at his core, a real man should do more than look out for #1. A real man looks after himself and his own. A real man cares for his family no matter what. Now, if you got divorced and fought for custody of your kids because you thought that was what's best for them, and because you love them and care about their well-being and their future, then you are a real man. If you fought over custody of your kids just to fuck with your ex-wife, you are not a man. Pull your head out of your ass and grow the fuck up.

In Sociology class right now, we're talking about the changing definition of a family in America. Now, to me, a family has always meant the same thing: it's a group of people who love and take care of one another. A divorced couple locked in a lengthy custody battle for the ultimate title of biggest ego is not a family; it is a couple of selfish pricks with exploited, neglected kids who will most likely grow up to be either arsonists or pedophiles.

Then comes the whole child support thing. Frankly, I think the system is broken. It was probably based on a good idea, but now it's just a tool for ex-wives to torment their ex-husbands with. How often does that money even go to the kids? Not often enough, as far as I can tell. Many divorced dads still spend time with their kids, too, buying them clothes and gifts, taking them shopping or out to dinner and so on. Does any of that count toward their mandatory "child support"? Fuck no, it doesn't. Why? Because, according to judges, those expenses were "voluntary", and thus don't count toward their mandatory support payments. If that previous sentence makes logical sense to you, please go slam you head in a car door.

All I want to know is, what the fuck happened to good old families in America? I'm not even saying it has to be a wife, a husband, two kids, a dog and a white picket fence. I'm just saying, people need to look out for each other. When you get married, it's no longer just about you; it's about 'us'. That's what marriage was invented for. Unfortunately, so many people ignore the meaning of the vows they arbitrarily take when they get married. For most, I think comedian Corey Holcomb's vows are more appropriate.

We are gathered here today to unite this fool's bank account into this woman's possession. If there is anybody here who thinks they can talk some sense into this fool, let him speak now or forever say it behind their back.

Do you, fool, promise to make this woman out to be everything she ain't, until hatred, loss of appetite and depression do you part?

How about you, young lady? Do you promise to show this fool what an angry woman, and a corrupt child support system to do to somebody's self-esteem?

Then, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you future enemies.