Another benchmark on our march to obscurity

An article just came out listing the latest government figures for childbirth, and it isn't pretty. For every ten births in the United States last year, almost four of them were to an unwed mother. The overall rate for out-of-wedlock births in our country for 2005 was 37%. Unfortunately, the article did not give a racial breakdown, because it is well known that the rate is much higher for certain sub-groups.

My wife and I often observe that our children are a minority: they live with and are being raised by both parents who are married to each other and also have never been previously married. That used to be the norm; now it is quickly becoming the exception. You can't tell me that this massive demographic shift doesn't take its toll on this country's children. Children thirst for stability. When there aren't two parents at home in a committed relationship, the stress on that child can be severe.

As a teacher, when I make phone calls home, I usually have to look up the student's information to look up the number and the name of the parent(s). It has gotten to the point where I am surprised when there are two parents listed, both with the same last name as their child; I don't see it very often. Most of the time, only the mother is listed, and the mother usually has a different last name than the student. Even when a father is listed, the mother and father have a different last name than the student, telling me that the mother divorced or left the biological father and married a new guy.

Are there exceptions to all of this? Can a child have a stable and loving home even in the face of illegitimacy and divorce? Of course. Can a child have a miserable life being raised by both biological parents? Of course. But that is the point; those examples are exceptions. The standard that works best is and shall ever more be, two married biological parents who are committed to each other and to their children. The less stable the household, the more social pathology one sees emanating from the people in those households; from both adults and children.

Some people get defensive when I point this out, but I know the truth can hurt even though it is still the truth. Until this country re-embraces the concept of morality and commitment in the raising of our children, we will continue this downward slide toward barbarism.

Good Day to You, Sir