Aug 14 2006
Divorce…funny stuff….NO…
Today, I was listening to the Bob and Tom show. I normally like this show, as I think the humor on it is quick, and witty, if sometimes a bit puerile. However, today I heard something that angered me a bit.
Kristi Lee and Chick McGee are personalities on the show that are sometimes PROUD of the fact that they have each had 3 marriages. Chick is still married to his third wife, while Kristi is now single. They often comment on comedians that announce first marriages on the show as being, “cute” or “precious”. They often hint that such relationships are so cute because it soon will degrade into bickering, pettiness, and divorce.
Today, they played a bit from comedian Nich Griffon where he comments that divorce is so common, it’s now the people who stay together for 25 years that are considered weird. Because of my weird memory for conversations, I remember the bit nearly word for word, and will transcribe it here for your edification:
“Yeah, I’m divorced. But you know, I think divorce is so common in this country that it’s the couples who stay together for 25 years who are weird. You hear about those people who have lasted, and it’s like, ‘Yeah, we’ve been together for 25 years.’…’Really?? What went WRONG??? I mean, you know you can get out of that? There’s no reason to suffer needlessly.’”
Meanwhile Bob, Tom and especially Kristi and Chick are laughing their butts off. Hilarious, really. Actually, I don’t think it’s funny at all. It’s sickening and revolting, and this is from someone who actually loves his wife, and would rather be married than not.
I’ll say this: Marriage isn’t for everyone…some people should remain alone for their entire lives, I guess. I wouldn’t presume to be in that group, and I think someone should really consider hard before putting themselves in that group. Most people have the need to be with someone, but I’ve heard that this is a narrow minded view of people. Whatever.
I will say that the attitude of people towards their spouses is really sad these days. I look around, and I see people who dread when their husbands or wives call. Rather than “I love you”, I’ve been told by one woman, it’s more like “Would you go away so I can get back to work??” She laughed at the difference between me talking to my wife on the phone and her talking to her husband. She laughed, but I don’t think she felt like laughing at all. I know I wouldn’t.
Without Kim, I would be less than half the person I am now. Without Kim my life wouldn’t be worth living, I don’t think. I think perhaps we’ve lost that in our relationships. Why don’t we love coming home anymore? I’m sure there’s no quick answer to that question, and I could talk about this for hours. But the fact remains, we don’t love our spouses anymore.
It’s sad…not funny. I feel bad for Nick Griffin. He doesn’t know it, but he’s missing out on one of the only things that can bring true happiness on this earth. Moreover, he’s joking about his tragic lack of maturity, or the ability to “make it work”. Maybe he made a bad choice to begin with. In that case, he’s laughing about his lack of maturity with respect to his ability to think and plan. He loves to joke about his lack of forethought. Seems a strange topic for humor. I didn’t find it funny at all.
Did this article resonate with something inside you? Did it piss you off? Do you agree? Feel free to comment. I’d love to know what you think. I’m not sorry if this article convicted you…I’m not making fun of anything that’s happened in your life. Rather, I lament with you. Who you might want to direct your anger at is the person who wants to make light of your experience. Were you happy when your husband left you? No? Then why be happy when someone makes fun of it? Were you happen when your wife cheated on you? No? Then why is it funny when a comedian who wants to cover for his own depression pokes fun at such things? If you like, go ahead and be angry at me. But before writing your scathing response, think hard about what provoked the emotion. Look back at your relationship and remember why you married them. Never forget that! It can be used as a means to help you remember your mistakes, whatever they may be. Don’t forget.
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