Begun on April Fools’ Day 2024
Is it — April Fools’ Day — the day of foolery for many?
Or, is it April Fool’s Day — a day for the Fool?
Or, is it many Fools having a day of foolery?
All-of which leads me to the topics of marriage, and its counterpart, divorce — twin social dynamics of tomfoolery!
Being married is becoming more and more of an unenviable task — particularly when one realizes how many “holy” unions are ended by the inability to resolve irreconcilable differences.
I never realized that the latent function* of marriage was the reconciling of irreconcilable differences.
Is this the unwritten task of marriage? That two people going into marriage recognize that they have differences that they will need to be ironed out during their time together? *A latent function in sociology is an unintended consequence or outcome of an activity or social system. Latent functions are effects that are undesirable.
What a horrible chore this marriage state seems to be — what with latent functions springing up to put a damper on loving — which in turn — put a damper on sex.
I mean, isn’t that why we all get married (well at least most men) — because we think we’ll have a lifetime of free sex?
Muhammad was on to something when he tapped into eternity and promised 72 virgins to warriors who died in the name of Allah. He knew this contract (dying for Allah) would create fearless warriors who could take on Christians (whose warriors were only promised eternal salvation and to sit on the right hand of Jesus). Who’s the Fool here?
Islam is the much sexier religion — what with polygamy and then, 72 virgins to last eternity (still don’t quite know how this one works). And though I’ve never interviewed a Muslim Man regarding these interesting dynamics — I am betting that dealing with irreconcilable differences is the least of his worries (if he has any at all).
This irreconcilable differences shit seems to come wholly from Christianity — where couples still insist on having wedding blasts that will see 50% of them ending in divorce and broken families.
While not all grounds for divorce are of the irreconcilable differences type — if you think about it — at one point in time this couple; this loving dyad — were willing to overlook facets of the other that they didn’t agree with.
Then — at some point — those nasty differences become more discernible, and, intolerable for one (or both) parties. Don’t ask me what these couples couldn’t solve (though they invariably try to solve the differences with other players [(often called an [‘affair’]) — which suggests that the sex wasn’t as good as it was in the early innings.
Such is the allure and power of that aforementioned “free” sex! Just ask Tori Spelling!
So…marriage is for Fools…or are Fools for marriage…or is marriage just a Fool’s game???