226 DIVorCe wItH DeCenCY
divorce rates have quadrupled; the percentage of children living
in single-parent homes has tripled; the teenage suicide rate is up
200 percent; and average SAT scores have dropped almost eighty
points.
Bennett argues that America’s children are now in pretty bad
shape. He feels they have been victimized by the cultural trends
of easy and acceptable divorce and the rapidly spiraling rates of
illegitimate births and the accelerated movement toward single-
parent households. Both Mr. Bennett and the Bush administration
continually contend that the lack of adequate male role models
in modern “single mom” households is a huge problem for our
society in general and for its poorer elements in particular.
I read a fascinating article on this topic in Atlantic magazine,
which seemed to hit the nail right on the head when it concluded:
“After decades of public dispute about so-called family diversity,
the evidence from social-science research is coming in: The dis-
solution of two-parent families, though it may benefit the adults
involved, is harmful to many children, and dramatically under-
mines our society.”
America is not alone—meet “Flash Divorce” Chinese style. As we
bemoan the demise of our traditional American family and social
structure due to the dreaded “divorce disease,” perhaps we can
at least draw some solace from the fact that we Americans are
not alone. Let’s take a look at China, which seems to be setting
the tone for the “fast forwarding” of everything from economic
development to social trends. Modernization and materialism
seem to be causing rapidly accelerating divorce trends in China.
In fact, a look at the recent radical change in China’s attitudes
toward marriage may be an insightful eye-opener and predictor
of marriage’s future worldwide.
Divorce in China has gone from being shameful and illegal
to becoming a snappy court proceeding. Breaking up is fittingly
uncomplicated to do in China nowadays. The forward-thinking
unhappy couples in China have taken a progressive route through
their legal proceedings with a method known as “Flash Divorce.”
Even the government has now accepted the trend by simplifying
the process. As of 2003, the Chinese government streamlined the
divorce process from being a months-long ordeal to a quick spin