Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Opinion

Legalized Friendships Grant Family-Style Rights

June 16, 2008 10:21 AM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

melting page

broader new policymakers alternative larger model

family circle becomes group of friends

As people become more mobile, spouses change partners and have fewer children, family circle tends to disintegrate. It used to be that family consisted not only of parents and children but also of cousins, grandparents, and grandchildren. Instead of extended family we now have a circle of friends - people not related by blood who are nevertheless very close to us and participate in our daily life, like a family member would a few generations ago.

Alas, but it's hard to explain to school, airline, hospital, employer that these people should have access to us and our kids if we are sick, in trouble or missing, and to call them if an emergency arises. We should be able to give a list of "close persons" to a service provider, so that these people are granted all the privileges traditionally reserved for families.

Hi Bonnie, It seems to be in style these days to get "Married" wether you need it or not....if very good friends want to share their wealth and property etc they can go into a legal partnership and not have to get married..... marriage and childbirth have gone together for a very long time and will definitely stay that way untill mother nature decides that two separate sexes are not necessary anymore, ......as for what "Scholars" are saying, there was a very prominent thinker and philosopher called Bertrand Russell who had a few things to say about marriage and hesaid very clearly that unless you had a great urge to bring children into this world it is not necessary to get married...........cordially .......Steve

Add your thoughts

All comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
U.S. News Weekly

Subscribe Now

Order the new U.S. News Weekly digital magazine at a special low introductory price!

About Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

advertisement

NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

FAVORITES

advertisement

People who read this also read ...

Thomas Jefferson St.

Women Have Say on Health Reform

If it's the year of the women, why are there so few of them?

Turkey Tax

Uncle Sam is joining in on your Thanksgiving dinner.

Ideological Labels Just Don't Fit

Hard-liners don't understand that some of us don't toe an ideological line.

A Decade in Biased Review

How well does the video sum up the last decade?

GOPers Push European-Style Litmus Tests

Some RNC members want strict party platforms. Why do they hate America?

Can Conservative Carly Fiorina Carry Cali?

Ronald Reagan's state is now one of the most liberal in the nation.

Opinions Clash on Wars in Iran, Afghanistan

Fewer favor the effort in Afghanistan, support rises for hostilities against Iran's nuclear program.

Bennet's Senate Seat Is Already at Risk

His vote on healthcare would be less a case of political martyrdom than it may seem.

Cartoon Gallery

Editorial Cartoon

Political Cartoons

Check out our most recent cartoons.

Public Opinion

Should the GOP Have a Litmus Test?

Should the RNC exclude politicians who don't match the party's platform?

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
Make USNews.com your home page.