Buchanan on Marriage and Divorce

Re “‘Culture Change Begins With Divorce Laws,” Column Right, Aug. 14:

In the midst of my own “no-fault” divorce, it is infuriating to read of Pat Buchanan’s advocacy of ever-more government interference in the personal lives of Americans.

Emotionally and financially, a marriage--at least in California--is hardly broken up “as easily as a junior high romance.” After six years of trying and failing, in doing my bit to “preserve a society,” another year of separation and having no children or property to complicate the divorce, I am still faced with self-doubt, anger, a loss in self-esteem and the prospect of a contested settlement.

Where was ol’ Pat when we were saying the “I do’s”? If divorce is the thoughtless and irresponsible whim of a ‘60s hedonist such as myself that needs to be regulated by righteous Southerners in North Carolina, Florida and Louisiana, then by equally specious reasoning, shouldn’t the freedom of marriage itself be revisited?

MARTIN G. MUTSCH

Anaheim

* Bravo to Buchanan for his spirited defense of the American family. I heartily agree with his assessment that all too many people in our society view the sacred rite of marriage with about the same solemnity as a date to the junior prom.

This attitude has of course been encouraged by the shenanigans of many of our public idols--movie stars, sports figures, moguls of industry and high government officials. Impressionable young people are certainly set a poor example by the highly publicized carrying on of those like Elizabeth Taylor, Dennis Rodman, Donald Trump and national leaders who certainly should know better, like Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole and Ronald Reagan.

EARL CARTER

Beverly Hills

* Buchanan makes a huge mistake in applauding the North Carolina jury’s decision to penalize one participant in an adulterous affair, while ignoring the husband’s role. The husband made the choice to break his wedding vows, and if anyone is to be punished, it is him. If this is Buchanan’s idea of a religious revival, where all guilty parties do not have to be held responsible for their actions, I fail to see what moral ground he stands on.

RANDALL J. BARNES

La Jolla