Yesterday my husband and I were driving by and this is what it read:
"Marriage is God's protection for women and children."
WTF?? It took us a full moment for that to sink in. My husband and I kind of looked at one another and did the whole squinty eye thing, wondering if we'd read that correctly.
This sign absolutely infuriated me. What was this church trying to say, that women and children are vulnerable unless they have a big strong man to protect them? Or was it a more religious sign, meaning women who bear children outside of wedlock will be shunned? I couldn't figure it out, and the more I tried, the more angry I became.
So, what do YOU think this sign meant to say? I'm curious about different takes on this, and promise not to argue with ANY opinion. I'm a pretty laid back kind of gal :-)
4 comments:
Hi Angie,
I think the sign means to say that single mothers and children without their dad in the home so often suffer financially and time-wise. Single parenting is so tough. Children need a father, and though a woman alone is fully capable, once she has children she sure could use a hand. Fathers need to do more than procreate and leave. The sign definitely didn't mean the "shunning" thing.
Thank you for your insight Marcia! I had not gone there with my trying to reason the saying out. I think it was the word "protection" that threw me for a complete loop.
Geesh! If that's the motivation for marriage, it's a wonder there aren't more divorces. Sure, family cares for each other -- "protects" if you wish. The problem with the statement is it's so one directional and almost judgemental of single parents.
Judgmental is a very good word to describe my initial reaction, Jim. I felt it was "talking down" to single mothers. Thanks for stopping by!
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