[Newspoetry] happy marriages and unhappy divorces

[Andrea Van Proyen]

Submitted in response and outrage to Mona Charen editorial:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/monacharen/mc20020719.shtml

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In an effort to beef up Homeland Security, the Bush administration today 
announced that it was closing all shelters for "supposed" abused and 
abandoned women and children. This action was in response to what the 
administration called the "indisputable findings" of the Institute for 
American Values that "women who flee to shelters just don't have what it 
takes to make a man happy."

"The family is the reason we want to make our homeland secure," said Gov. 
Tom Ridge, Director of Homeland Security, "and we just can't tolerate a 
bunch of whiny woman who didn't get what they expected from marriage 
contributing to its decline." Ridge quoted President Bush's address on 
compassionate conservatism in which he said "By encouraging family, we 
practice compassion."

Ridge also cited a further study by the Institute that found a direct 
correlation between how unhappy a man was in his marriage and how likely he 
was to turn to terrorism. "Maybe if those Afghan women were better wives we 
wouldn't be fighting this war."

Ridge denied allegations that the Institute for American Values has any 
connection to the Bush government. He described it as mere coincidence that 
President and Mrs. Bush keep a copy of "The Book of Marriage," by the 
Institute's president David Blankenhorn, by their bedside. Ridge would not 
confirm or deny that the Bushes twin daughters have read "Hooking Up, 
Hanging Out, and Hoping for Mr. Right," also by Blankenhorn.

All shelters will be closed as of December 31, 2002. Stiff fines will be 
imposed on any one found to be providing aid to woman and children in flight.

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Thank you for your consideration.

Andrea Van Proyen
1909 Jane Ann Court
Urbana, IL 61802
217-344-7455