Brents other school project

1. To marry or Not to Your Name Class Name Subtitle or catch phrase for the presentation

2. Why the marriage issue? I have a sister who would classify as “poor.” She’s been married and is now separated with a child. Marriage did not change their economic status for the better. It seemed to make the already existing struggle... much worse. They were no longer eligible for the help they could receive as cohabitants. I chose this topic because I relate to it personally. I am remarried at 30 after a divorce in my very early 20’s. Since my sister & husbands separation, she's been able to get on her feet quickly. More programs became available to her and her daughter. Thinking about all this led to my decision on choosing this topic.

13. Personal interviews… Indicated that she became pregnant before getting married. She states she got married because “it was the right thing to do.” She got married to please her family, and she believes that the rushing of marriage is only a way of setting up loved ones for failure. Mandy, 31, from Indiana Mentions that she has chosen to remain unmarried because she receives more assistance from the government. “Jeff and I have been together for thirteen years, but we are not married. The advantage is that I get a full Pell Grant to pay for school. If Jeff and I were married, our income would be too high and I would have to pay.” This is one of the most common remarks made from the individuals interviewed. Wendi, 33, from Indiana

16. More personal interviews… Ricardo and Theresa have been married for 18 years, they have 3 kids and a combined annual income of $80,000. They both told me that they feel their life styles reflect their income which is not always a good thing. They know that they can afford the finer things in life which therefore usually leaves them with a high debt to income ratio. Because they were never taught money management or the benefits of saving they have managed to accumulate a large amount of debt. They both felt that at times if they were not married then they would not been able to afford a lot of the luxuries that they have yet reducing the amount of debt they would have. Cedric and Pam, 4 years of marriage , second marriage for both, a total of 5 kids (she has 2 from her prior marriage as well as him plus one together) and a combined annual income of $50,000. they do not live the extravagant life style, as a matter of fact they struggle just to be able to meet the mortgage payments every month. They love one another unconditionally and seem to be rather happy. Both states that they were struggling before the other came into their lives but marriage did not make it better or worse. Their dream now is to one day just have something left between pay checks Cliff and Erica, married for five years , 1 child and combined annual income of $85,000. Even though they can afford the finer things of life they seldom splurge. They live a modest life, own several properties and are very conservative. Cliff attributes their financial freedom to Erica growing up in poverty and wanting to break the cycle. She has a strict if I have to charge it I don’t need it rule that they both adhere to. Erica states that she would have obtained financial freedom even if she had never gotten married; Cliff states that marring Erica has kept him from being financially enslaved.

17. Luther and Debra, married for 8 years, 2 kids and an annul income of $30,000. Luther is a recovering drug addict that wants the life styles of all of his friends; Debra is an IRS agent that feels like her husband is suppose to care for her so she does not have to work. Both have credit challenges and yet still feel as though they should live the same if not a better life as others they know. They both recognize that being married did not contribute to any form of financial freedom for them nor did it take away from it. They did both feel as though education re financial stability and protecting your credit would have been a benefit for them prior to getting married. Willie and Barbara married for 25 years, 6 kids and an annual income of $25,000. Both have a 8th grade education and love one another unconditionally, because this is the only state that they have ever lived in they do not feel as though they have missed out on anything and they both recognize that even if they had not been married to one another they still would have ended up with the same life Moses and Dorothy married for 49 years, annual income 16,000. All children are adults but they are now raising a two grandchildren. She has an 11th grade education while he only has a 6th, he farmed up until his health forced him to retire and she worked in a factory while their children were small. Life to them is not about whether or not you are poor but whether or not you trust & believe in God. When asked about their views on marriage and if it played a vital role in their economic situation they were quick to respond with the same answers. They believe in the sanctity of marriage and they do not feel as though being married contributed to or took away from their economical situation.

19. How does secular society and Christian society differ in views on marriage and parenting?

25. The conclusion… A poll of normal average American’s gives these answers for what makes marriage work.

26. Concluding thoughts… Our conclusion is.. We think this needs to happen BUSH Marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and my Administration is working to support the institution of marriage by helping couples build successful marriages and be good parents. To encourage marriage and promote the well-being of children, I have proposed a healthy marriage initiative to help couples develop the skills and knowledge to form and sustain healthy marriages. Research has shown that, on average, children raised in households headed by married parents fare better than children who grow up in other family structures. Through education and counseling programs, faith-based, community, and government organizations promote healthy marriages and a better quality of life for children. By supporting responsible child-rearing and strong families, my Administration is seeking to ensure that every child can grow up in a safe and loving home. We are also working to make sure that the Federal Government does not penalize marriage. My tax relief package eliminated the marriage penalty. And as part of the welfare reform package I have proposed, we will do away with the rules that have made it more difficult for married couples to move out of poverty.

28. Sites http://www.biblenews1.com/marriage/marriags.htm http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/02news/div_mar_cohab.htm http:// www.pflagsanjose.org/advocacy/hist.html http://pewresearch.org/pubs/526/marriage-parenthood http:// www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm Kotlowitz, Alex (2002). Let’s Get Married. Frontline. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/marriage/interviews/edin.html Tanner, Michael (2003). Wedded to Poverty. The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2008, from http://find.galegroup.com.eres.regent.edu:2048/itx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC- Documents&resultListType = RESULT_LIST&qrySerId =Locale%28en%2CUS%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C17%29wedded+to+poverty%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28jn%2CNone%2C16%29%22New+York+Times%22%24&sgHitCountType= None&inPS = true&sort = DateDescend&searchType = AdvancedSearchForm&tabID =T004&prodId= AONE&searchId =R2&currentPosition=1&userGroupName= vic_regent&docId =A105961797&docType=IAC Wallis, Jim (2008). A Real ‘Values’ Agenda. Soujourners Magazine. Retrieved February 16, 2008, from http://find.galegroup.com.eres.regent.edu:2048/itx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2CUS%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C22%29A+real+%27values%27+agenda%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28jn%2CNone%2C21%29%22Sojourners+Magazine%22%24&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&tabID=T003&prodId=AONE&searchId=R1&currentPosition=1&userGroupName=vic_regent&docId=A172801222&docType=IAC Adams, Jay E. “Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible”. Grand Rapids Mi.:Zondervan, 1980