That first comment insulted me so much I can not even put into words.

Since when do you need a mother AND a father to be a family. A grandmother raising a child or a single mother or father with a child can not be a family?

I am extremly hurt and insulted.

“just my opinion,
but everyone’s different and that’s ok.”

Renee,
I really don’t see how this statement is “harsh towards couples who choose not to get married”

The words are there and I’ll reiterate them for you…

MY OPINION.
EVERYONE’S DIFFERENT.
THAT’S OK.

Check your definition of “harsh”.

Again, who stuffed “one’s thoughts down other’s throats”?
Renee has a different opinion when it comes to marriage and good for her for stating it. But she put words, or better said a meaning, into some of these posts which IMO just isn’t there. And her explanation does not convince me.
I agree that a happy family doesn’t necessarily consist of a father and mother. There”s so much more.
But defending your own position on marriage and stating that for you it is so much more than just a piece of paper doesn’t mean your trying to get everyone and everybody married and that your talking smack about the unmarried.

If someone doesn’t believe in marriage, then fine, it’s their opinion and it doesn’t diminish the act itself or those who do believe in it.

Not all families are composed of Fathers & Mothers, some are Fathers & Fathers, Mothers & Mothers, just Mothers, or just Fathers, it doesn’t diminish them being families and it doesn’t mean there is any less love. It’s too bad that people have to look down upon people who are not or act like themselves.

Live and let live.

Well Renee, let’s be honest- there is some truth to the post you quoted from. I think the post meant that If a person chooses a mate unwisely or circumstances within the union aren’t quite right and the marriage fails,does that mean that the institute of marriage itself is bad? A marriage is only as good as the commitment the two people involved have. People blame marriage instead of the people involved. After a failed marriage, we sometimes hear people say, marriage is not for me and that certainly might be true. However another take on it perhaps is that fact that that person might be confusing loss of faith in the institute of marriage with loss of faith in another person’s ability to commit fully to all that a marriage entails.

I wouldn’t force anyone into marriage, it is far too difficult for that and by all means there are many people who probably shouldn’t get married. So while I whole heartily believe in the beauty of marriage I know it’s not for everyone. I think most of us here understand that and are not judging you or anyone else. We just have a different viewpoint.

“Seeing stuff like that just turns me even more against the idea of marriage.”

And that would be your problem, no one else’s. As usual, instead of actually reading peoples’ comments thoroughly enough to comprehend their point of view, you choose to act like a child not getting her way and whine about how “intolerant” people are being. Do us all a favor and grow up before you post again.

I completely agree with Di et. al and find it very interesting and telling how these celebs choosing to have children outside of marriage can see fit to make a man worthy of fathering their children, yet unworthy of being their husband. I have also never heard anyone that came from a successful marriage say they don’t believe in it. JMO.

“FAMILY = (F)ather (A)nd (M)other (I) (L)ove (Y)ou if you believe strongly in love, family, and children you should also believe in marriage…just my opinion.
but everyone’s different and that’s ok.”

Adding it’s okay at the end doesn’t make this statement not harsh towards couples who choose not to get married”

“The people who say that marriage “just a piece of paper” are oftentimes the same people like Halle Berry- someone who has had two failed marriages and instead of saying she chose the wrong man blames the institution of marriage and thus has proclaimed she will never marry again.”

Those were some of the comments I was talking about. Seeing stuff like that just turns me even more against the idea of marriage.

I can only second Sarah and Jaime.
Reading all the posts here i honestly don’t see who was trying to pressure people into marriage or even implying that people who are not married are not loving their families.

I didn’t say marriage was just a piece of paper.I just don’t appreciate the negative comments about not believing in marriage.

Renee, no one was trying to convince you or anyone else for that matter that you should get married. There was certainly no implication in the posts that people not interested in marriage were sad. People were responding to the piece of paper comment. I think you need to read the posts a little more carefully next time.