Bush on Marriage/Airline discounts/Marriage & heart disease/Pope/Kuala Lumpur - 10/12/01

Fri Oct 12 13:08:45 EDT 2001

subject: Bush/Airline discounts/heart disease/Pope/Kuala Lumpur - 10/12/01

from: Smart Marriages

PRESIDENT BUSH & MARRIAGE:
Excerpts from Presided Bush press conference on the war on terrorism last
night (10/11/01):

"This is so sad an incident, but there are some positive things that are
developing.  One is I believe that many people are reassessing what's
important in life.  Moms and dads are not only reassessing their MARRIAGE
and the importance of their MARRIAGE, but of the necessity of loving their
children like never before.  I think that's one of the positives that have
come from the evildoers.  The evil ones have sparked an interesting change
in America, I think.  A compassion in our country that is overflowing. . .

"Before Sept 11 my administration was planning an initiative called
"Communities of Character." It was designed to help parents develop good
character in our children and to strengthen the spirit of citizenship and
service in our communities.  The acts of Sept 11 have prompted that
initiative to occur on its own, in ways far greater than I could have ever
imagined. 

--------
This is the perfect time to introduce a discussion of "MARRIAGE WEEK USA" -
but I don't have time.  Watch for upcoming announcements.  It will launch
Valentine's Day 2002 and I hope you'll all celebrate in your state/community
-  diane 
***************

AIRLINE DISCOUNTS: 
I just negotiated conference airline discounts.  Use these to save money AND
to help the coalition. Book directly with the airlines or use the code #s to
book through your own agent. Each airline offers a 3-tier discount package
to help you find the lowest possible fare. Each offers: special unpublished
Zone fares just for conference attendees; OR 5% off their lowest published
fares, 10% off if purchased 60 days in advance; OR 10 to 15% off
unrestricted full coach fares (i.e. no Sat night stay, no penalty for
changes, etc.). American Airlines: 800-433-1790 use code #A5272BB. US
Airways: toll free: 877-874-7687 use Gold File # 8812206. Rates good for
travel July 4 - 22 and to all three Washington area airports. Call both
airlines to find the best rate. Note Reagan National is 10 minutes from our
hotel via free hotel shuttle.  Dulles and BWI airports are each about 45
minutes from hotel via Super Shuttle.

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BARBARA MARKEY: FOCCUS TRAINING:
Oct 19th- 20h. Hope for Marriage Weekend - Bryn Athyn ,PA
Barbara Markey to do Foccus/Refoccus Inventory Training for counselors,
ministers, & lay couples plus keynote speech on congregation's role in
supporting marriages. Info: BrynAthynChurch at aol.com or 215-947-6225 ext. 204

***************
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY CONFERENCE:
In Kuala Lumpur! 
"Family First: Bringing the Heart Home": International Family Conference:
Oct 25 - 28, 2001, Kuala Lumpur To address rising concern about the
stability of the family and its impact on economies, communities and nations
& to explore ways to increase collaboration between govt, public, & private
organizations. 700 attendees expected and 60 speakers to include Jerry
Regier from Oklahoma's Marriage Initiative, Aurora and Rhett Farber from
PAIRS, Tom Hill from Character First Institute and Mary MacLeod from the
National Family and Parenting Institute, UK For more information:
www.lppkn.gov.my/ifc

************
THE POPE:
I am amazed at how many of you had advice about how to contact and invite
the pope to do a keynote.  I didn't think this was even in the realm of
feasible - but it turns out it's a small world and lots of people on this
list knows someone who knows someone.....  Thanks for all your ideas.  I
don't see how we could even begin to manage the security (!?) - but it's
nice to dream and even nicer to know how dedicated this pope is to
strengthening marriage. - diane

Diane,
You you are right in noticing that the pope is very pro-marriage and family.
He has written more pieces talking about the sacred relationships that are
marriage than any other Pope before him.  He has written on marital
sexuality, how the church should support and nurture marriage and many more
related.  He has also said quite clearly that plain old fashioned work and
commitment in the ordinary time is necessary for couples to make marriage
successful and holy.

I would point you to a small booklet produced by the Marriage and Family
Life Committee of the United States Catholic Bishops called "Follow the Way
of Love"  (Punlication #677-8, It can be ordered through USCC Publishingin
Washington DC.)   It is a wonderful document, short and easy to read.
Inside there are some inspiring calls for leadership from married couples in
the church.
Here's a sample:

"When a woman and a man vow to be true in good times and in bad they are
confirming a decision to love another.  But, as married couples have taught
us, this decision to love is one we have to make over and over again, when
it feels good and when it does not.  It is a decision to look for, act on,
and pray for the good of people we say we love.  It is a pledge of
fidelity."

"You know the value of a loving and life-giving marriage.  Indeed, your
marriage is a gift to all of us.  A wonderful way to share this gift, as
well as to reinvigorate your own commitment, would be to help engaged
couples prepare for the sacrament of matrimony."

Tom Rinkoski
Marriage and the Movies, Green Bay

****************
MARRIAGE AND HEART HEALTH:
Good marriage extends life in heart patients

By Suzanne Rostler

NEW YORK, Oct 01 (Reuters Health) - Heart disease patients who are happily
married may outlive their peers who are in more rocky relationships,
researchers report.

Their study found that happily married male and female patients with
congestive heart failure were more likely to be alive after 4 years than
patients in more contentious partnerships, regardless of the severity of the
illness. In fact, a good marriage had a similar effect on survival to less
severe heart disease, according to the report in the September 1st issue of
the American Journal of Cardiology.

It is not clear how the quality of a patient's marriage influences survival,
but the investigators, led by Dr. James C. Coyne of the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, suggest that a happy marriage may affect
neurological or hormonal systems that influence the course of the disease.
Alternatively, a solid partnership may make it easier to commit to a strict
diet, exercise and medication regimen.

"I think spouses contribute directly to keeping patients on track but are
also of great assistance when patients' morale or commitment to their health
flags," Coyne told Reuters Health. "If everything else fails, the spouse in
a good marriage can insist: 'please do this for me.'"

Coyne added that factors present in a bad marriage such as nagging,
criticism and conflict could take a toll on a patient's health.

"A patient who is otherwise having a hard time sticking to restrictions can
get even more stubborn and self-destructive," he explained.

According to the study, a solid partnership may be even more important for
female patients. Coyne noted that women may be more sensitive than men to
the support they are getting in their marriages.

The findings support a growing body of evidence linking social support with
better health outcomes, including prolonged survival among patients with
heart disease in general.

In the current study, the investigators interviewed 189 patients--including
139 men--and their spouses. Couples were asked to identify a topic of
disagreement in their relationship and were then interviewed separately.
Researchers videotaped couples as they discussed the area in which they
disagreed and then rated the tapes according to how well the couples worked
together and how positive their behavior was. Couples were followed for the
next 4 years.

"How well a couple is working together predicts which patients with chronic
heart failure will be alive in 4 years," Coyne told Reuters Health.
"Cardiologists need to pay attention to interpersonal factors."

SOURCE: American Journal of Cardiology 2001;88:526-529.

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