Interracial / Rah Rah Indiana / Florida / Michigan / Obesity - 2/ 13/ 07

[Smartmarriages]

- INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES IN DECLINE
- INDIANA COMMUNITY MARRIAGE WEEK
- GOVERNOR CRIST PROCLAIMS FLORIDA HEALTHY MARRIAGE DAY
- MARRIAGES UP, DIVORCES DOWN IN ALLEGAN COUNTY MICHIGAN
- ONE MAN'S VIEW: IT'S OBESITY

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- INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES IN DECLINE
World Journal
Feb 08, 2007

NEW YORK -- Inter-racial and inter-ethnic marriages are declining at
unprecedented rates, according to a new study by Zhenchao Qian, a professor
of sociology at Ohio State University, reports the Chinese-language World
Journal. Qian conducted the study with Daniel Lichter, a professor at
Cornell University and published the study in the February 2007 issue of the
American Sociological Review. Zhen said that immigration is an important
factor in the decline of inter-racial marriages as native born Asian
Americans and Hispanics marry their foreign-born counterparts. Among Asian
immigrant men, inter-racial marriage declined from 26 percent in 1990 to 21
percent in 2000; among Asian immigrant women the percentage went from 41
percent in 1990 to 33 percent in 2000. The study showed that the percentage
of interracial marriage in native-born Asian men have also declined from
50.2 percent in 1990 to 45.8 percent in 2000. The only increase in
inter-racial marriage was between American-born Asian women and non-Asian
men, which increased from 58 percent to 60 percent. The study also showed
that although inter-racial marriages of African Americans increased
significantly in the 1990s, it is still fewer than other racial groups. The
study suggests that people with higher education levels are more likely to
marry outside of their race.

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INDIANA COMMUNITY  MARRIAGE  WEEK
GOVERNOR  WRITES  PROCLAMATION
NO  DIVORCE  DAY!!

Our congratulations to Indiana!!

> NO DIVORCE DAY will again be on February 14th.  No divorces will be granted
> that day in honor of Community Marriage Week. Judge Wayne Trockman announced
> that in a television interview on February 6, 2007

> Businesses are challenged to find marriage-friendly
> policies for the workplace.  One example is to give your employees the day off
> for their wedding anniversary.

> A new web site is being launched called, www.makeitlast.org
> <http://www.makeitlast.org/>   The new look will help couples find information
> about marriage preparation and marriage enrichment classes. There will be a
> wealth of information for all couples of all ages in all stages of marriage.
 
The State of Indiana will join the celebration for National Marriage Week.
Governor Mitch Daniels has issued a proclamation on behalf of Community
Marriage Builders declaring Feb 7-14th as Community Marriage Week in
Indiana.
 
Citizens are encouraged to celebrate marriage.  In Southwest Indiana,
Community Marriage Builders will be hosting a variety of activities. The
second Sunday of February (11th) is Community Marriage Day.   Houses of
Worship are encouraged to hold special marriage vow renewal ceremonies, host
receptions, offer prayers of blessings for couples, and other creative ways
to celebrate.
 
Community Marriage Builders will host a special evening for couples on Feb.
13th at the Executive Inn in Evansville.  The Sweetheart Banquet will offer
great food, a romantic atmosphere, reserved seating, special music,
hilarious entertainment and a gift for each couple.  The Lifetime Marriage
Achievement Award will be presented.
 
NO DIVORCE DAY will again be on February 14th.  No divorces will be granted
that day in honor of Community Marriage Week. Judge Wayne Trockman announced
that in a television interview on February 6, 2007
 
Couples are encouraged to find a way to take time during this special week
and celebrate their marriage.  Businesses are challenged to find
marriage-friendly policies for the workplace.  One example is to give your
employees the day off for their wedding anniversary.
 
Community Marriage Builders will be initiating a regular schedule of
marriage preparation classes and marriage enrichment classes in Posey,
Gibson, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties.  The theme is ³Make It Last.²
Classes will begin February 21st.  Call 477-2260 for the schedule.  There
will be two marriage enrichment classes offered each week in each county and
two marriage prep classes offered each month in each county.
 
A new web site is being launched called, www.makeitlast.org
<http://www.makeitlast.org/>   The new look will help couples find
information about marriage preparation and marriage enrichment classes.
There will be a wealth of information for all couples of all ages in all
stages of marriage.
 
For further information please contact: Community Marriage Builders at
477-2260
 
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- GOVERNOR CRIST PROCLAIMS FLORIDA HEALTHY MARRIAGE DAY
(Tallahassee, FL) Lt. Governor Kottkamp will unveil Governor Crist's
proclamation celebrating February 14, 2007 as Florida Healthy Marriage Day
during a press conference hosted by Florida's Commission on Marriage and
Family Support Initiates.  In addition to Lt. Governor Kottkamp, the press
conference will feature the following guest speakers:  Dr. Leo Mesa,
Chairman of Florida's Commission on Marriage and Family Support Initiatives;
Ms. Carlis Williams , Regional Administrator for the Administration for
Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Children and Families;
General Robert A. Butterworth, Secretary of the Florida Department of
Children and Families; and families that have participated in the African
American Healthy Marriage Initiative, Partners for Life, and Strong Couples
Healthy Children programs.

WHAT:Press conference for Florida Healthy Marriage Day
WHEN:Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at 11:45 a.m.
WHY:To promote the benefits of healthy marriages for couples, children and
communities. 

For more information, contact Lonnie Parizek, Director of Communications for
the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, at 850-921-4494

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- MARRIAGES UP, DIVORCES DOWN IN ALLEGAN COUNTY MICHIGAN

Now, this is the way we like to see the numbers going - marriages up and
divorces down!  I have been wondering about Michigan.  I asked the list who
would like to distribute conference brochures and I've been receiving offers
from Michigan way above any other state.  Wondered to my self what is going
on in Michigan, and then I get this. - diane

Marriages up, divorces down in Allegan County
Kalamazoo Gazette (Michigan)
Monday, February 12, 2007
By Rod Smith

ALLEGAN -- Love is in the air.

Nearly twice as many Allegan County residents tied the knot last year as
untied it.

Joyce Watts, Allegan County's clerk-register, in her recent annual report to
the Allegan County Board of Commissioners, said her office issued 817
marriage licenses in 2006, up from 788 in 2005. There were 461 divorces,
down from 689.
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- ONE MAN'S VIEW: IT'S OBESITY
>  
> Dear Diane
>  
> I read over your site with interest but I didn¹t find what I call the real
> cause of divorce: obesity.
>  
> Many men are attracted to their mate because of the way they look. Then they
> decide to marry based on who they are. Children come and then ³suburban
> spread² takes on a whole new meaning. You can see this in any suburban
> Starbucks or Dunkin¹ Donuts in America.
>  
> You end up thinking you are marrying a Ferrari and you get a Mini Van. You
> have a hot chick one day and a drudge the next. You have a chaos free
> existence and the next you have mess and plastic toys everywhere. And you, as
> the man of the house have been forgotten.
>  
> I really believe that someday, beautiful women will have surrogates to have
> their babies from harvested eggs because their mates don¹t want their bodies
> wrecked by excess weight, scarring, breast deformation and exhaustion. Have
> someone that will never be beautiful do it.
>  
> My wife and I broke up because she went from a size 6 to a size 22 and
> practice the art of martyrdom saying that the ³kids always come first² and she
> ³couldn¹t possibly do anything for herself² including practicing the art of
> femininity: hair, makeup, manicure, pedicure, stylish clothes and anything
> else most feminine woman are supposed to do. I felt abandoned. Then came the
> lying to my friends. Etc. Until we had nothing in common.
>  
> I know many other men who also experience this. Some are very unhappy and
> would divorce but can¹t. You  look at the wedding picture of the woman and
> you look at her now and you ask, ³what happened?²
>  
> Many women say (my experience) ³I have to lose weight for my wedding pictures²
> but they don't have plans for weight management after the wedding.
>  
> I am writing to you because my divorce isn¹t final and I want answers. I do
> not want my full name used as it would hurt my wife¹s feelings, but if you
> disguise my name it may be helpful to others who struggle with this very real
> issue. And, maybe someone will send advice.

Anyone have anything constructive that might help him?  - diane

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