Love and Marriage....its an institute you can't dispariage!

Let me tell you, when watching the CBC's video of the declining marriage rate in Canada, I felt as though I was an outsider in the hen house. (not to sound demeaning...well kinda.... anyhow)

Upon watching the video for the first time, I acquired no knowledge from it other than a headache caused by the high pitch of women's voices as no strong points were made by either side. I then watched the video for a second time. It was not as bad the second time around, however, I still did not gain anything from having done so.
This people, was a perfect example of the difference between listening and hearing. While I had physically heard what was being said, there was no cognitive response, and I did not absorb what was being said by nearly anyone about this. So I had decided the next step would be to watch the video for a third time and take notes, so that I would participate more actively when watching. My notes turned out like so....

Clearly not a successful attempt. What was wrong with me? It was clear that I was listening selectively. I was merely sitting, listening to what was being said, looking for something of value. Having decided that there was nothing of value to which I was going to get from what was being said in the video, I decided to take a different apprach. I began to think about what wasn't said. In the debate between the women in the video, neither of them used any substantial facts. One of the most obvious facts one might think of pertaining to the issue, is whether or not the birth rate has declined accordingly with marriage. And to my surprise it hadn't! The most important arguement these women scratched upon was a declining population, but this wasn't the case what so ever! So then why aren't people getting married? Maybe marriage just doesn't have the appeal it once had. Who can blame them when shows like "Married with Children" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" depict marriage in the manner they do.
Observe.

So what if people are not getting married. The birth rate in Canada remains the same, and afterall, hasn't marriage as an institution been a way for populations to grow. So if the population can continue to grow without it, why is it people still feel a responsibility, or obligation to do so? Now that is a video to which I would hear something of interest!