2008 Woodie Awards
On the surface, marriage billboards send wrong message
Pete Bartels
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Opinion
You've seen them around town. "Kids of married parents do better in school." "Married people earn more money." "Married people live longer."
There's one on Russell Street right by Ravens Stadium, and another on Route 83 heading into downtown.
There's one a couple blocks off campus on York Road -- all those billboards telling whoever is intrigued enough by the young, beaming couples in their wedding day getups to look up from the road and read such apparently indisputable truths.
The particularly abrasive "Kids of married parents do better in school" proclamation, which can be seen for your viewing pleasure as you drive east on 83, elicited an instinctively defensive "Oh yeah? Says who?" as I drove past it last weekend.
Thankfully, I am one of the lucky ones who has escaped failure: I am a proud card-carrying son of two successful, (that is to say), married, parents. I can breathe a sigh of relief and bask in the consolation that I am not doomed to a life of disappointment and underachievement, and I take comfort in knowing that I still have a fighting chance because Mom and Dad have decided to stick it out.
But what about the overwhelming number of children, quickly approaching the majority in this country, who don't live in a house graced by the healing, triumph-providing presence of marriage?
What are their reactions? Keep in mind I'm not just talking about college students like you or me. I mean children. Imagine being the single mother who has to explain that billboard to her 8 year-old son.
Or, what about the older kids? Do they see such apparently data-less claims as a challenge, or as an invitation to defeat?
I'm somewhat offended by their message, so what of the people that those messages are actually talking about?
Furthermore, what is being advertised? Am I being encouraged to go snatch up a wife as soon as possible?
Perhaps mail in a request form for one from some exotic island?
There's one on Russell Street right by Ravens Stadium, and another on Route 83 heading into downtown.
There's one a couple blocks off campus on York Road -- all those billboards telling whoever is intrigued enough by the young, beaming couples in their wedding day getups to look up from the road and read such apparently indisputable truths.
The particularly abrasive "Kids of married parents do better in school" proclamation, which can be seen for your viewing pleasure as you drive east on 83, elicited an instinctively defensive "Oh yeah? Says who?" as I drove past it last weekend.
Thankfully, I am one of the lucky ones who has escaped failure: I am a proud card-carrying son of two successful, (that is to say), married, parents. I can breathe a sigh of relief and bask in the consolation that I am not doomed to a life of disappointment and underachievement, and I take comfort in knowing that I still have a fighting chance because Mom and Dad have decided to stick it out.
But what about the overwhelming number of children, quickly approaching the majority in this country, who don't live in a house graced by the healing, triumph-providing presence of marriage?
What are their reactions? Keep in mind I'm not just talking about college students like you or me. I mean children. Imagine being the single mother who has to explain that billboard to her 8 year-old son.
Or, what about the older kids? Do they see such apparently data-less claims as a challenge, or as an invitation to defeat?
I'm somewhat offended by their message, so what of the people that those messages are actually talking about?
Furthermore, what is being advertised? Am I being encouraged to go snatch up a wife as soon as possible?
Perhaps mail in a request form for one from some exotic island?
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Claire
posted 2/19/08 @ 6:01 AM EST
Oh for goodness sake.
M. B. Wilson
posted 2/19/08 @ 9:32 AM EST
Pete,
First, you say you're offended by the message. Then you say it's a good message. Make up your mind, will ya?
Courtney
posted 3/02/08 @ 9:40 PM EST
I think Pete is on to something. As a Loyola student living in Baltimore, I have often wondered about those billboards as well. Their statements are so obtuse and unsubstantiated that one cannot help but question the motive, research, and ultimately, the point behind them. (Continued…)
Free Online Blackjack
posted 9/30/08 @ 8:10 AM EST
This will give a wrong message to the society, this should be restricted with sound laws.
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