Our secularised culture seeks to promote a kind of push-button solution to all our problems suggesting immediate magical relief remedies to any prompt sign of discomfort or necessary sacrifice. This push-button relief syndrome is unfortunately spreading into the most solid foundation of the society – the family.

Genuine cases of marriage separation have and will always exist. However, the latest trend within freshly married couples to resort to separation as soon as initial transitional problems crop up seems to be gaining ground. As if the marriage bond is some kind of life-time guarantee of complete compatibility of the partners. The notion that newlywed partners have brought into the marriage different ideals, perceptions and beliefs depending on the complex upbringing and social background package seems to be overlooked.

On the other hand, isn’t it high time to re-structure existing pre-marriage and post-marriage support structures to realistically cater for the current crisis? I strongly feel that the state should adopt a more pro-active approach to the issue by strongly supporting movements like Ta’ Kana and other family support groups in the implementation of adequate initial and on-going family support programmes. This may sound as an expensive venture to the State, but a re-active approach will definitely prove costlier.

(THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED BY THE MALTA INDEPENDENT IN APRIL 2002 – AUTHOR GORDON P VASSALLO)