Congratulations to Prince William & his bride Kate. They are a very photogenic couple!
We wish them the best and look forward to another one of those beautiful royal weddings.
We also hope that their wedding puts marriage back on the European "to do list".
Unfortunately, Europe is a very different continent than the one that Diana and Prince Charles got married in back in 1981.
First, "birth rates" are insufficient to maintain population: The EU's baby blues---Birth rates in the European Union are falling fast.
Why do "having babies" matter? Babies are the future! You can't maintain your population, and culture, without babies carrying your name, traditions and identity.
Second, marriage is also undergoing a huge crisis across the ocean:
"Marriage is in decline across much of northern Europe, from Scandinavia to France, a pattern some sociologists describe as a "soft revolution" in European society -- a generational shift away from Old World traditions and institutions toward a greater emphasis on personal independence." (WashPost)
Why does marriage matter? It is the central institution in a society. It is the foundation of the family unit.
Third, the churches are empty: Religion takes a back seat in Western Europe
It's sad to see how Europe has changed.
Let's hope that the royal wedding puts marriage back on people's minds!
The Europeans need to rediscover religion, get married and have babies or we won't recognize the land of our grandparents.
