(If all this has already been discussed, please forgive me - I have not been able to read the forum for a week or so) <P>I was watching the Today show this morning (probably my first mistake) and was amazed by one story. It was about a situation at Hillsdale College in Michigan which is supposed to be an extremely politically conservative place. The president resigned recently and his son revealed that *his* wife and his father had been having an affair for 19 years which culminated in the son's wife committing suicide. <P>What amazed me was the usual way that infidelity is handled in the media. Katie Couric was saying how SHOCKING it was that this happened at such a CONSERVATIVE college. Needless to say, it is very sad for all parties involved, especially the woman who felt that she had to end her life. What got to me was the old misconception that infidelity only happens to wild liberals. Of all of us on this board, I am sure there as as many who would categorize themselves as "staunch conservatives" as there are who would say they are "flaming liberals". Why can't society get the reality of this situation? Political and even moral views don't seem to stand in the way of someone having an affair if they are heading down that slope.<P>And this all from a network which shows "comedies" in which infidelity is often made the subject of a joke......<P>Ok, ok, I'll get off the soapbox now and hush up. I just had to get that off my chest.<BR>

Well, as the token "liberal" here, I'll speak up.<P>People probably think that those who identify themselves as conservative are less likely to stray because in theory, at least, "conservative" has been linked with what's called "family values" -- the sanctity of marriage being of great importance. Liberals are perceived as being more cavalier about marriage, and by extension, about infidelity.<P>Whether these perceptions represent truth is another story.<P>Most of us, whatever our political leanings, have little understanding of infidelity until it happens to us. We don't know why it happens or that it can happen to anyone.<P>The irony is that I think those who are more cavalier about marriage may be LESS likely to stray, because they may be more likely to separate or divorce as a response to marital problems.<P>It's the same thing with this recent study finding higher divorce rates in the "Bible Belt." I suspect that people marry younger in the South, rather than living together without marriage. Young people wanting to have sex are perhaps more likely in the South to marry rather than have premarital sex.<P>So what does this all mean? It means that perhaps we all ought to stop labeling each other.

Whoever said Katie Couric was a rocket scientist? I mean, just look at her public tiff with Brian Gumble. All they're looking for is spin on a story like cheating in a conservative community. (O, horrors!) Pretty brainless stuff, you're right. And as far as conservatives cheating goes, well, just look at Newt Gingrich. Most of us here have more brains individually than all the talking heads put together! Regards and blessings,<P>--Wex