Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Japan and the Hague Convention Treaty


The Hague Convention treaty was originally signed by over eighty nations on October 25, 1980. The treaty was a breakthrough in international family law; it protects children from international abductions. Now, thirty years later, Japan has agreed to sign this important treaty.

Obviously there are internal politics that dictate how Japan has dealt with this matter. But I would like to understand what has taken them so long. Whatever reasons Japan may have, those reasons, surely, cannot compare to the effort of all civilized nations coming together to protect the unprotected. How we treat the unfortunate and the weak – kidnapped children, for example – is a measure of a society’s integrity.

I, for one, am very pleased that the Japanese government has finally agreed to sign the Hague Convention Treaty. Let’s hope Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Tunisia are next.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

"We Remain Best Friends"



A few days ago, Courteney Cox and David Arquette announced that they would be undergoing a trial separation, and they have been quoted as saying all the right things: “We remain best friends and responsible parents to our daughter and we still love each other deeply.”

This sentiment is precisely what we hope to hear from any couple considering divorce — they continue to care about each other despite the circumstances.

The hard part is what comes next, should they proceed with a divorce. They have to put it all on paper — who gets what, and who gets time with their daughter and when. If they can avoid the typical power struggles, then their daughter wins. And if she wins, then everyone wins.

When it comes to an amicable divorce, the devil is in the details. Neither party is going to get exactly what he or she wants, and bickering over small battles only prolongs the larger war. The couple should understand that there is far more at stake than just the spoils.

Let’s hope that Cox and Arquette can show us how to do this well, and can be an example for other divorcing couples through their friendship, and especially their love for their daughter. Their intentions are good. Now they just need to follow through.