My parents are one of the many couples from the past generation that has divorced, and ultimately it's for the better. Louis CK did this bit about how shitty marriages compound on kids and then they grow up and marry other people from shitty marriages and pass it onto their kids. It just all becomes so heavy. At the very least they should get some peace even if it means in two separate households. And that's the truth. The truth is often funny when it's just so bizarre, yet it can be kinda sad if you let it really sink in.
He also did this bit on his show with his Mom visiting by surprise admitting that she's a lesbian. She used to be all alone and neglected, but then she never really showed any affection for her two sons. Louis' brother on the show always loved her, but she can't even say it back. When confronted she just leaves the room.
What I love about Louie show is how honest he is about things. Things are shown in a very raw kind of form most of the time. These things he mention are the truth about a lot of families. Parents and children on pretty much every other show are expected to have this unconditional love for one another, and regardless of the tragedies that happen in life family is always there for you. In reality this just isn't the case. Unless you have good parents who really cared about you, not just cared for you, this kind of loving relationship isn't natural. I honestly believe any kind of love is never automatic. It has to be developed.
The same thing goes for siblings. Just because you live together and share some common genes doesn't really mean you will all get along. People change as they grow up and develop into different people. The good parenting thing mentioned above usually helps form good relationships between siblings too. It helps for the family to share experiences together, but still be open to the different paths that open up between family members. Sibling rivalry isn't so common for no reason. Not everyone wants to fall into the shadows of those older than them, so they try hard to differentiate themselves and create value for themselves in the family. If your siblings aren't open to these changes it just pull them apart.
Love has to develop. And anything that develops can fail to develop or it can be broken.
Having family and living under the same roof only gives people lots of opportunities to interact. It doesn't guarantee that they will care about one another or love one another. That only happens when they share their experiences together in a positive way and make it through the bad experiences. The belief that love is automatic and unconditional is a myth. It has been shown time and again that people cheat, abuse, harass, exploit, and cast out those they are supposed to love. These things only happen because the love was never there or because it was lost somewhere along the way.
Sharing blood and sharing names is only a start. It's the effort along the way that really matters. This is why we can learn to love strangers who become our partners and our friends. Family who don't talk to one another are no closer than strangers in a building. It takes effort to make family into partners and friends in life too.
Love is not a guarantee. It is something that we work towards and fight for.
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