“Teenagers whose parents are married have higher self-esteem on average than their counterparts from other types of family, a think-tank study concludes. Research by the Marriage Foundation... claims that even those whose parents are in stable cohabiting relationships are less secure than those from married households.

“‘Yo no creo en nadie’ (I believe in no one). The phrase has become part of the Venezuelan lexicon… The expression was usually uttered in an offhand way by Venezuelans as a joke, a motto of our characteristically joyous disregard for authority” (New York Times, May 21, 2016). In Venezuela, vigilante justice is becoming more commonplace (ibid.).

“Sweden and Finland have taken part in their first-ever Nato foreign ministers’ meeting… Their participation was hailed as a sign that the two non-aligned countries are moving closer to Nato and US security structures…” (EU Observer, May 20, 2016). On May 13 at a White House summit meeting, “Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden” reaffirmed their commitment to a “deep partnership based on shared fundamental values” with the U.S.

What happened to the “functional” family? You know, the one with a Dad and a Mom and children centered around the home, doing the things families do, working together, playing together, laughing and sometimes crying together?