Chris Brown, Rihanna illustrate bigger problem

The Chris Brown-Rihanna saga has been all over the news and blogosphere, but as the co-writer of a blog about relationships, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't say something. Not only that, but I've been thinking about their situation -- and the bigger picture it illustrates -- so much that I feel I have to say something.

Parents: Teen domestic violence is real. And if it can happen to a beautiful, seemingly perfect, got-everything-in-the-world couple like Chris Brown and Rihanna, it can happen to your child. The U.S. Department of Justice says 20 percent of all high school girls report having experienced physical or sexual abuse from a dating partner, and one in three high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship. And yet, a poll conducted by the National Teen Dating Violence Prevention Initiative shows 81 percent of parents either believe teen dating violence is not an issue or are unsure if it is an issue.

Need more proof? Just yesterday, there was an anti-domestic violence march in uptown Charlotte in honor of an 18-year-old cheerleader gunned down by her ex-boyfriend, also 18, over the weekend.

Here are some stats about teen dating violence, warning signs and a dating bill of rights.

Unfortunately, and not completely surprisingly, it looks like Chris Brown and Rihanna are back together (no matter what age, it's common for victims to return to their abusers). It could be for publicity; it could be because they're young and in love in that way that only the young can love. Either way, they're now the faces of young domestic violence. What they choose to do with this nasty side effect of their personal crisis will be interesting to see.

Now THIS is a daddy issue

File this one under "And I thought I had dating problems!"

Meghan McCain, the 24-year-old daughter of senator and former GOP presidential contender John McCain, says the '08 election ruined her personal life.

"Of all the things people warned would happen post-election, no one ever said anything about how complicated dating would become," Meghan wrote in a recent essay, "Looking for Mr. Far Right." It it, she explains the unique dating difficulties that come with being the offspring of the prominent Republican. Meghan says she makes a point of keeping politics out of her relationships, and while she's been successful in her friendships, there's not much success on the dating front.

"Here's the biggest surprise: I am not only turned off by people who voted for Barack Obama, but I am also turned off by people that voted for my dad — or more so, obsessive supporters of my dad," Meghan wrote.

"... Nothing makes me more ill than the idea of some guy bragging to his friends that he was going to go on a date with 'John McCain’s daughter.' (Unfortunately this has happened more times than I would like to count and each time I can sense it within the first 30 seconds of meeting them.) One extreme fan of my mother’s recently told me I could be “his Cindy.” And then asked me if I ever wore pearls because they probably would look as good on me as they do on my mother. No, I'm not kidding."

Kin-ky.

Meghan says she didn't date at all while on the campaign trail with her dad ("too paranoid about getting set up for some sort of weird 'gotcha' moment") and has spent a lot of time hanging out with girlfriends since. Earnest guys who've felt the need to explain why they voted for Obama, or McCain fans who've worked "maverick" and "straight talk" into dinner conversations have left her cold.

"I am sure I am not being fair to all the men out there, but my recent experiences have left me scarred and wary of dating. At this point, my biggest aphrodisiac is an apathetic attitude toward politics."

Wow. Enamoured policy wonks need not apply.

Spare us your MySpace divorce

Com·mu·ni·ca·tion [n] The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information.

The idea of communication can be thought of as a fairly easy-to-understand concept. However, communication within the confines of a structured relationship is as complex as the New York Times crossword puzzle.

This blog is about relationships, and communication is the slab of concrete needed to erect such foundations. So, the recurring theme will be communication. Get it? Got it? Good.

On that note, let’s talk about Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler.

The Blink 182 drummer and former Miss USA hit splitsville earlier this month and then aired their dirty laundry on their individual MySpace.com pages.

What happened to good, ol' fashioned “family talks” where mom sits at the kitchen table in her pink robe and dad paces the floor with Hulk-like steps and the family’s issues are dealt with at home?

I’m amazed the innovative ways people “communicate” their grievances.

Yes, officer, can you just e-mail me that speeding ticket to ahord@blackberry.com? I should have it in two minutes -- and you do take Paypal, right?

The fact Barker and Moakler used MySpace.com to settle – or dispute – their differences is absurd and downright childish. Surely they have enough money to pick up the phone or get their lawyers in for some mediation?

I say it’s time to grow up, Mr. Run-Naked-In-My-Videos Barker and Mrs. Playboy-Too-Dumb-For-MTV Moakler.

What do you think about this Hollywood couple using the popular Web site as a Dr. Phil session?