What do you think about the issue of divorce?

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The wish is to live happily ever after, but the fairy-tale does not always come true. Conflicts happen, couples end up in disputes and sometimes they find there is no other option than living separate lives, even if they have to think about the future of their children.

Some young people shared their opinions on divorce with The Jakarta Post.

Syera, 16, student of a public senior high school in East Jakarta:

My parents got divorced when I was still in kindergarten, so I don't really remember the process. What I know is, my father was really mean to my mother. He stole her jewelry and also my grandmother's.

After the divorce, I lived with my mother. My relationship with my father wasn't good. I felt that I couldn't forgive him for what he had done to my mother.

Last year, however, my father got very ill, he had cancer. He was dying, but it seemed that he could not pass away before I forgave his faults. He begged me to forgive him, and I said yes. He died a day later. It was sad, of course.

My mother, meanwhile, remarried a few years after the divorce. At first I opposed her marriage. I didn't like my stepfather and everything he did was wrong in my opinion. Later on, though, I began to accept him because he is actually very nice. And now, we get along very well as we have a lot of things in common.

I respect my parents' decision to get divorced. I think there are some good points to it. I can't imagine if my mother hadn't do it, she would have suffered so much. I see the impact of the divorce is really good for my mother, she was and is much happier.

I don't think the divorce had a bad impact on me. I didn't lose a father figure because I have a wonderful stepfather.

Abdurrahman, 19, student of a private university in South Jakarta:

I don't really agree with divorce. I think it's not a very appropriate thing based on norms and religion. My religion does not allow divorce, except if it is really necessary.

I can understand why my religion forbade it, because it would be bad for children if their parents got divorced. They will be the ones who suffer most.

I have friends whose parents got divorced, they then lacked attention and affection. As compensation, my friends turned to alcohol and drugs. See? It's really bad for the children.

I think it's impossible for my parents to get divorced. But if they don't get along anymore, for their own good, what can I say?

Mira, 16, student of a public senior high school in South Jakarta:

I'm not against divorce as long as the reason is right. I mean, people must have their own reasons why they get divorced, so we can't just judge them and think that they are wrong.

I have friends whose parents are divorced and I see that it has affected them in some ways. My friends seem to be really confused, and they can't understand why their parents made the decision. They couldn't accept it at first, but later on they realized that it was unavoidable. I see my friends accept the fact better now, and they seem happier.

What if my parents got divorced? I think I would cry. And then I would ask them why they decided to get divorced, and ask them if things can be worked out. But I think I would have to accept it eventually.

But if my parents divorced, I would not live with either of them. I would rather live with my two siblings, and let our parents visit us regularly. That would be fairer.

Mahdi, 18, student of a private university in South Jakarta:

Divorce is not really a good decision to make. It's only, like, the last resort if there is no other way to settle the problem in marriage. But if possible, people should not get divorced at all. It's just sad that marriage must end up with divorce.

If that happened in my family, I wouldn't know what to do. I really don't know. I hope that it won't happen.

I mean, if I see my friends whose parents got divorced, they seem to be really sad. They suffer a lot, and I can only help by being a shoulder to cry on.