Al, Tipper Gore Divorce Email

Our second hour today is a big-picture look at the Baby Boom generation and late-stage, or "gray," divorce.

A lot of conversation has been generated around the issue following Al and Tipper Gore's announcement that they are splitting up after 40 years of marriage.

Here's the original “Email from Al and Tipper Gore," obtained and confirmed by Politico.com:

We are announcing today that after a great deal of thought and discussion, we have decided to separate. This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together following a process of long and careful consideration. We ask for respect for our privacy and that of our family, and we do not intend to comment further.

Many commentators have noted that the announcement sent shudders through marriage-land USA. Our guest today Stephanie Coontz, a professor of family studies and history at Evergreen State College, wrote recently at CNN.com that the full story of the Gores' relationship is worth reflecting on:

The Gores raised four children and were there for each other when they needed to be. Now that they have decided to part, they are trying to do so in a way that is fair and respectful. That doesn't sound like failure to me. For the rest of us, the Gore breakup is a reminder that we can't take our marriages for granted. But we should see that as a good thing rather than a scary one.

Your thoughts?...