for Christine

Submitted by Lisa (United States), Sep 17, 2007 at 13:58

Hi Christine.

I have had some good relationships with men other than Moroccans. I met a Moroccan Muslim in the Summer of 2006 and we began dating. It became rather serious early on, but I noticed that he seemed a bit controlling (he would tell me he didn't like my traveling for my job, having a drink in a nice restaurant bar, having men friends, etc.).

I didn't think too much about it, but as time went on, he became more and more controlling. He bought me a cell phone holder to wear on my waist so that I wouldn't miss his phone calls. He showed up at my physical therapy to see if I was really there when I said I would be. He gave me the cold shoulder for days after I returned from a business trip. He said mocking things about "career ladies." He told me that he didn't want me to travel or go to company dinners.

He talked about how Christians are wrong in their beliefs, and there was never any give and take or discussion. He was right and I was wrong. And finally he broke up with me while I was on a business trip, telling me he had met someone a few weeks earlier and had been seeing her (He said "I'm telling you because I've always been honest with you." Seems to me that telling me about another woman a month after meeting her is NOT a bit honest.)

So, he may be an exception, but from what I've read here and elsewhere, he is actually the rule. It's all about controlling the woman. As much as it hurt, he did me a favor by breaking up. I now feel free to drink a beer, have guy friends, travel to my heart's content, and know that there is a good man out there somewhere who will appreciate an independent woman.

Hope this helps you.

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