Another Point to Be Made

Submitted by Debbie Walls (United States), Feb 17, 2004 at 13:25

In all the Countries mentioned in your article, the majority of marriages are 'arranged' marriages created by the couples' families many years in advance. Some of these marriages are made up of first cousins in a family. Therefore the concept of dating, falling in love with the person of one's choosing, and physical attraction/intimacy prior to the wedding ceremony are foreign concepts and not encouraged by the religious authorities or families. Valentine's Day does encompass many of these concepts. Even after marriage some arranged marriages do not embody the concept of love, but merely a transfer of a dowry or property. And...there is also the issue of multiple brides/wives in the Islamic faith. So this denunciation of Valentine's Day is not surprising.

I lived in a Middle Eastern Country for 6 years and learned I could not always apply my Western experiences with those of my Middle Eastern Peers. This became clear to me when one of my Middle Eastern Friends asked me what it was like for me to fall in love with my husband, as she was married to her first cousin in an arranged marriage.

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