This would be funny if it weren't so sad.

[jubaji]

Right, but they are more frequent than say 20 or even 50 years ago.

I don't know about that. They have likely risen and fallen over the years with spikes just after every major war.

[Tom Yum]

They happen all the time. They always have.

Right, but they are more frequent than say 20 or even 50 years ago.

[Tom Yum]

yeah well, none of that applies to me cause i already know im probably going to die alone..

Duh, most people do die alone. Do you expect to take someone with you?

but its ok, cause ive already accepted it. im just gonna go get high again and pass out..

Why the defeatist attitude?

[jubaji]

The world is becoming a smaller place, so these things could happen.

They happen all the time. They always have.

[DickHardman]

How well can a couple's religious differences co-exist? I think its possible, but how would the details workout?

A marriage between a Christian and a Muslim would more than likely require one to convert to the other. As in this case, these men converted to Islam - probably just for the sake of getting the ceremony...

A Christian can convert to Islam and would therefore be confined to hell fire. A Muslim can convert to Christianity, costing him/her their life and condemnation to hell.

I guess the question to ask is if one's parents were strong in either faith, would they be willing to accept their child's conversion and still welcome their son/daugher-in law.

Rough stuff.

A marriage between a Christian and Jew would seem tough at times, but there's just enough overlap. A marriage between a Christian and Buddhist could work, but would have moments as well. The world is becoming a smaller place, so these things could happen.

yeah well, none of that applies to me cause i already know im probably going to die alone. but its ok, cause ive already accepted it. im just gonna go get high again and pass out.

[Tom Yum]

How well can a couple's religious differences co-exist? I think its possible, but how would the details workout?

A marriage between a Christian and a Muslim would more than likely require one to convert to the other. As in this case, these men converted to Islam - probably just for the sake of getting the ceremony...

A Christian can convert to Islam and would therefore be confined to hell fire. A Muslim can convert to Christianity, costing him/her their life and condemnation to hell.

I guess the question to ask is if one's parents were strong in either faith, would they be willing to accept their child's conversion and still welcome their son/daugher-in law.

Rough stuff.

A marriage between a Christian and Jew would seem tough at times, but there's just enough overlap. A marriage between a Christian and Buddhist could work, but would have moments as well. The world is becoming a smaller place, so these things could happen.

[jubaji]

heres a link about the two american soldiers who were having trouble after marrying iraqi women.

http://www.countercurrents.org/iraq-wright291003.htm.

Well, it sounds like that fella got some trouble for circumventing military rules. However, even for non-military personnel, marrying a foreign national and then bringing her to the states is a complicated, bureaucratic nightmare. Immigration lawyers get big bucks for wading through the paperwork and regulations and such. I suppose that adding to that the particular nature of our involvement with Iraq right now and its not too surprising that things would be at least...complicated.

Hopefully in the end these fellas will be living peacefully with their gals at home.

[DickHardman]

I don't think its the "foreign" aspect that makes this appealing, I think its simply the timing and opportunity presented.

i think the foreign aspect does draw people together, sometimes opposites attract.

[Tom Yum]

The Appeal of Foreign Women

I've often heard from an increasing number of friends that foreign women make better wives.

I can't say whether I agree or disagree with this, being single.

There are certain traits that are universal with women worldwide - allbeit culture changes the way and manner in which they respond; their religious uprbringing also steers some of this too.

I don't think its the "foreign" aspect that makes this appealing, I think its simply the timing and opportunity presented.

Timing in the sense that a single, lonely young man who can't find love from disinterested women at home meets a single, lonely young lady who wants to be treated more kindly - except the backdrop is in Iraq rather than say New York City.

[DickHardman]

Got any link to any of these stories?

heres a link about the two american soldiers who were having trouble after marrying iraqi women.

http://www.countercurrents.org/iraq-wright291003.htm

heres another one that talks about how certain rules are decided in war zones and whatnot.

http://www.slate.com/id/2152564/

and yes tom, i guess there are some security concerns given the circumstances we are in, like this story here

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-10/31/content_720498.htm

this is about the missing marine who was abducted by insurgents when we went to visit his iraqi wife.

[Tom Yum]

you know tom, i heard multiple instances of usa soldiers marrying iraqi women only to have their wives prohibited from returning with them to the usa. now i dont know if these soldiers in question were able to sort this problem out since then or not, but man, i was so outraged when i heard about this. these guys are over in iraq fighting for america, and our government wont even let them bring their wives home with them. that makes me sick and it makes me sad for the soldiers who give so much and get so little in return. there are soldiers in iraq that survive multiple bombings daily, the least you could do is give them the right to marry who they want.

I agree in theory. Any person should be able to marry who they want - but is it the best thing to do given the circumstances?

[jubaji]

you know tom, i heard multiple instances of usa soldiers marrying iraqi women only to have their wives prohibited from returning with them to the usa. now i dont know if these soldiers in question were able to sort this problem out since then or not, but man, i was so outraged when i heard about this. these guys are over in iraq fighting for america, and our government wont even let them bring their wives home with them. that makes me sick and it makes me sad for the soldiers who give so much and get so little in return. there are soldiers in iraq that survive multiple bombings daily, the least you could do is give them the right to marry who they want.

Got any link to any of these stories?

[DickHardman]

It was the evade, counteraccuse and deny thing that roped me in. Like in the book of Proverbs about how some kinds of women are like oil in the hands.

Anyhow, the guy seems promising in his endeavors, plus he's really tall but her parents are rather conservative and seem like Bible-based folks, which is good on one hand but not so much for the situation at hand.

If it becomes more than short-term fun, it could very well become like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Now let's tie this in to a defend.net topic for the military thread. Now that we're in Iraq and Afghanistan, will we allow refugees to seek citizenship in the U.S. like we did during the Vietnam war?

I've read stories about Soldiers and Marines whom have courted and married Iraqi women, despite their CO's orders not to. The women have resorted to hiding (so not to get caught and slaughtered by their own), while the men have had restricted travel from their base.

Will these women be allowed to travel back to the states with our men? If so, it would be a challenge for them to adapt if the men are from small town places and go back there - but unlike the Vietnam-war era, certain cities here are inhabited by people from around the globe.

If we allow refugees to travel individually, will we be able to run proper background checks so not to import Al Qaeda?

I'm not being racist here, but I have to make this disclaimer for all the ultra PC folks who may attack me otherwise.

you know tom, i heard multiple instances of usa soldiers marrying iraqi women only to have their wives prohibited from returning with them to the usa. now i dont know if these soldiers in question were able to sort this problem out since then or not, but man, i was so outraged when i heard about this. these guys are over in iraq fighting for america, and our government wont even let them bring their wives home with them. that makes me sick and it makes me sad for the soldiers who give so much and get so little in return. there are soldiers in iraq that survive multiple bombings daily, the least you could do is give them the right to marry who they want.

[knifethrower]

So are you in on the peep hole next to the girl's locker room... jk.

---------------------------

[knifethrower]

I have. Good stuff. Have you tried Hakusuru? Not too expensive, but a good everyday sake.

I'll look for it!