“Love is everything it’s cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.”
Our special feature this month is dedicated to all those who took that risk—who despite cultural, racial, and religious barriers—followed their hearts to a relationship or marriage their parents did not approve of.
It’s not easy to disappoint, no matter how sincere the reason. But bit-by-bit, because of the persistence of those who dared to be different, there will be change.
However, as children, as future parents, we must remember to carry out that change.
When I dug a little deeper into the stories in this issue, I found something I didn’t see coming.
I knew the parents we spoke to might have rigid cultural expectations of the people they wanted their children to marry. But what I did not foresee was the children themselves—the new generation of open-minded, educated, global citizens—expressing a similar narrow vision of thought.
If you yourself have converted to another religion or married a man from a different culture, country or race—with what grounding do you hold on to an expectation that your child should not do the same?
I sincerely appreciate the honesty of those who shared this particular expectation, for were it not for them, we would have no avenue to begin understanding.
We focus so much on parents, and the way they have done things. But let’s take a moment and look at ourselves. As children, as future parents, are we acting all that differently? Are we moving forward? Are we truly broadening our minds?
As you read through the articles this month, take a few moments to share your views with us. Please comment. Help us better understand the contradictions in others, as well as the ones we might be hiding in ourselves.
