Comments on: Regulating Love http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/ "A tiny act can have profound effects." Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:37:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ms. Penguin http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-13624 Ms. Penguin Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:06:58 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-13624 The news report about Jewish organizations patrolling the streets to break up romances between Jewish girls and Arab men is so surprising, especially given the cultural and historical context of both groups. It is always in the news about attempts to create a peace settlement between Israel and Palestine, and how to get both groups to live together around Jerusalem. Also in an environment where the two groups live side by side in many areas and encounter each other on a daily basis. It seems natural that there would be relationships between Jews and Arabs, given their continual close proximity to each other, and what seems to be a mutual desire for peaceful co-existence by the majority of each population. There’s no reason two people should not be allowed to date simply because of one’s religion and another’s ethnicity. As was mentioned in the radio program, the Arab men approach girls nicely, buy her nice things, and build trust with her. From an American perspective, we can’t see a problem with a man treating a girl nicely and having a relationship build from that. So I personally can’t understand why these organizations are protesting them aside from the historical and religious conflicts between the two groups. You can’t expect to move forward and establish peaceful relations with this kind of backward thinking. I could understand such actions if it was an issue of Arab men abusing, taking advantage of, or manipulating Jewish girls into bad situations, but there is no evidence in the program to suggest anything like that. I also have to find the irony in these Jewish organizations trying to put an end to these relationships. While they probably are not the only ones who are uncomfortable with the situation, they do choose to try and keep the two groups from developing relationships with each other. And yet Jews were the once the target of the worst genocide in history, all because of their religion. Many of them migrated to Israel in the hopes of finding acceptance amongst a community they could build there in the religious homeland. But these groups now deny acceptance to mixed-culture relationships and are trying to break them up. There is an enormous amount of hypocrisy in that, which stands out to me almost more than the absurdity of trying to stop fate. If two people are going to be together and feel they are right for each other, they will end up together. Despite seeming absurd, it is clear that these organizations are the minority and that most Jews do not care about the ethnicity or religion of the other person. There are similar groups in America, although we generally think of them as being fanatical. They try to discourage interracial, cross-cultural, or mixed-religion relationships. However they hit the barrier of accessing these couples since they are spread over a much larger area and are not always noticeable. The fact that they are not alone however does not make either groups actions less bizarre or unacceptable in such a modern, globalized community. The news report about Jewish organizations patrolling the streets to break up romances between Jewish girls and Arab men is so surprising, especially given the cultural and historical context of both groups. It is always in the news about attempts to create a peace settlement between Israel and Palestine, and how to get both groups to live together around Jerusalem. Also in an environment where the two groups live side by side in many areas and encounter each other on a daily basis. It seems natural that there would be relationships between Jews and Arabs, given their continual close proximity to each other, and what seems to be a mutual desire for peaceful co-existence by the majority of each population.
There’s no reason two people should not be allowed to date simply because of one’s religion and another’s ethnicity. As was mentioned in the radio program, the Arab men approach girls nicely, buy her nice things, and build trust with her. From an American perspective, we can’t see a problem with a man treating a girl nicely and having a relationship build from that. So I personally can’t understand why these organizations are protesting them aside from the historical and religious conflicts between the two groups. You can’t expect to move forward and establish peaceful relations with this kind of backward thinking. I could understand such actions if it was an issue of Arab men abusing, taking advantage of, or manipulating Jewish girls into bad situations, but there is no evidence in the program to suggest anything like that.
I also have to find the irony in these Jewish organizations trying to put an end to these relationships. While they probably are not the only ones who are uncomfortable with the situation, they do choose to try and keep the two groups from developing relationships with each other. And yet Jews were the once the target of the worst genocide in history, all because of their religion. Many of them migrated to Israel in the hopes of finding acceptance amongst a community they could build there in the religious homeland. But these groups now deny acceptance to mixed-culture relationships and are trying to break them up. There is an enormous amount of hypocrisy in that, which stands out to me almost more than the absurdity of trying to stop fate. If two people are going to be together and feel they are right for each other, they will end up together.
Despite seeming absurd, it is clear that these organizations are the minority and that most Jews do not care about the ethnicity or religion of the other person. There are similar groups in America, although we generally think of them as being fanatical. They try to discourage interracial, cross-cultural, or mixed-religion relationships. However they hit the barrier of accessing these couples since they are spread over a much larger area and are not always noticeable. The fact that they are not alone however does not make either groups actions less bizarre or unacceptable in such a modern, globalized community.

]]> By: Wait, What? http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-13517 Wait, What? Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:04:49 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-13517 The blog entries in this class never cease to boggle my mind, and this account of the vigilante group attempting to save Jewish girls who are dating Arab men is no exception. The idea seems so absurd to me, that these men expect Jews and Arabs to live in such close proximity to one another, but not to form the kind of attachments and relationships when hormonal youths are in contact with each other. And why do the actions and habits of teenage girls concern men in their 30’s; that seems a little creepy to me. The men in this vigilante group talk about the “epidemic” of Jewish girls dating Arab men, like it is some sort of deadly disease that will wipe out the world population if something is not done about it. The one man says “the girls just blindly follow them. And with time, one friend follows another, and soon enough, you have a commune made up of these kinds of girls.” These men obviously don’t have any respect for or faith in the judgment of “their women.” Maybe that’s why these girls are drawn to the bad Arab men, because the Jewish men think they are weak and stupid and unable to decide things for themselves. I don’t understand why people care so much about stuff that doesn’t affect them. Who cares if a Jew wants to date and Arab? Or if a black person wants to date a white person? Or if a man wants to date another man? If two people are happy together and can get past the fact that they have two very different belief systems, cultures or whatever obstacles they may face, then why should it matter to anyone else? These men say that Jews and Arabs dating is a huge step backwards, but I think it’s a huge step forward. It seems to me that none of the Jewish girls like the men in this group and they are upset that their supply of potential girlfriends and wives is shrinking because these girls are stepping outside of the bounds of their society. Maybe if they weren’t such close-minded fools they would have better things to do at night then attempt to break up couples. But maybe it’s better if these men don’t procreate; we don’t need more people to “save” girls who find love outside their own race or culture. There are so many things wrong with this report. These sexist men don’t believe that the young women can handle their own business, and will get into Lord knows what kind of trouble if they do not date sensible Jewish men. Love is supposed to be a beautiful thing and these men have made it out to be something dirty and wrong. Being a teenage girl is hard enough, why must these jerks make it harder? The blog entries in this class never cease to boggle my mind, and this account of the vigilante group attempting to save Jewish girls who are dating Arab men is no exception. The idea seems so absurd to me, that these men expect Jews and Arabs to live in such close proximity to one another, but not to form the kind of attachments and relationships when hormonal youths are in contact with each other. And why do the actions and habits of teenage girls concern men in their 30’s; that seems a little creepy to me. The men in this vigilante group talk about the “epidemic” of Jewish girls dating Arab men, like it is some sort of deadly disease that will wipe out the world population if something is not done about it. The one man says “the girls just blindly follow them. And with time, one friend follows another, and soon enough, you have a commune made up of these kinds of girls.” These men obviously don’t have any respect for or faith in the judgment of “their women.” Maybe that’s why these girls are drawn to the bad Arab men, because the Jewish men think they are weak and stupid and unable to decide things for themselves.
I don’t understand why people care so much about stuff that doesn’t affect them. Who cares if a Jew wants to date and Arab? Or if a black person wants to date a white person? Or if a man wants to date another man? If two people are happy together and can get past the fact that they have two very different belief systems, cultures or whatever obstacles they may face, then why should it matter to anyone else? These men say that Jews and Arabs dating is a huge step backwards, but I think it’s a huge step forward. It seems to me that none of the Jewish girls like the men in this group and they are upset that their supply of potential girlfriends and wives is shrinking because these girls are stepping outside of the bounds of their society. Maybe if they weren’t such close-minded fools they would have better things to do at night then attempt to break up couples. But maybe it’s better if these men don’t procreate; we don’t need more people to “save” girls who find love outside their own race or culture.
There are so many things wrong with this report. These sexist men don’t believe that the young women can handle their own business, and will get into Lord knows what kind of trouble if they do not date sensible Jewish men. Love is supposed to be a beautiful thing and these men have made it out to be something dirty and wrong. Being a teenage girl is hard enough, why must these jerks make it harder?

]]> By: Cliffo689 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-13452 Cliffo689 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:20:22 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-13452 I think that this whole situation is ridiculous. How can you stop people from dating by stalking out popular teenage hangout spots and having a stranger try and stop a girl from getting into a car. If a strange man came up to me and tried to convince me that I shouldn’t be with my boyfriend I would probably be terrified and more inclined to leave with my boyfriend instead of talking to him. How is it legal that this guy can stalk around a parking lot and try to talk to teenagers about their sex lives? It is beyond creepy and pedophilic. How can you expect Arabs to live in Israel and Israelis to live in Palestine and to continue having them be enemies? Knowledge promotes tolerance and it is hard to continue to hate someone when you get to know them as individuals. I think that these men are looking at this situation all wrong. Instead of Israeli women and Arab men being together being looked at as a bad thing everyone should take this opportunity to embrace each other’s cultures and learn to work together. If we start to see our enemies as friends, lovers, and family we can start to bring down our guards and begin to work towards peace. If history has taught us anything it is that love conquers all. You can try to stop it and you can ban it all you want but people are going to love who they love and there is no one that can truly stop it. People in history have tried and perhaps still trying to stop interracial love, same-sex love, and now we are trying to stop love based on who our country is fighting. All these vigilantes are only displaying their own ignorance and hatred. There are always going to be people who are so unhappy in their own lives that they have to throw themselves into weird problems. If these men were actually happy with their lives then they would be so enraptured in that they wouldn’t have time for this obsessive behavior about other’s relationships. Just as a side note I think it is hysterical that the guy “David” who was hit by the car while trying to stop a girl from being with a guy is suing that guy. He says that he is doing it so that the girl will be so embarrassed that she will ditch the guy. The crazy things that he is telling himself are true are just purely ridiculous but what can you expect from a creeper that hangs out around parking lots looking for teenagers. I guess every culture and country have their crazies, even here at Penn State we have a guy who calls us all sinners and tells us we are going to hell. He is just as productive as this “vigilante” is. I think that this whole situation is ridiculous. How can you stop people from dating by stalking out popular teenage hangout spots and having a stranger try and stop a girl from getting into a car. If a strange man came up to me and tried to convince me that I shouldn’t be with my boyfriend I would probably be terrified and more inclined to leave with my boyfriend instead of talking to him. How is it legal that this guy can stalk around a parking lot and try to talk to teenagers about their sex lives? It is beyond creepy and pedophilic. How can you expect Arabs to live in Israel and Israelis to live in Palestine and to continue having them be enemies? Knowledge promotes tolerance and it is hard to continue to hate someone when you get to know them as individuals. I think that these men are looking at this situation all wrong. Instead of Israeli women and Arab men being together being looked at as a bad thing everyone should take this opportunity to embrace each other’s cultures and learn to work together. If we start to see our enemies as friends, lovers, and family we can start to bring down our guards and begin to work towards peace.

If history has taught us anything it is that love conquers all. You can try to stop it and you can ban it all you want but people are going to love who they love and there is no one that can truly stop it. People in history have tried and perhaps still trying to stop interracial love, same-sex love, and now we are trying to stop love based on who our country is fighting. All these vigilantes are only displaying their own ignorance and hatred. There are always going to be people who are so unhappy in their own lives that they have to throw themselves into weird problems. If these men were actually happy with their lives then they would be so enraptured in that they wouldn’t have time for this obsessive behavior about other’s relationships.

Just as a side note I think it is hysterical that the guy “David” who was hit by the car while trying to stop a girl from being with a guy is suing that guy. He says that he is doing it so that the girl will be so embarrassed that she will ditch the guy. The crazy things that he is telling himself are true are just purely ridiculous but what can you expect from a creeper that hangs out around parking lots looking for teenagers. I guess every culture and country have their crazies, even here at Penn State we have a guy who calls us all sinners and tells us we are going to hell. He is just as productive as this “vigilante” is.

]]> By: aiaiaiaid http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-13184 aiaiaiaid Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:51:01 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-13184 First of all, I want to say that it would be a lot better if there are some background explanations for certain phenomena. I do not know how many people know the exact relationship between Jews and Arabs. I know that this class is sociology class, especially focuses on race relationships, but there may be some people who are as ignorant as I am, and do not know what is going on between those two ethnic groups. I quickly looked up google for the relationship between the two. I already knew that they hate each other because of some territory issues and all other historical aspects, but I actually did not know anything about their relationship. It may easily come to Arabs and Jews, as the complex relationship between Korea and China easily come to me because of my nationality. Anyway, I found that this dating relationship between Jewish girl and Arab boy is very similar to that of Korean girl and Chinese boy. We, as Koreans, somehow simply view that any relationship between Korean and non-Korean are impure, or bad. Furthermore, I would say none of typical Korean would see the relationship between Korean girl and Chinese boy is okay. A relationship between Korean boy and Chinese girl would be little bit more accepted in general, though I have never seen any of these relationships in my life. I understand that because people see the guys should be responsible for economical matters and that is the traditional thought. Guys should have more money than girls do because the guys are the ones who supposed to feed the family, including his wife. In general, Korean people are wealthier than Chinese and people maybe unconsciously think that poor Chinese guys try to gain some financial support from rich Korean girl because girls are more moody and easily swayed by certain romantic languages or actions. Nobody sees the relationship between a wealthy, yet innocent Korean girl and a poor, but sneaky Chinese guy in a good way. I do not say this is always true and the case, but I can say that most people would consider those type of relationship in that way. It is quite interesting that wealth guys can take poor girls because the guys have money. I would say there would be certain sexism going on in these types of relationships. Guys should be taking responsibilities for girls, and therefore, guys should always be richer than girls in normal relationships. Then, we know the word, polygamy. Polygamy had practiced in Asian countries in the form that rich and powerful guys take many wives, but no woman had ever taken this form. Even though I am from Asian background, I can definitely see the relationship and consideration of those Jewish and Arab people. It was interesting for me to know that there are similar relationships and thoughts on the other side of the world. First of all, I want to say that it would be a lot better if there are some background explanations for certain phenomena. I do not know how many people know the exact relationship between Jews and Arabs. I know that this class is sociology class, especially focuses on race relationships, but there may be some people who are as ignorant as I am, and do not know what is going on between those two ethnic groups. I quickly looked up google for the relationship between the two. I already knew that they hate each other because of some territory issues and all other historical aspects, but I actually did not know anything about their relationship. It may easily come to Arabs and Jews, as the complex relationship between Korea and China easily come to me because of my nationality. Anyway, I found that this dating relationship between Jewish girl and Arab boy is very similar to that of Korean girl and Chinese boy. We, as Koreans, somehow simply view that any relationship between Korean and non-Korean are impure, or bad. Furthermore, I would say none of typical Korean would see the relationship between Korean girl and Chinese boy is okay. A relationship between Korean boy and Chinese girl would be little bit more accepted in general, though I have never seen any of these relationships in my life. I understand that because people see the guys should be responsible for economical matters and that is the traditional thought. Guys should have more money than girls do because the guys are the ones who supposed to feed the family, including his wife. In general, Korean people are wealthier than Chinese and people maybe unconsciously think that poor Chinese guys try to gain some financial support from rich Korean girl because girls are more moody and easily swayed by certain romantic languages or actions. Nobody sees the relationship between a wealthy, yet innocent Korean girl and a poor, but sneaky Chinese guy in a good way. I do not say this is always true and the case, but I can say that most people would consider those type of relationship in that way. It is quite interesting that wealth guys can take poor girls because the guys have money. I would say there would be certain sexism going on in these types of relationships. Guys should be taking responsibilities for girls, and therefore, guys should always be richer than girls in normal relationships. Then, we know the word, polygamy. Polygamy had practiced in Asian countries in the form that rich and powerful guys take many wives, but no woman had ever taken this form. Even though I am from Asian background, I can definitely see the relationship and consideration of those Jewish and Arab people. It was interesting for me to know that there are similar relationships and thoughts on the other side of the world.

]]> By: Dick Hardigan http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-12904 Dick Hardigan Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:15:01 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-12904 This is almost laughable. It is none of these vigilantes’ business. Who are you to decide what is best; what is and is not acceptable behavior? Get a life. I do not understand why this man cares about who a teenage girl does and does not date. I am just trying to picture how the scene would actually play out. A young girl innocently meeting up with her friends is stopped by a man trying to “save” her? This is ridiculous. This should be illegal. Medaling in other people’s business for no reason? Chasing them down the street? Come on. There should not be a complaint filed against the Arab man who accidentally hit the vigilante, there should be a complaint filed against the vigilante for stalking these people and potentially endangering their lives. It is also a great problem that Jewish girls dating Arab men need to be saved, but Jewish men dating Arab girls is ok because men just need to get laid. So is that to say, who cares about Arab girls anyway? They are not of anyone’s concern. This is hypocrisy at its best. Men always “get away” with so much more than women. Men are held to a completely different standard all over the world. What is the problem with having a vagina? Why does that somehow make us less worthy of equality? Perhaps these men should do something more productive with their time. Sex trafficking is a problem within their country, I’m sure. These are girls that actually need help and where an intervention would be very appropriate. Instead of fiercely trying to cripple their country, help it progress. Try to help make changes where changes need to be made. With the time these men donate to “saving” Jewish girls, they could get a second job and donate the money to the poor people within their country. There you go. Now you are making a difference. If I were one of these girls or one of these Arab men, I would be absolutely furious. These people are just so ignorant. Is there any sort of outcry about this issue? This could be a sign of change to come, however. If these young girls see Arabs as people as opposed to “the enemy,” hopefully they will grow up and maintain those beliefs. In turn, the view of Arabs will change and perhaps generate a more peaceful and tolerant country. Hopefully, when this girl is a woman, she will take this experience and educate the people around her as to how violated she felt and how wrong it was. It seems that this country is just a bit behind the times. Hopefully things will change in the years to come. This is almost laughable. It is none of these vigilantes’ business. Who are you to decide what is best; what is and is not acceptable behavior? Get a life. I do not understand why this man cares about who a teenage girl does and does not date. I am just trying to picture how the scene would actually play out. A young girl innocently meeting up with her friends is stopped by a man trying to “save” her? This is ridiculous. This should be illegal. Medaling in other people’s business for no reason? Chasing them down the street? Come on. There should not be a complaint filed against the Arab man who accidentally hit the vigilante, there should be a complaint filed against the vigilante for stalking these people and potentially endangering their lives.
It is also a great problem that Jewish girls dating Arab men need to be saved, but Jewish men dating Arab girls is ok because men just need to get laid. So is that to say, who cares about Arab girls anyway? They are not of anyone’s concern. This is hypocrisy at its best. Men always “get away” with so much more than women. Men are held to a completely different standard all over the world. What is the problem with having a vagina? Why does that somehow make us less worthy of equality?
Perhaps these men should do something more productive with their time. Sex trafficking is a problem within their country, I’m sure. These are girls that actually need help and where an intervention would be very appropriate. Instead of fiercely trying to cripple their country, help it progress. Try to help make changes where changes need to be made.
With the time these men donate to “saving” Jewish girls, they could get a second job and donate the money to the poor people within their country. There you go. Now you are making a difference.
If I were one of these girls or one of these Arab men, I would be absolutely furious. These people are just so ignorant. Is there any sort of outcry about this issue?
This could be a sign of change to come, however. If these young girls see Arabs as people as opposed to “the enemy,” hopefully they will grow up and maintain those beliefs. In turn, the view of Arabs will change and perhaps generate a more peaceful and tolerant country. Hopefully, when this girl is a woman, she will take this experience and educate the people around her as to how violated she felt and how wrong it was. It seems that this country is just a bit behind the times. Hopefully things will change in the years to come.

]]> By: Lilly http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-12891 Lilly Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:41:10 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-12891 The young are accidentally the ones at the forward and pushing the edge of the social norms. So strange... patrolling for the girls who are being "rebellious" and being flirtatious with other men. "Not with our enemies." "Rescuing". Oh wow. How on earth is that rescuing? To define one's placement in the kingdom according to whether they live in one group or another. To define one's placement in the kingdom as to who they happen to be with at the time and who they want to spend time with. This seriously sounds like it is coming out of a Shakespeare play. In a way, I get that they want their daughters to remain with the cultural faith and grow up and marry and raise children in that belief. To be with a muslim man would be horrific. Seen from that perspective, perhaps it is more understandable. But it still seems quite mad for these grown men to be so obsessed with what other people's daughters are doing that they chase them around in the night to scare them into obedience. I if I know anything about teenagers, which I should since I've spent the past ten years or so being one, that is not going to solve anyone's problem but rather encourage it beyond control. Some girls might physically and verbally submit to this control. Inside though, the rebellion will be planted and will grow with every ridiculous move. Let there be conversations! Let it not be so banned that it is the irresistable lure! Sheesh. I wouldn't want my daughters running around at night with men I didn't know. I don't think it is the business of my fantatic and paranoid neighbor to go get her! Boys and girls will talk. Other things will also happen which I'm not so okay with... but this is just silly. Ah, the mother in me is coming out and I am starting to side with the parents and the community. But it is not the end of the world. They may see it so in some contexts but it really isn't. There is definitely deep seated racial hatred here, going back farther than tensions with blacks and whites in this country. The young are pushing this, questioning its validity. The world wants peace for that nation. And these young ones, women and men my own age, could be part of bringing this about as the mindsets shift and question all the assumptions held by their parents. Where does the thread end? The holes we poke will be places our children try to drive mac trucks through. The allowances must be thought out. But caring for eachothers neighbors surely gets us nowhere if it is fought back with fear and emnity! Let them be neighbors and not be so silly about dating. The young are accidentally the ones at the forward and pushing the edge of the social norms. So strange… patrolling for the girls who are being “rebellious” and being flirtatious with other men. “Not with our enemies.” “Rescuing”. Oh wow. How on earth is that rescuing? To define one’s placement in the kingdom according to whether they live in one group or another. To define one’s placement in the kingdom as to who they happen to be with at the time and who they want to spend time with. This seriously sounds like it is coming out of a Shakespeare play. In a way, I get that they want their daughters to remain with the cultural faith and grow up and marry and raise children in that belief. To be with a muslim man would be horrific. Seen from that perspective, perhaps it is more understandable. But it still seems quite mad for these grown men to be so obsessed with what other people’s daughters are doing that they chase them around in the night to scare them into obedience. I if I know anything about teenagers, which I should since I’ve spent the past ten years or so being one, that is not going to solve anyone’s problem but rather encourage it beyond control. Some girls might physically and verbally submit to this control. Inside though, the rebellion will be planted and will grow with every ridiculous move. Let there be conversations! Let it not be so banned that it is the irresistable lure! Sheesh. I wouldn’t want my daughters running around at night with men I didn’t know. I don’t think it is the business of my fantatic and paranoid neighbor to go get her! Boys and girls will talk. Other things will also happen which I’m not so okay with… but this is just silly. Ah, the mother in me is coming out and I am starting to side with the parents and the community. But it is not the end of the world. They may see it so in some contexts but it really isn’t. There is definitely deep seated racial hatred here, going back farther than tensions with blacks and whites in this country. The young are pushing this, questioning its validity. The world wants peace for that nation. And these young ones, women and men my own age, could be part of bringing this about as the mindsets shift and question all the assumptions held by their parents. Where does the thread end? The holes we poke will be places our children try to drive mac trucks through. The allowances must be thought out. But caring for eachothers neighbors surely gets us nowhere if it is fought back with fear and emnity! Let them be neighbors and not be so silly about dating.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-12835 Amanda Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:56:31 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-12835 As I began to read this article, I realized how much I could actually relate. It makes me uncomfortable to actually say that, but it really does hit home. I am a Jewish girl who lives in Long Island. I personally believe that if you find love, it should not matter what religion that person is. With that being said, the Jewish population in and around my area (especially my grandparents) believes that when a Jewish person marries, they should marry within their religion. I couldn’t disagree more. Why should you force love with someone just to make people happy? Regardless of how many times I’ve heard people jokingly see, “marry Jewish or you wont get the matzo ball soup recipe” I think it is easier to just say ‘OK” rather than to argue. I think people like my grandparents are so stuck in the old ways of life they do not even care about the changing times. Although they are elders, I think it is highly naive for them to believe that their words will stop the many Jewish teenagers from dating whomever they please. In regards to the article I feel it very much relates to people in America. Why should Jewish women be unable to date Arabs? This idea is altogether ridiculous but in no doubt does occur. How can dating an Arab be “dangerous?” The fact of the matter is, dating outside of your own religion can only be exciting and a learning situation. You can learn the customs and beliefs of other religions and in time you will find that there are in fact many similarities between the two. The ways in which the Israelis are trying to promote this issue is by teaching and preaching. For me anyways when you tell me I cant do something, gives me more of a reason to defy your words. I highly doubt that a large number of Israeli girls will listen to a pamphlet in which it tells them not to date Arab men. I feel that if people tried to accept issues like these we can move past a large issue of ignorance and racism. In conclusion, for me at least I feel that if there is love nothing else should matter. Have the freedom to love whomever you please should be an absolute right for all. I think the real issues are the people, like the older generations, who are afraid to accept the new ways of life. I mean this makes me think that woman have taken a step back in society. Are they insisting that Jewish women are incapable of choosing their own partners? Regardless of their reasoning’s it’s absolutely out of control. But unfortunately with the thriving hate between the races that still does, (although many will not agree) exist today, issues like these will promote prejudice all over the world. As I began to read this article, I realized how much I could actually relate. It makes me uncomfortable to actually say that, but it really does hit home. I am a Jewish girl who lives in Long Island. I personally believe that if you find love, it should not matter what religion that person is. With that being said, the Jewish population in and around my area (especially my grandparents) believes that when a Jewish person marries, they should marry within their religion. I couldn’t disagree more. Why should you force love with someone just to make people happy? Regardless of how many times I’ve heard people jokingly see, “marry Jewish or you wont get the matzo ball soup recipe” I think it is easier to just say ‘OK” rather than to argue. I think people like my grandparents are so stuck in the old ways of life they do not even care about the changing times. Although they are elders, I think it is highly naive for them to believe that their words will stop the many Jewish teenagers from dating whomever they please.
In regards to the article I feel it very much relates to people in America. Why should Jewish women be unable to date Arabs? This idea is altogether ridiculous but in no doubt does occur. How can dating an Arab be “dangerous?” The fact of the matter is, dating outside of your own religion can only be exciting and a learning situation. You can learn the customs and beliefs of other religions and in time you will find that there are in fact many similarities between the two. The ways in which the Israelis are trying to promote this issue is by teaching and preaching. For me anyways when you tell me I cant do something, gives me more of a reason to defy your words. I highly doubt that a large number of Israeli girls will listen to a pamphlet in which it tells them not to date Arab men. I feel that if people tried to accept issues like these we can move past a large issue of ignorance and racism.
In conclusion, for me at least I feel that if there is love nothing else should matter. Have the freedom to love whomever you please should be an absolute right for all. I think the real issues are the people, like the older generations, who are afraid to accept the new ways of life. I mean this makes me think that woman have taken a step back in society. Are they insisting that Jewish women are incapable of choosing their own partners? Regardless of their reasoning’s it’s absolutely out of control. But unfortunately with the thriving hate between the races that still does, (although many will not agree) exist today, issues like these will promote prejudice all over the world.

]]> By: Steve http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-12827 Steve Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:32:20 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-12827 The picture of Jewish and Arab children playing together is a reminder that most often the most innocent people affected by racism are children. At a young age, they do not realize that playing with children of other races is considered wrong by some people. It is sad to see how quickly children stop playing with other kids of different races just because their parents let their own racist views interfere. With that being sad, I think it is terribly sad that young Jewish men are patrolling Israel looking for Arab men that are dating Jewish women. It is especially troubling when I heard the Jewish man from the NPR clip say that he was hurt when he saw a Jewish woman dating an Arab man. I realize that major contributors to the Jewish man’s views are based upon cultural views and it is often something that they have grown up believing. However, it is sad to see this occurring because that Arab man could be identical to any other person, but the one main factor that makes him evil is that he is an Arab and not Jewish. In addition, I find it interesting that the Jewish men claim that the Arab men lure Jewish women away with kindness, money, and gifts. When looking at any relationship, I would like to believe that if a man is acting kindly to a woman and providing her with luxuries to show his affection, any woman would become fond of the man even if he was Jewish. However, the one main focus for the Jewish men is that if it is an Arab man doing these things, than he is simply taking advantage of Jewish women and he is evil. Love is something that no one can control. It happens at random times and often it can happen between two people that are not meant to be together due to their own cultural beliefs. Even though people may believe that two people should not be together, it really is not up to them. The only thing that matters is if those two people truly do love each other and as far as anyone else is concerned, that is all that should matter. It is easy for me to sit back and ramble off my beliefs, but the key point is that I will never be able to grasp this story because it is not my culture. My cultural beliefs are completely different from those of Jewish and Arab people of Israel. They each have their own cultural beliefs and practices and they are difficult for me to understand because I am not a part of either of those cultures. If I had grown up in those cultures, it may even be plausible that I would even share their same beliefs. However, I grew up with a completely different culture and so my views are views that most likely do not fit any of the beliefs or views of Jewish or Arab people of Israel. The picture of Jewish and Arab children playing together is a reminder that most often the most innocent people affected by racism are children. At a young age, they do not realize that playing with children of other races is considered wrong by some people. It is sad to see how quickly children stop playing with other kids of different races just because their parents let their own racist views interfere. With that being sad, I think it is terribly sad that young Jewish men are patrolling Israel looking for Arab men that are dating Jewish women. It is especially troubling when I heard the Jewish man from the NPR clip say that he was hurt when he saw a Jewish woman dating an Arab man. I realize that major contributors to the Jewish man’s views are based upon cultural views and it is often something that they have grown up believing. However, it is sad to see this occurring because that Arab man could be identical to any other person, but the one main factor that makes him evil is that he is an Arab and not Jewish. In addition, I find it interesting that the Jewish men claim that the Arab men lure Jewish women away with kindness, money, and gifts. When looking at any relationship, I would like to believe that if a man is acting kindly to a woman and providing her with luxuries to show his affection, any woman would become fond of the man even if he was Jewish. However, the one main focus for the Jewish men is that if it is an Arab man doing these things, than he is simply taking advantage of Jewish women and he is evil.
Love is something that no one can control. It happens at random times and often it can happen between two people that are not meant to be together due to their own cultural beliefs. Even though people may believe that two people should not be together, it really is not up to them. The only thing that matters is if those two people truly do love each other and as far as anyone else is concerned, that is all that should matter.
It is easy for me to sit back and ramble off my beliefs, but the key point is that I will never be able to grasp this story because it is not my culture. My cultural beliefs are completely different from those of Jewish and Arab people of Israel. They each have their own cultural beliefs and practices and they are difficult for me to understand because I am not a part of either of those cultures. If I had grown up in those cultures, it may even be plausible that I would even share their same beliefs. However, I grew up with a completely different culture and so my views are views that most likely do not fit any of the beliefs or views of Jewish or Arab people of Israel.

]]> By: Urbanista http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-12784 Urbanista Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:41:46 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-12784 As a Hindu girl brought up in a strict Indian family I have always been told that I can marry whomever I want just as long as that person does not follow Islam. A lot of people might be wondering why this is the case. It all started in 1947 when the British partitioned the subcontinent of Indi a into the separate countries of West Pakistan, now the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, India, and West Pakistan which is now Bangladesh. Many Muslims living in the present day country of India were forced to migrate across the borders to East or West Pakistan and many Hindus living in current day Pakistan and Bangladesh had to migrate across the borders to present day India. It is notable one of the greatest migrations in the history. During this time there were many riots that broke out in the cities between Hindus and Muslims. Hindus massacred Muslims and Muslims massacred Hindus. East and West Pakistan were supposed to be predominantly Muslim thus many people were forced out of their homeland to move to another country. This is exactly what happened to my family. My grandfather was a very well known lawyer in the city of Dhaka in current day Bangladesh and when he had to move to India, he lost everything which threw him into complete depression which he eventually died of. For some reason my family thinks that Muslims are to blame for this. But I have no idea why! Both Muslims AND Hindus were uprooted during the 1947 Indian Partition. It isn’t just one side who is to blame. It really is just one group of people from both sides of the battle. Any ways for this reason I would never be allowed to marry someone who is Muslim. But this summer my cousin decided she wanted to marry her college sweetheart and he happened to be…Muslim. She told her parents that she wouldn’t marry anyone else if she didn’t marry him so they gave in. Her parents were so disappointed and on top of that, so was my own father. He just didn’t understand how she could disrespect her parents like that after everything that they have done for her. From this I learned that I would never do anything like that to my parents. But what if, by chance I met and fell in love with someone not knowing anything about their religious background and he turned out to be Muslim. Would I just give it up for my parents? But then again my parents who have done everything for me? I know many other girls and boys like myself who are in a similar situation. One of my best friends who is Muslim actually is currently dating someone who is Hindu. She sees the relationship getting serious but she knows that her parents would never approve. I ask her why she’s putting herself in this position but sometimes you just have to live in the moment and take it day by day. Something to think about. As a Hindu girl brought up in a strict Indian family I have always been told that I can marry whomever I want just as long as that person does not follow Islam. A lot of people might be wondering why this is the case. It all started in 1947 when the British partitioned the subcontinent of Indi a into the separate countries of West Pakistan, now the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, India, and West Pakistan which is now Bangladesh. Many Muslims living in the present day country of India were forced to migrate across the borders to East or West Pakistan and many Hindus living in current day Pakistan and Bangladesh had to migrate across the borders to present day India. It is notable one of the greatest migrations in the history. During this time there were many riots that broke out in the cities between Hindus and Muslims. Hindus massacred Muslims and Muslims massacred Hindus. East and West Pakistan were supposed to be predominantly Muslim thus many people were forced out of their homeland to move to another country. This is exactly what happened to my family. My grandfather was a very well known lawyer in the city of Dhaka in current day Bangladesh and when he had to move to India, he lost everything which threw him into complete depression which he eventually died of. For some reason my family thinks that Muslims are to blame for this. But I have no idea why! Both Muslims AND Hindus were uprooted during the 1947 Indian Partition. It isn’t just one side who is to blame. It really is just one group of people from both sides of the battle. Any ways for this reason I would never be allowed to marry someone who is Muslim. But this summer my cousin decided she wanted to marry her college sweetheart and he happened to be…Muslim. She told her parents that she wouldn’t marry anyone else if she didn’t marry him so they gave in. Her parents were so disappointed and on top of that, so was my own father. He just didn’t understand how she could disrespect her parents like that after everything that they have done for her. From this I learned that I would never do anything like that to my parents. But what if, by chance I met and fell in love with someone not knowing anything about their religious background and he turned out to be Muslim. Would I just give it up for my parents? But then again my parents who have done everything for me? I know many other girls and boys like myself who are in a similar situation. One of my best friends who is Muslim actually is currently dating someone who is Hindu. She sees the relationship getting serious but she knows that her parents would never approve. I ask her why she’s putting herself in this position but sometimes you just have to live in the moment and take it day by day. Something to think about.

]]> By: StickyKeys http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/regulating-love/comment-page-4/#comment-12469 StickyKeys Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:16:10 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=787#comment-12469 It surprises me that there are people in Israel that are regulating the interactions of younger members of their communities in the way that they are in this news report. I guess it is somewhat like that story of the minister who refused to marry an interracial couple. With that being an example, it is difficult to say that nothing like this happens in the United States, because it obviously does. In the US, it may be race that is the deciding factor in who a person will hang out with, whereas in Israel it seems to be that different ethnicities are the deciding factor. If it is Jewish tradition to marry within the Jewish faith, I can understand why people may become upset if marriages between the Jews and Arabs were occurring. But in this case, it is simply Jewish girls hanging out with Arab boys. What is surprising to me so how those who were interviewed on the newscast presented themselves as superior to the Arabs. The one girl who said that the Arab boys like to hang out with Jewish girls said one thing in particular that really surprised me. She said that the Jewish kids wear normal clothes unlike the Arab girls. This really shocked me because it shows that the Jewish girls are taught that they are the normal ones and that the Arabs are the others. How can people ever get along if they are always being told that they are better than someone else? This makes me think of how if you tell a little kid not to do something, they are absolutely going to do that something. People like to rebel. These girls are taught not to date Arab boys, but then the Arab boys start showing the girls some attention, and the girls decide to rebel against what they are taught and date the boys. I really can’t believe that there are these vigilantes that will travel to the hang out spots for young couples and try to break up the relationships between the Jewish and Arab children. I wish I knew what they would say to the girls when they arrive. The only thing that the members of these groups said is that they try to talk to the girls so that they now the Arabs are the enemy. Does that mean they insult these boys to their faces when they confront a girl with an Arab boy? If that is the case, I wonder why the Jews and Arabs have so much tension between them…seriously, let me insult you and say how horrible you are, and now I expect you to not retaliate. It seems as those these groups may end up doing more harm and good in the long run. It surprises me that there are people in Israel that are regulating the interactions of younger members of their communities in the way that they are in this news report. I guess it is somewhat like that story of the minister who refused to marry an interracial couple. With that being an example, it is difficult to say that nothing like this happens in the United States, because it obviously does. In the US, it may be race that is the deciding factor in who a person will hang out with, whereas in Israel it seems to be that different ethnicities are the deciding factor. If it is Jewish tradition to marry within the Jewish faith, I can understand why people may become upset if marriages between the Jews and Arabs were occurring. But in this case, it is simply Jewish girls hanging out with Arab boys. What is surprising to me so how those who were interviewed on the newscast presented themselves as superior to the Arabs.
The one girl who said that the Arab boys like to hang out with Jewish girls said one thing in particular that really surprised me. She said that the Jewish kids wear normal clothes unlike the Arab girls. This really shocked me because it shows that the Jewish girls are taught that they are the normal ones and that the Arabs are the others. How can people ever get along if they are always being told that they are better than someone else? This makes me think of how if you tell a little kid not to do something, they are absolutely going to do that something. People like to rebel. These girls are taught not to date Arab boys, but then the Arab boys start showing the girls some attention, and the girls decide to rebel against what they are taught and date the boys.
I really can’t believe that there are these vigilantes that will travel to the hang out spots for young couples and try to break up the relationships between the Jewish and Arab children. I wish I knew what they would say to the girls when they arrive. The only thing that the members of these groups said is that they try to talk to the girls so that they now the Arabs are the enemy. Does that mean they insult these boys to their faces when they confront a girl with an Arab boy? If that is the case, I wonder why the Jews and Arabs have so much tension between them…seriously, let me insult you and say how horrible you are, and now I expect you to not retaliate. It seems as those these groups may end up doing more harm and good in the long run.

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