Girls into wives

Chicago Tribune, via Kansas City Star ^ | December 12, 2004 | Paul Salopek

[Graybeard58]

THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

[Age of Reason]

Because you are a control freak.

I merely know what is in my own best interest--and that of my loved ones--and I am not brainwashed into thinking otherwise.

A man should be the head of his family. His word should be law.

[Modernman]

A man should be the head of his family. His word should be law.

The thing that gives me comfort when corresponding with you is that very few rational people in this country will ever agree with you.

I place your views in the same category as radical Islam.

[hopespringseternal]

I hate toi inform you,but Ethiopia is primarily a Christina country and most Ethiopians belong to the Ethiopian Coptic Chruch. This has to do more with culture than religion.

Yeah, just like all those shy Christian girls taking off their clothes for Playboy.

Or all those "long time republicans" who come out of the woodwork every election to promote the democrat.

[Ecthelion]

How can one be born Christian? Did not Jesus say, "You must be born again"?

Or did I completely misunderstand you?

[CarolinaGuitarman]

I have read you just perfectly, and have in NO way misrepresented you. You have stated on 5/12 :

"Like I said, in a society that views such behavior as indecent and extremely promiscuous, they would not consider it rape.

The behavior of a prostitute, maybe, but not rape."

Anybody who believes that is the way we should go is a degenerate.

"I suggest that a woman entering a man's home unchaperoned as be adopted by society as a similar sign of consent."

And we suggest that if you took that attitude with any female relative of ours they wouldn't be able to find enough of you to identify.

You think women are little slaves, beneath the status of men. Things to own, screw, and make babies with. Your views are exactly the same as the Taliban's. Your FR name is an insult to Reason. And Rousseau was an idiot.

[Old Professer]

Sounds like you have control issues of your own.

[.38sw]

Once married, the wife should become the property of her husband.

Your kidding, right? A wife becomes property, kind of like a pet or something? What an, er, interesting concept.

[Mr. Jeeves]

A man should be the head of his family. His word should be law.

A man who is worthy will earn this status in his family, without any coercion of other family members by government or society. Your posts suggest that you think societal coercion to accord a man this status (whether he is worthy of it or not) is a good idea.

[JarheadFromFlorida]

C'mon guilty white liberals, tell how how our American culture is really not any better than Ethiopian culture. I can't wait for your responses (afterall, we shouldn't be judemental)!

[Clemenza]

Plenty of Ethiopians here in Seattle. I guess they come here for the coffee. Anyway, they are very protective of their ladies, although there have been no reported cases of "honor killings" unlike some of the Somalis in this country.

[Modernman]

C'mon guilty white liberals, tell how how our American culture is really not any better than Ethiopian culture.

In defense of Ethiopian culture, traditions like this are perfectly logical given the economic status quo in that country. It is only in wealthier societies that families can afford to keep supporting kids when they reach a marriageable age.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

A man should be the head of his family. His word should be law.

[frgoff]

Most 16 year olds that I have known, both male and female, were not mature enough to take on the responsibilities of marriage and a family.

That's cultural, and due, in large part, to the fact that our teenagers are idle and rich when compared to their ancestors two hundred years ago.

[Cronos]

How can one be born Christian? Did not Jesus say, "You must be born again"?

Yes He did. And one get's born again when one is baptised in The Church. The Teachings of Christ through His Church leads us to God.

[Cronos]

Ethiopians CAN do this in an impoverished country with a short life expectancy --> I would not condone this practise if they were Ethiopians living in the West or when Ethiopia becomes a prosperous nation (that's NOT a fantasy -- Ethiopia was a pretty prosperous nation for much of it's 3000+ year old history -- many of its famines were under Socialist, neo-Communist governments) or even a second-world, developing country.

There are no instances of dispicable practises like honor-killings or stoning of women who get raped.

[Cronos]

Yeah, just like all those shy Christian girls taking off their clothes for Playboy.

The Ethiopian Church is far stronger than any blue-state society. They, like other Orthodox and Oriental churchs (and still some Catholic countries like Poland), have religion written into the fabric of the country, the culture, the society etc.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I'll back you up. More young women need decent FATHERS in their lives than they need husbands, IMHO.

When I married at 18 to my High School sweetheart (also 18) my Dad said to me, "You can marry him, but you're going to have to finish raising him. Do you think you're up to the task?"

That marriage lasted six years, until I finally got fed up with "raising" him.

And Dear Old Dad was there to pick up the pieces for me. He wasn't HAPPY with me, and even sent me "back into the ring" a few times, but he was supportive.

I "chose wisely" the next time around. :)

I have no idea how to help women of other cultures. I think it's "pay as you go" for all of us women as far as bad marriages go no matter what our culture may be.

[SunnyUsa]

A woman could find no better owner than myself.

Bin Ladin - is that you?

[Age of Reason]

I'll back you up.

Thank you, Diana.

But I'm afraid it's really impossible to control kids when society (and the media) doesn't back parents up.

If they did, kids would grow up with more sense anyway.

In our modern society, parents are treated practically as abusers if they deny or discipline their kids.

Most horrible of all are those states with laws that allow kids to have abortions without their parents' knowledge.

Sorry about your first, by the way.

[Age of Reason]

Bin Ladin - is that you?

No.

For one thing, I like to think I smell better.