Quote From: lunarielKatherine is obviously too young to marry anyone, let alone someone she has never met in real life. I agree that her decision to travel to Jericho was rash and unwise. I do hope she will take the opportunity Dr. Phil has offered her to call for help and get home.
However...
I am very disappointed that this story has brought out such xenophobic feelings in some people here. Obviously, an 18-year-old has no business traveling to the Middle East against her family's wishes. However, it's also wrong to make the broad statement that people should not marry someone from another culture, move to another country, or find love on the internet. I have done all three (though I was much older and the country was not a war zone), and could not be happier.
I think Americans should open up more to other cultures, learn languages and travel more. The United States would have a better image abroad if Americans were more culturally sensitive -- within the boundaries of common sense, of course. I think that this story could have been averted if Katherine had learned about the country and culture of Palestine. I wish American schools could do a better job teaching children to speak other languages and know the world they live in.
xenophobic ?
His family "conspired" to get her out of the country when she was underaged.
That doesn't sound an alarm to you?
Your only thoughts are of how we might be...discriminating against a man and his family who has lured a child away from hers?
We'll leave "opening up to other countries to the "older, educated women" like you who presumably knew what they were getting into.... BTW...any children result from that beautiful love affair of yours? Any concerns about letting them travel outside the US without you?
