Quote From: naghmeh1351
We are a couple from Iran but we arrived Australia 15 months ago. We are one of your long-standing audiences from Iran and in Australia as well. Yesterday we were watching your program which was about an American teenage girl (Katherine) who flew to the Middle East to be with Abdullah, whom she met online. At the beginning of the show your focus was about being aware of the behavior of teenagers specifically their online connection. But after that the subject was changed to blaming and criticizing Abdullah who you and all of your audiences believed that attempting to brain washing Katherine regardless of concerning Katherine as well who was hiding her relationship from her family. Both should be judged fairly for following immature & dizzying infatuation relationship not only Abdullah who is identified as a symbol of any Middle East male who was trying to deceive Katherine.
But Im sending this email for you as an honored Expert who his goal is improving the attitudes of every individual as the core of any society and help them to sort out their personal problem as well. Initially I apologize you for proposing my suggestions which might not be approved by most of your audiences who are sizing up Middle East people as uneducated, terrorist, immoral.. Our expectation of your shows is basically depends on discussing about any social issues without discrimination, racism, disrespect ethical, cultural & religious differences.
When your guests & audiences are talking about The Middle east and amalgamating different problems by getting final results which are based on ignoring emotions of the people who are living there. Generalizing, Judging people and blaming lifestyle, ethical and cultural standards of any society definitely so disturbing and not fair, regardless of respecting many moral and cultural standards which make most of Muslim countries safe of big issues such as the family gap relationship, disrespect of children toward parents, being loyal, fair and responsible to others whether as a couple or any member of the society.
At the end of your show you were talking about Betty Mahmoodi who ran away with her daughter from Iran. Her book and the film which was based on her story was so suffering and painful for our people. There was widespread international condemnation of her exaggerated story so most of the people around the world were impressed of her misery and finding Iranians as a savage, cruel and uncivilized people as she monitored .When you are bringing up social matters your audience follow and see things through your eyes, therefore they are influenced by your judgment.
Regarding the fact that your shows are televised widespread in most part of the world, you are as an honored expert teaching us how to size people up regardless of their religion, skin color, nationality, political affairs and culture. As far as Im concerned avoiding discrimination, stereotype, and racism are the main targets of your programs.
We are proud of having chance of watching your program which is greatly & fundamentally influenced our relationship and our attitudes to others.
Regarding your statements of the Film :"Not Without My Daughter", By Betty Mahmoodi
I was living in the Middle East at that time, she protrayed the "Truth", of what was going on in her
own life! No where in the Book or Film, did she try to depict,people from Iran as savages. or cruel,
uncivilized people!
They did not like it because he was from Iran, it brought a lot of needed warnings out in the open!
This was going on throughout the whole Middle East, they were trying to ban the movie , and film.
It was a fact, he tricked her, and she was under the assumption it was a vacation! So he is the one to blame for keeping her their as a prisoner, against her will!
Betty had to do what she could to protect herslf and escape his abuse , and gain her freedom!!
This was not discrimination ,or an exaggerated story, it was her fight to gain freedom& protect her daughter! She endured many hardships there.
People were not impressed, they felt immense sympathy and empathy, for her painful journey!
Through her story other women , caught in the same circumstances, were getting courage to get out also, of similar circumstances, throughout the Middle East!
This is the way in the Middle East, always they screen the truth from being exposed to the people.
I saw many women caught in countries, and could not leave.
It does not matter if these children are born in the states or not, they have dual citizenship, and the husband makes the final decision if they stay, if they are in the Middle East!
Betty helped a lot of women, many that were thinking of going overseas with their children, thought twice!! Thank God
Some women even were successful, in many missions where they actually hired a"swat team" of sort, to go in and get these kids out, that were being forced to stay!
So if you think being held against your will is the right way to operate, you are mistaken!
Husbands in the Middle East that are holding their wives ,and children captive literally, are abusers,
and criminals! That is not a marriage of love and trust!!
In regards to Katherine, their was no predjudice, she is one lucky girl!
The story did focus on the Middle East, because their is so much of this activity, still going on, and yes"brainwashing" was involved! Abdullah was from Palestine, should they have fabricated a
different country, just to pacify the Muslims!!
By the way, not just the Betty Mahmoodi story, the Middle East is infamous for covering up real
accounts, even of Muslim Women and their Muslim Husbands!
At that same time period they were banning the true story also of the "Death of a Princess",
who was stoned to death, who was an arab girl and her arab lover. She was covered when murdered!
Yes she was from the Royal Family, but their are many common arab women killed, and their lovers!
They also killed her arab lover in a public square! It was a terrible tradgedy!
Some young arab lovers, had"Romeo and Juliet" type stories , in a lot of Middle Eastern countries, who were not allowed to marry each other, both being arab, the families didn't approve, or had an arranged marriage for one or the other. Some cases even the arab girls do get pregnant, they marry them off fast, so the family has no "Shame" on them!
The Middle East does not like it exposed , but a lot of these couples were actually committing suicide years ago, because they could not be together!
Betty Thank God you saved yourself& your daughter!!
You shed a lot of light for other women in your same situation, that they can get out of that darkness!
You brought awareness to others Internationally!
What great courage you had, and God protected you through your ordeal, until you reached safety!
Got Your Freedom Back!
Dr. Phil follows up with a family terrified for the safety of their loved one, Katherine, a young woman who flew to the Middle East to be with Abdullah, whom she met online. When she last spoke with Dr. Phil, Katherine promised that she would return to the United States within two days, but immediately after the show, she changed her mind. Find out what happened during two failed attempts to get Katherine home, and what finally got her on a plane. Then, Katherine’s mother, Shawn, and sister, Mary, say they were overwhelmingly relieved to have her back safe, so why didn’t they greet her at the airport? Katherine joins her family onstage and offers her tearful apologies. After hearing how her actions have affected her family and Dr. Phil’s staff, will Katherine go back to Abdullah, or will she have a change of heart? Join the discussion.
