Topic : 11/26 Katherine Returns

At 16 Katherine's mom could have put her foot down and taken the computer and cell phone away. Is that so hard? Abdulah is from a different culture where women are treated differently and that is the norm. He is a very confused young man right now, and he does not understand just as we do not understand the way he has been brought up. I believe it is the clashing of two cultures.

Dr. Phil is to be commended in bringing Katherine home, but it ends there. I think he handled the break up wrong, and succeeded in  embarrassing both Katherine and Abdulah in front of the American audience. Showmanship and ratings, that is what it was all about. I think Dr. Phil is getting to be a new Jerry Springer.  I hate that, as basically I think that Dr. Phil started out so good in helping people and now it is getting to be real trash t.v.  Katherine, I hope you are sincere and will not be back over there within the year and disappoint your family and friends who truly love you. You seem to be a  very self-serving young lady without direction.

I'm sure this was an adventure for her.  It was fun for awhile.  Mom, you have to see how she needed this.  I'm happy she learned from this at such a young age...it will help her make better choices now.  Not all Arabs are bad to women.  In fact, I dated several while I worked in Saudi.  There is a lure with Arab men....they want to take care of you in an old fashioned way.  For those of us who are fed up wih American men,  it is refreshing on some level.  What you find out is that it is fun to learn about other cultures.  Just don't expect it to last.  

I am curious as to where Katherine's father was?  Girls need a male role model in their lives.  Sometimes fathers are weak though and don't do what needs to be done.  It seems as if everyone is blaming Abdullah.  I find him immature and disrespectful however she also had free choice.  His parents were wrong to send her over there when she was 16 but it is also a different culture there, not the same as ours. 

She was 18 when she went the 2nd time.  Her mother didn't have control at that point.  I haven't raised girls of my own, but I have one, and also raised three boys.  Our computer was in the family room...for a reason.  I can see what they are doing.  I also can track their history and have managed to raise responsible boys that way.

If Katherine were my daughter serious limits would have been set the FIRST time she left.  But, it is easier to have an opinion when you are not in it.  I thought that I heard mother say that  she has a disabled 14 year old son, along with a 3 year old.  We don't know the full story of their lives.  These boards are pretty judgemental.  It sounds as if mom has a full plate.  I am just thankful I didn't have to walk in her shoes.

I just wouldl ike to clarify few points

first,  i have no clue why this is truning into a religious isssue, but just for everyone's info, what happened between abdullah and catherine is soemthing that could've happened between any couple regardless of their cultural background

second, on the show, dr phil kept saying catherine needs to come back for her safety because of the war happening in palestine, well i dont get it, why is it a big deal when an american person is there while millions of plaestinians are there risking thier lives everyday? (without a choice)

third, if the girl wasnt stubborn enough to leave her family to go overseas to meet someone she doesnt know, non of this wul've happened ( though she did say she had feelings it wasnt gonna work out), and though she's only 18 she should know better, i mean am 16 and am much smater to do somthing so stupid

and last but not least, if her family is so worried about her and blaming abdulalah and his family for taking her daughter(though it was her choice) why werent they waiting for her at the airport?? that shows how much they care eh?