Poll: What are your thoughts on 'forced' marriages?

[djpuppylove789]

Its a B.S. Tradition. Not all traditions should be maintained. my great grandfather was an extreme racist. it was a tradition in my family, but my grandfather, father and i are not racists because we dont buy into this tradition bullshit. most traditions are an excuse to do things that normally would be looked down upon in a normally functioning society. One of my best friends growing up is being forced into a marriage and he cant do anything about it. Even if he wont say it, I'll say it for him:

FUCK TRADITION!

 

[madcap2112]

"Garth, marriage is punishment for shoplifting in some countries!"

 

[Srkkl]

I don't think you can force love, but back in the era when most all weddings were forced it was the parents either trying to better their childs life, or better their own by marrying into a rich family, so that makes me think of marrage as a contract more than a "bond" mainly because they started out as contracts. All in all I can't have an honest oppinion because I'm never going to be forced into a marrage.

 

[klakkat]

It's completely out-dated. Alliances between countries are almost never based on marriage any more (particularly since few monarchies remain), and large households have no need of using marriage to increase their assets.

Besides that, it constitutes coercion, which is basically a limited form of slavery. Even if they're your children, they aren't property.

 

[guardian001]

Honestly,I voted "fact of life." I'm opposed to it, but my opinions are rather irrelevant in this situation. Yes, I consider it to be horrible, but it's not my place to play judge.

I'm in a very neutral mood today...

 

[Good morning blues]

Religious freedom is one of the fundamental freedoms in a democratic society, but a democratic society is just that - democratic. If all citizens are free, their democratic rights clearly outweigh anyone's attempt to compel (or, more accurately, force) them to do anything on religious grounds. In a secular, democratic society, there is no place for forced marriage, just the same as there is no place for forced sexual contact or forced forfeit of money. Making this clear and enforcing it in no way infringes upon anybody's religious freedoms.

 

[Insanum]

Forced marriage is different too Arranged Marriages, id just like too point that out (it JUST said it on GMTV )

Im completely against Forced marriages. It is wrong.

Arranged marriages (where it is DEFINATELY 100% concentual) are fine in my book.

 

[Verp]

I'm all for arranged and marriages for political/practical reasons but only when it's not forced. I myself would probably rather go on a bloody rampage than to be forced into marriage.

 

[Crimsane]

There should always be a solid reason for every decision. Tradition is not a solid reason for anything. Worse, forced marriage is a tradition that tends to ruin people's happiness, if not their entire lives.

 

[A random person]

Be understanding of other people's beliefs and tradtions in your replies.

No.

It's basically rape.
Tradition can go fuck itself.

This.
Where's the option for "kill it with fire?"

It's just forcing someone to do something against their will for completely arbitrary reasons. What good is tradition for its own sake? That question applies to a lot of people, believe me.

 

[Skeleon]

I have to agree.

Traditions that impede Human Rights can go bugger off right now.
I'm all for respecting people's beliefs but at that point we have to draw the line (and make a cube *random bull*).
Same thing with honour murders or certain forms of punishment.

Traditions don't always fit in modern society.
They might've worked in tribal phases of our cultures but today we live too close together to allow those kinds of things to occur.

 

[Bat Vader]

If it is tradition it is tradition. People may not like it but it will keep going on because of tradition.

I myself have no opinion on the matter. I stay neutral on topics like this.

 

[A random person]

England has become very mixed cultured over the last few years and due to not wanting to cause racial offense acts such as this cann't be banned. Only prevented.

But it can!
A simple "You may not do something to a person against their will, no matter what your religion/tradition/best friend says, and if you don't like it leave," would work wonders.

It's how I'd run my country.
Rights are there for a reason and all that.

You are officially smarter than a large chunk of politicians.

Human rights take high precedence over political correctness/tradition, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Rasak11]

I think it is a terrible thing and should be removed from the planet..
the only problem is that it mostly occurs in developing countries where the central Goverment does not have the power to inforce it therefor until stability reaches that particular area we can only sit on the sidelines and watch

 

[Del-Toro]

Shotgun weddings? (It's just a figure of speech, don't worry... ok I lied.)

Yeah, I hate em. I think they're pretty.. inhumane. I believe you cannot force love.

Well, a shotgun wedding isn't about love. In the regions where that was/is common, if a man wants to sully or impregnate a woman he'd damned well be willing to marry her, the shotgun wedding evolved to enforce that. In that context they are more a precautionary thing to make an example of idiots with no self control.

And of course arranged marriages are all about wealth, power and the transfer thereof with maybe some obsessive desire for grandchildren but the right grandchildren. Either that or it's an organizational thing for when societies get too large.

 

[lostclause]

For some reason I find myself on the fence with this one. I personally don't like it, but... it feels wrong to throw away tradition.

That must be my inner Conservative coming out. Goddamn you, you're only supposed to be around for economic and political topics! *beats back with freedom stick*

I never understood tradition, really.
"It is traditional that all tribe members cut off three fingers on their right hand."
"Uh...no."
"But it is tradition!"
"BUT IT'S MY FUCKING HAND! Do I look like Luke Skywalker to you?"

It's just confusing.

I kind of agree with emu here. It's always sad to see a piece of tradition go, it makes the world that little bit less diverse. But overall I'm with Max, no-one should be forced into anything.

 

[icedtea14]

Forced marriage is wrong and should be 100% abolished. I can't be leave its still around its one of those things from early humanity that should have never started in the first place.

 

[Sark]

Forced marriages are basically rape. Marriage is no longer a defense for rape in Australia, although in many forced marriage countries and cultures this is not the case. Also these traditions violate the human right which give each individual self determination.

Traditions generally are about maintaining honor, although these traditions were set in a time with a different public morality and have not adapted to the modern world.

Basically the whole thing is a deprivation of human rights. Rape is not seen as existing in some cultures, such as some Arabic. I can remember a case where a young girl (around 13-14) was stoned to death for "enticing" three men to come and have sex with her.

Sticking to barbaric ways of thinking is really just being a shit person unable to come up with individual thought.

 

[NeutralDrow]

What the hell?

England, is there something you haven't been telling us in the U.S.?

England has become very mixed cultured over the last few years and due to not wanting to cause racial offense acts such as this cann't be banned. Only prevented.

But...who's tradition is this? It doesn't sound like any Muslim, Indian, English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, or Carribean tradition I've heard of.