We have published respect for cultural differences, as a way to show our respect for others. But why will those who are doing the horrific acts of violating a young girl into a forced marriage with a man who clearly can be her father - and truly did not meet the girl or earn her affection. Playing cards under the influence of drugs is not necessarily the best condition or time to make a decision to give away your daughter to a gambler winner. How about the "looser gambler or the girl's father" is now cornerd and has to decide to save his our skin and now he sacrifices his daughter into the "winner gambler" Does this gambler loves the girl? Will he cherish her and respect her as someone he looks for advise to maintain a family together? ------ Developmentally speaking the two age groups are different- in terms of priorities of life; what makes them happy?, is this child horrirized to the fact that she will be "forced" to allow this man to pregnant her- she willbe "culturally forced" to childbear for this older man! Isn't our society against teenage pregnancies? Our western society knows that children are not mature enough to bear children - but, our cultural sensitiviness make us look to opposite direction and ignore how wrong this is! I read a commentary above that mentioned that this elder man has a new mouth to feed, but is he happy to do this? I lived in Afghanistan and saw the dynamics between male and females. Women do not represent a complement to men, they repesent a "mule" to care for children "preferably male offsprings" and all the harship chores needed around the man's property. That young girl better bear male children and they better be healty! to provide that "old man" a sense of pride. But here is the question: what is available for that young girl? Maybe food every day, certainly not a dignified life. But a life of confinement!
Here in America we enjoy freedom, right. I can go outside and plant some flowers in my garden, or drive to a park and enjoy the scenery as I drive across country. Average Afghan women are not allowed to step out of their homes - they live locked in all their lives. They are deprived of the essentials: a dignified life based on human rights, a voice in their society, prenatal care to bear healty children, no phsycological support, lack opportunities to study and earn their living as a professional. Is is important to look at the fact that Afghanistan is one of the countries with the Higest infant mortality rate! Perhaps having these little girls have children is killing the women in Afghanistan! How can I culturally accept such a horrirific fact, knowing maybe this girl may die giving birth to a dhild at such a young age? ------------- Why will I "culturally" accept such a practice as a respectfull, considerate way to treat another human? --- I truly try to understand others, but doesn't this young girl or all other future girls should have freedom to find their our way of life by having oppotunities to study, and practice a profession? Would you like your daughters or granddaughters to be this young girl? Frankly is this right? How about justice to this little girl?