We did a programme last week about mixed marriages, after it was revealed that Diana’s mother called her a “whore” when she found out the Princess was in a relationship with a Muslim. One of our contributors, Josh Freedman Berthoud, talked about being the product of a mixed marriage. His father is Jewish, his mother isn’t, and they split up when Josh was still young. He’s written more about this on the Guardian newspaper’s blog site ‘Comment is Free’. You can read his article here. The comments are worth a read too.
23
Jan
08
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BBC World Have Your Say 
I am a Hindu, married to a Catholic Christian brought in a non-beieving family by a rationalist father. We both were college teachers in Kerala, India. My both children have married from different religions. The elder married a Catholic Christian out of convenience as we are currently in the USA. Earlier he was a boyffriend to an American girl, the girl walked out after having two children. Now they have a working arrangement for the upbringing of the children. The elder son’s wife is from Kerala. The younger boy is married to a Moslem from Morocco, both are here in the USA. The marriage was conducted in Kerala according to the Hindu custom. Still I feel that since different religions have different types of cultural upbringing mixed marriages are not as good as same caste/religious marriages. This is because religions have different perspectives about spirituality and human relationship. Hindus give importance to relationship with relatives more importance than their religious faiths.
Given the high divorce rates, anyone willing to give up their families to marry someone their family dissaproves up is rather foolish, given chances are, your marriage will fail within 5 years. Doesn’t justify the intolerance of the families, but you have to be realistic with the people of Generation Me, where if anything isn’t perfect, they run.
Josh Freedman Berthoud is the product of a “mixed marriage” because his father is Jewish?????? You’ve got to be kidding me. Forgive my confusion, but I thought WHYS was based in London, one of the least homogenous places on earth. In my neighborhood, a mixed marriage is a pentecostal Zapotecas Mexican husband from Oaxaca and a Taoist Hoklo wife from Tapei. Even then, we would have to remind ourselves that’s a “mixed marriage.”
Bryan
Your comment is funny but there is a serious aspect to it also.
If WHYS had existed many years ago and I had read it that probably would have made a huge difference.
As it turned out, we were not as well received.
My wife and I come from different Christian faiths. I have committed myself to our marriage, as I feel that is necessary. I could never have entered into a marriage (that would have to be a state-marriage, not a church marriage I suppose) with someone who is not a Christian, though.
Dear George: You’re right. I think my comment was a little bit insensitive. Sorry. I applaud WHYS for taking on such topics, even if they may seem out-dated to an urbanite. (Not everyone lives in London or SF after all.)