Abu Dhabi television report on early marriage in the Arab world
Here's a report from Abu Dhabi television on early marriage in the Arab world.
Let's go to the videotape.
An 'old maid' at 16? Well, I guess I have two 'old maids' in the house right now (they are 19 and 16). I'd better go break the news to them.
Sorry, but there's a lot more to marriage than being able to do chores. And they ignore the most egregious thing about these early marriages (it's hinted at in the interview with the mother/grandmother): These 11-16-year old girls are often married off to men in their 60's and 70's. That's why so many of them become young widows. It often ensures that if there are sons, they will grow up without a father figure in the house. I wonder if that has anything to do with how many of them become terrorists. That would be an interesting (and politically incorrect) avenue for inquiry.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com