I think the right question on that issue is; Why doesn´t BDP take the initiative for the solution of these kind of real problems in the region?

They might be so much focused on thier role, that is written outside of the Eur-Asia.

Didn´t you say that arranged marriages work better because the divorce rate is lower, if not non existent? And that olders generally know better what spouse is good for their children? And that marriages that people go into out of their own will are usually based on such an unworthy condition like love, which doesn´t make marriage work as opposed to family encouragement?

So there you have it - girls in arranged marriages (yes, some of them 12 but, as I recall your words, in some parts of the world girls mature faster so we shouldn´t judge). You may argue that forced and arranged are different, but they´re not. If you come from a culture where it is normal to have your parents decide for you, it is never your decision to agree to marry - it is imposed on you, and that´s, in my understanding, force.

I don´t need to put words into your mouth, you say things and I just remember them, especially that our views on life, freedom and independence differ so much and have clashed countless times on this site.

I am curious, oeince, is this seen as a big political issue in Turkey?   

Social matters are getting solved in political process in all countries. 

The representers of a region shall say some words on the solution of a common social problem.

In order their only work is to support terrorism we today still talk about these kind of social problems for the region.

Elisabeth why don´t you ask "What do the selectives of that region do for the solution of that problem?"

 Well, I guess I just wanted to know if it was something that was even on the political radar in Turkey.  Sorry, but it just seems to me that this problem is something that the entire country would be interested in solving. 

So what are regional officials doing?  What are national officials doing?  What are their mothers doing? 

Seriously, I am not trying to be glib...are there laws in Turkey that prohibit the marriage of minor children?  If so, why aren´t these parents arrested? 

Elisabeth, i understand what you are trying to imply.

Although, early marriages are prohibited by law in Turkey as long as the feudal structure of that region subsists, it is not easy to implement those rules there.

This is a common problem for the region which is digisted by the people living there. The goverment can not get in the houses and check who is married and who is not. Especially in that region. Guess how it should be provacated.

So the representers of that region shall help the goverment to implement social policies to eradicate that problem.

But unfortunately, their whole mission is to support terrorism.

I bet there are many ladies, even in this group, who would consider it a blessing only if you were able to arrange a marriage for them..

We must let people have their say before we can criticize them. I find Alameda to be a very considerate and intelligent person though I obviously don´t share her religious beliefs. She has so far been a valuable contributor. I could repeat the same words for Daydreamer except the beliefs part. I don´t care about what people believe in or what causes they defend as long as they respect each other.

Understanding a culture is a very difficult process. Consider this:

Cultural differences exist even in the same society, for example between generations. In Turkey, our parents lived in a patriarchal world where it was normal for a woman to seek and find happiness in her house. This has now changed dramatically. We see women getting more actively involved in daily life and holding on to their identities. My father still expects my mother to be obedient and servile. They are in their 70´s now. They have missed the train of change being born in the 30´s. There is no denying they set a very negative example but sometimes negative examples can help you avoid mistakes especially when the mistakes are obvious. I don´t hate my parents. On the contrary, I love them. They just believe in the different values of a fading time. They are doing quite well by their own right. Since there is no chance for them for an awakening. For those, young women in the East however, there may be a chance. When you remember 30 years ago, you do notice a tremendous change. This change will certainly continue and all the mistakes of the past will be eradicated eventually.

People can live in many different ways. Remember your mothers and fathers. Can you say you are any happier than them? Do you think there are more positive things in your life compared to theirs. You can instantly point out to the differences in your lives. We must ideally be living in a better world. Why are we more stressed then? Why is it not possible to relax and feel happy? We fight in the cyber world day in day out. Passive agression has become our second nature. Being dissatisfied with the real world, we have turned our attention to the Internet where we chat with people whom we don´t know maybe hoping that they could make a change in our dull lives...

P.S. All my ours and yours are literal. I am actually a very happy person. 

On the contrary, many of our female members are quite beautiful -at least the ones whom I have seen so far.

It is interesting to see your interpretation of my words....you did not get it at all.  Your understanding of my words leaves me speechless....but let me make an attempt to clarify....

NUMBER 1 I never ever have advocated for any type of forced marriage. 

NUMBER 2 I never ever have advocated for any type of forced marriage.

NUMBER 3 I never ever have advocated for any type of forced marriage.

NUMBER 4 I never ever have advocated for any type of forced marriage. 

NUMBER 5 I never ever have advocated for any type of forced marriage.

Now....is that clear??????  

Regarding arranged marriage.....given all the dating sites, it is obvious people feel they need some outside help. Today they use technology, yesterday they used their family members. The outcome is the same thing.

....Maybe you did not need any help...maybe your met your spouse came from a thunderbolt....however many people do need help.....they want to know something about the person they are going to get involved with. It depends on what one is looking for, if you want to find a spouse you want to have an idea of who the person is, what is their background?  If you have a family that you love and want to keep in your life, compatability should not be just the couple, but the family also should be considered, and I stand by that. Trying to be a couple on an island isn´t easy, people need help.....and one´s family is often a good place to get that assistance from.

How many women have had their bad boy experience....? ...and there are the men who have their sexpot...who is not really a good marriage choice. Too many have married for hormones, only to realize later it wasn´t a great decision. As with any important decision, a second opinion is not a bad idea.

The current method of finding a mate in "Western" cultures is to try things out, sort of on a hit or miss basis.....maybe marriage enters the picture, many times not. I know many women who have children, but aren´t ready to get married.  Some are even going to sperm banks to be inseminated, they don´t want to bother with having a husband. I can´t say I find that situation desirable. Yes, I am old fashioned in as much as I do think children do best in famlies that have parents.

As for love, I´m all for love...but there are different kinds of love. The love that is based on lust does not often last. Marriage based on compatibility and commitment to being married does.

 I´m sorry to have to tell you, your memory is very flawed, and you have no place to stand when it comes to talking about freedom and independence...you who are perfectly happy letting a 12 year old girl go through a body scanner which in effect does a strip search and is recorded.....and in addition to that you have taken what you misunderstood and extrapolated on it into a direction that I most definitely had no intention of going.

Now I wonder how you will twist my words this time?

 Ha ha ha ha.....and what diplomatic mission have you applied for?