Civil Marriage is a Civil Right

Civil marriage is a very controversial matter in the Middle East region. Civil marriage is basically allowing a couple to get married regardless of race, religion or beliefs. All marriages in the Middle East are based on religion, and only a few religions allow different religion marriage. It’s a very complicated issue if, for instance, a Christian man wants to marry a Druze woman. In most cases they solve this problem by travelling to the closest country that allows civil marriage, Cyprus, and get married there.

Why all the hassle if our countries can provide this freedom of choice for us, the freedom of marrying the one we love for their own being and not for their religion or race or beliefs. I support fighting for the right of legalizing civil marriage in the Middle East.

What’s marriage in the first place? Marriage is when two people are officially announced as a husband and wife in front of a group of people not opposing to this unity. The paper work is only proof of their marriage. Now, what bothers me the most is that in religion, there only has to be two people as witnesses and a religious figure to announce the marriage. Let’s say two people are from different religions have different belief, they both loved each other; there has to be a way that they can get married without the religious figure because not all religions are open to other religion marriages. This is where civil marriage comes.

Homosexuality - Mental, Physical or Just a Preference

In the middle east, homosexuality is the most shameful thing to ever exist. I was born and raised this way. I can't change what I think about it although I am trying to. It's not about me though, it's about an entire culture.

In the west, homosexuality is normal but not considered a norm. It's a very interesting thing. They say people are born with homosexuality; what defines their homosexuality then? Their mental health? Their physiology? Or they are born normal but preferred same sex relationships?

First let's talk about homosexuality in the west and the middle east.

Middle East

• Homosexuality is forbidden, unaccepted and very wrong
• Homosexuality is sometimes considered a "fashion" or a "cool" experience
• Having a homosexual son or daughter is enough reason for the parents to murder the sibling to prevent shame and defend their honor
• A gay person is always considered a guy "acting like a girl, giving oral sex receiving anal sex"
• Homosexuals have homosexual friends and few straight friends. For guy, homosexuals normally have more female friends.
• A homosexual is forced to get out of his preference and marry from the opposite sex after all
• Homosexuals have normal relationships but very discretely
• Homosexuals never expose themselves in public in their true "nature"
• Homosexuality in the middle east is more of an experience rather than a lifetime "sexual abnormality"

West

• Homosexuality is normal and accepted
• Some countries allow same sex marriages
• Adoption for a homosexual couple is allowed
• In some countries, they have their own parades

I think there are many reasons behind homosexuality based on the research I conducted. Homosexuality can be a physical disorder. Let me explain. Some people are born males, but have very small or sometimes tiny genitals and their hormones are unstable that they can't reach puberty. In females, some are born with a high testosterone amount in their body that they start developing male voices, big clitoris, small breasts and facial hair, they are the characteristics of males. In this case a male with this disorder turn into a homosexual from the femininity and the female can turn into a homosexual because of the extra masculinity. of course such conditions can be treated or the person can, with the recent advanced medicine, have a sex change surgery. They can't help it because they are born with this disorder.

Proposal, Engagement, Marriage and Divorce - Part IV

The Divorce (Part IV)

Divorce is one of the worst things ever in my personal opinion. I think when anyone is to be married, it has to be forever. The partner has to be chosen carefully as the one and only for the remaining years of one's life.

In the West, divorce is a very hard thing. In the Middle East it's very easy to get a divorce unless the couple is Christian.

West

Divorce in the west is a very hard thing to get. There has to be many settlements depending on the laws of divorce. Also the religious aspect of divorce is very complicated as they advice the couple to try counseling then they ask different opinions then the couple have to wait for the approval. It's very complicated.

Yet, they don't choose there life partners wisely. Even some law firms have compelling advertisements for them such as "Life is too short. Get a divorce". Divorce rates are increasing each year. This is all due to making the wrong decisions and choosing the wrong life partners. The good thing about a divorced man or woman in the west is that none of them is talked about. They can normally go on with their lives and have different partners.

Proposal, Engagement, Marriage and Divorce - Part III

The Marriage (Part III)

Marriage everywhere is somehow the same. Vows are exchanged, witnesses are available, the couple is in their wedding outfits, they're announced married to the public, a wedding party, then the honeymoon starts.

There are a few differences between the west and the middle east regarding the application of the wedding; and the conditions and rules between the couple when they're married.

Proposal, Engagement, Marriage and Divorce - Part II

The Engagement (Part II)

West

In the west, engagement is the part that comes after the proposal. When a person proposes, the ring that’s given is the engagement ring. The engagement is not a trial period of letting the couple get to know each other, it’s more of a period that lets the couple prepare for the wedding and for the marital life. It’s serious and it’s all about commitment. Normally the engagement in the west happens after the couple truly knows each other and the parents have nothing to do with them.

The priorities for a western engaged couple:

• Living together
• Meeting the parents
• Getting to know each other’s dos and don’ts
• Sexual intercourse
• Focus on the future living standard and finances
• Prepare for the wedding

Middle East

Engagement in the middle east is the most complicated part of a relationship. It can be the stage where two people met through their parents and got engaged to get to know each other; or it can be the stage where the relationship between two is made official to the society, extended family, relatives and friends.