Home › Forums › Family Matters › Should the wishes of racist parents that I not date their child be respected? › Reply To: Should the wishes of racist parents that I not date their child be respected?
I think that we all need to cash a reality check. We live in a society that generally does not seek to mix the races in marriage. The non-Jewish world has changed somewhat over the last decades in this regard, but the Orthodox Jewish world has not.
It is not racist to be realistic about acknowledging the potential and VERY real problems that might be faced by a racially-mixed couple, ESPECIALLY when the parents disapprove. Marriage is hard enough under the best of circumstances. Whatever the young woman believes about possibly wanting to marry the OP, a few years down the line her parents’ feelings may have a very strong negative impact on her. Any children born of this relationship, will potentially be the innocent victims of their grandparents’ disapproval. This isn’t something to be undertaken lightly.
And by the way, not every man is a Rabbi Akiva. Not every story of parental objection is so easy to dismiss as being the irrational hatred of a Kalba Savua. I hope the OP and his girlfriend, seek competent and compassionate advice. I wish you both luck.