Good morning,

Meejician, a women’s urge to vomit if a man (she doesn’t like but in whose posession she is) touches her, is not a cultural thing, but a universal, I think.
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Sorry, it’s not. Do you live in a multicultural area, with non-western women? Listen to them, especially new immigrants. The West has little idea of what life is like for women in most of Africa and eastern Asia, and parts of Australasia or South America.
It presumptuous of us to assume that all women live by the expectations of what we call the civilised world, which is itself a ‘holier than thou’ position in which to live.
That photograph represents a holier than thou attitude in its assumption that a pre-puberty engagement to an older man somehow represents what we may call paedophilia. But this girl won’t be able to marry him until she’s matured. That’s the custom.
Could we balance it by photographing the pretty 19-year-old Manchester girl who enjoyed, allegedly, being ‘roasted’ by five or six footballers, and boasted about it?
What is preferable? The answer is neither.
What is honourable? The answer is neither.
What is culturally acceptable? The answer is both.

“Love is a triumph of imagination over intelligence.”

That quote was penned by Henry Mencken. He wrote many pithy pieces mocking relationships between the sexes and once called marriage “the end of hope” . Then he had a 7 year courtship with Sara Haardt, whom he married in 1930. She died in 1935, leaving him “grief-stricken”.

Actions speak louder than words.

Meejician, a women’s urge to vomit if a man (she doesn’t like but in whose posession she is) touches her, is not a cultural thing, but a universal, I think.

Groom: “Haha she’s mine! Bet you’re jealous.”
Bride: Looking for any moment to escape…

If the girl doesn’t love her husband, she will find romance with a younger guy. She will then be either beaten by her husband or run away with her lover. Or both.

But why doesn’t anyone think of the older men? No girl desires them any more… How are they supposed to find happiness?

Josef and Mary were not the exception but the rule. And still are. In a more open way in the “3rd World”, but don’t let that fool you. Western men are not born to be inherently free of disgusting desires. Given the chance and a degree of social acceptance men in some other cultures get, most would happily ‘marry ‘this girl as well.

Edit…
It’s only the Western notion of romantic love, which is in itself a myth, which leads us to despise and condemn pragma of this kind. I really don’t like the cultural imperialism that says we must disapprove of the survival instincts of non-Western communities, and their traditions. It’s patronising, at best.

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“Love is a triumph of imagination over intelligence”.

It is not cultural imperialism to condemn such revolting practices, just an accurate and valid recognition that women are treated inhumanely in some cultures and that some aspects of those cultures are fundamentally indefensible.

To draw a comparison with Joseph and Mary is entirely appropriate, as it reinforces the perception that such practices are culturally out-of-date and are are entirely anachronistic in more modern times.

It’s only the Western notion of romantic love, which is in itself a myth, which leads us to despise and condemn pragma of this kind. I really don’t like the cultural imperialism that says we must disapprove of the survival instincts of non-Western communities, and their traditions. It’s patronising, at best.

Mary was 14 when she gave birth to Jesus.

I have no problems with either system - pragmatic or erotic. Except that the erotic system on which the Western mating system is predicated offers a sell-by date of 18 months.

The words obscene, barbaric, medieval spring to mind too