Re: Cousin marriages- yay or nay in this day and age.
Deeba, What makes you think I’m not already aware that some families practice consanguineous marriages for generations and it does lead to birth deffects? Often in these families, cousin marriages are treated like a rule, they are imposed. Nowhere have I said that cousin marriages are risk-free. I have even acknowledged that Islam encourages marriage outside the family. I am not even advocating cousin marriages in general or over non-cousin marriages. I do believe that negative news tends to become more sensationalized/hyped and people will focus heavily on that while it does not always reflect the actual statistics. In one place I had read that when the correct information about the actual percentage of risks with cousin marriages had come out in Europe ( and this was following the release of news discouraging such marriages) the news didn’t catch on in the US…so the latter stuck to the former beliefs. I don’t know how true this is…urban legends/negative news tends to spread faster among people and settles in quite stubbornly. But it’s one theory among others that I’ve read. Everyone is entitled to their preferences, but it can be done without looking down on others…without making sweeping generalizations about their upbringing/character.
Deeba, every culture/country has its share of issues…even the western ones despite their “superpowers of the world” status. They, too, are dealing with societal problems on a more smaller scale or national level etc…and then they also have issues that don’t place them in the most positive light at an international level. I know that in general turning a blind eye to issues hinders improvement. But at the same time, only the bad/negative news…or dilemmas shouldn’t always or often be the focus. There is much good/beauty/richness despite the bad…within Pakistan, within Muslims, or our people…or “our region” of the world…that can be discussed (online and otherwise).