First of all, this is not about what opinion you hold. Sure you have every right to believe that with commitment/sincerity, you can do anything or love can conquer everything or whatever you want to. I don't have any problem with that. But you assumed that others who don't make the same choice as yours or hold the same opinion as yours, are somehow taking "an easy way out", in the context of such sensitive issue. That is being judgemental of others circumstances, situations, scenarios, opinions and most of all, their choices without you ever being in their shoes.
And your use of the word "sternest parents" indicates why you can't get your head around the concept of "messed up" parents. I understand that because most of my western friends cannot comprehend why parents in deep Sindh would kill their daughters for simply meeting a young man alone, or parents who marry their daughters to Quran, or parents in tribal areas who have 17/18 kids and trade their daughters for farm animals. I have done volunteer teaching in all these places and have experienced real messed up parents.
Finally, why don't you accuse parents who are adults in this difficult siutation of choosing the 'easy way out". I mean they are also in a difficult situation to either give up on not seeing their kids forever or ....... hmmm, lets see ....... not holding their heads up in a social gathering (read EGO)? The kid is eloping because she maybe getting married to an old guy with 2 wives so her whole life depends on this decision. But what is parents excuse?
AP, my discussion does not encompass uneducated parents from backward areas who want to marry their daughter to some old guy with 2 wives, thank you come again. Thats a seperate issue, and I would treat that as a special case. If you really want to know what I think in case they (uneducated unreasonable parents) want to marry their daughter to some bhudda ganja with 2 wives, I say run away if they can! However, once again my discussion wasnt encompassing them, but was aimed generally at the society around us.