Thread: Prejudice and Interracial Marriage

I would not date a friend in Bali for 2 years because I said she was too young for me [ over the age of consent] however she persisted, I changed my mind and I thank Tuhan she did. As I am in my 50s and she is in her 20s, i still find it very odd. However, family and local villagers assure me it's quite normal for an older man to be with a younger woman.
Bali culture seems more tolerent of mixed marriage [both in age and race, but not so much in religion apparently] than we are in the west. In England I do fear , public opinion would be cruel for her and for me. I have even had problems from drunk tourists in bali because of the apparent and obvious age difference. The fact she looks younger than she is [because she does not use make up or 'womans fashion'] doesn't make it easy.
I believe mixed marriages will bring races together eventually and could be the basis to the end of prejudice and all religious and political conflict in the word...' you got to try.'
The truth is [for me] is that my Balinese girl is best thing that has happened to me and I hope, to her. We laugh a lot together and fret when we are apart. We plan a family together which was something I thought had passed me by. I am under no illusion that my ability to provide financial security makes me more attractive than the guy I see in the mirror. [ Hard to imagine.]
I know I will never be "Balinese" and will always be an "albino" but I believe that age/race/religion have very little importance in a marriage/relationship if you both have compatable and realistc aims and of course, love each other.

Power to the people who love.

I am half Iranian and half American. When I was in Bali one night on the town I asked someone for directions and they moved away from me. Later in the night someone asked me if I was from Malaysia. I said no and asked why? I was told that they are considered dangerous. After that I had a few more encounters where people treated me with caution. Strange sensation.

Your experience raises an interesting question. What do Balinese (or Indonesians) think a terrorist looks like? Since the recent Jakarta hotel bombings there has been extensive TV coverage of the hunt for terrorists. These include many fuzzy photos of suspects. At the end of the day people must have some image in mind. Maybe you are lucky enough (or unlucky?) to be close to that image.