simply a question, but since we weren't there to hear the context or see his face, I can only surmise that, taken out of context as you posted it, he might have been asking you if you would, eventually, marry someone. As for journeying to Mecca, that is entirely up to you, although it does make me question, again out of context, he said that "all the MEN would be going."

Through all your searching and questioning about your beliefs I have remained on your side, regardless of my own beliefs. I know that you have been searching for something that would allow you to express your beliefs in such a way that you would feel comfortable and relaxed in your life. Each time you have "jumped ship" if you will, and tried a different faction of religious beliefs I have hoped and prayed that you would finally find one that would give you what you needed.

We have, over these past several years, become fast friends and for my friends I have only ever wished that they be happy in their lives. I will say, however, that life as a Shia or Shiite wife might not be all you could wish it to be. The pervasive submissive nature of such a union might be more than you would or could embrace. The freedom you now enjoy is only attributable to the simple fact that you reside in the United States and have many more privileges here than you would in some other places. Granted you might still end up living where you now do as a Muslim wife, but your freedom would be severely curtailed and you would be expected to be completely subservient to your husband instead of being a supportive equal part of such a relationship. Many of the things you now enjoy doing would not be permitted in a Muslim marriage, I would think.

In the end however, it IS your decision that matters most, and your happiness is the primary consideration. You know that I support what you decide with all that I am, and that I only want to see you happy in your life.

As far as pulling your stories goes, that is also completely your decision to make and if you do that, I will support thaT as well... however! It seems to me that pulling your stories would only be "cutting off your nose to spite your face." Many people have gotten a lot of enjoyment from your writings and, pulling them would be denying them more of the same. You would never knowingly harm someone unless they were trying to harm you or someone else so why would you, knowing that people enjoy what you write, pull your stories as it would only limit a bit of their pleasure?

I will end with this. No matter what you do, or where you go, I will always be here for you to talk with. You will always have my shoulder to cry on, my hide to blister when you are upset, my love for someone who has become a dear, trusted and treasured friend. If you do intend to ask for your stories to be pulled, please let me know ahead of time so I may save them in a special file in my computer?

Now GET YOUR BUTT BACK ON SKYPE, so we can talk! That's an order, missy!

Always your friend,
Cathy

You now have our attention, as seen by all the comments above.

I just re-read your 2nd latest blog. I really didn't know what to say. I don't know much about Shia, but somewhat more about LDS, since many live around here. It might be just my personal bias, but I really don't like groups, religions, cults, etc. that would tell what to do and have ways to enforce their demands. I've had way to much doing what others wanted me to in my life. The very idea of some patriarchs coercing their followers (to me it almost seems like slaves) with old or very old morality and behavior, kind makes me sick.

If you really want a comment: I know you have some sort of attraction to a powerful man making you do what he wants, but also loving you, so I usually won't comment on your writings of that nature. I don't hold it against you (your feeling that way), in fact you frequently impress me by your resolve to merge with people of either religion and have them like or at least respect you.

About marrying in the Shia faith, I'd say don't do it with someone from or in a Moslem country. I guess a 3rd or more generation immigrant might be OK if they act like a modern "Westerner" and are not fanatic. I'd feel safer with someone from a non-Moslem family or a family of somewhat recent converts. I see some of the "Moslem" bad behavior toward wimyn as being from these people's tribal heritage not from Islam. I just think you should go for a Moslem with a western, liberal heritage, not someone even tenuously connected to subjugating wimyn, being racist, etc.