Differences and Ignorance

In class we began watching the movie Arranged, and I finished it outside of class. I felt it was a very powerful movie. The scene that most stood out to me was when the children in the class asked the teachers if they hated each other because of their differing religions, Judaism and Islam. This struck me as odd because when I was that age I would have never made the conclusion between the two teachers and the fact that their religions opposed one another. The teachers handled the situation very well I thought in that they simply came up with an exercise to demonstrate that everyone can harmoniously get along as long as everyone kept an open mind and was respectful of other beliefs. The movie goes on to describe the difficult times the women are having with the concept of arranged marriages. Rochel, the Jewish women, is having an especially hard time with her religion in general because of the customs and regulations. Nasria is often in opposition with her family but they seem to be more understanding about her concerns than Rochel’s family is about her worries. Something else that comes to my mind when I think of this movie is, ignorance is bliss. The principle of the school is very ignorant towards the two teachers and their dressing habits. She is also concerned that she will lose them to their respective religions and that they are being dominated by their fathers. The two women make a joke out of it but at the same time it shows just how little Americans know about the situations that these women face on a daily basis. Rochel’s family also is quite ignorant when Nasria and Rochel begin spending time together. I would have assumed that they would have been more understanding because they are adults and their daughter is an adult but they still seemed to be very negative toward any contact Rochel had with Nasria. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I thought it was an excellent selection for the group!!! GREAT JOB GIRLS!!!!