lifestyle THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

Features

‘Even if the marriage is arranged, the woman should always have the last word’

arriage is the legal and formal union of a man and that would be the perfect spouse. Which only makes you meet one another, to communicate and to explore. Girls a woman, however there is way more to that wonder, do arranged marriages work? Or are love mar- are being raised to have marriage looked at as an achieve- Mpaper than just the verification of that union. riages the kind of marriages that last a lifetime? Here’s ment, as a goal, as something that completes them. I am Along with piece of paper comes a life-long commitment what I think: not against marriage, but I definitely want to find the right to a person who you are going to spend the rest of your life person to get married to, and live a somewhat stable or with (hopefully). Similar social network decent life. Of course, not all love marriages last, neither do Being a girl from the Middle East, more specifically, the Personally, I hate seeing or hearing about girls getting all arranged marriages. At the end of the day, no parent or Gulf Region, I hear a lot about women and even girls being married to please their family, when they don’t genuinely family member can force the spark or chemistry to exist talked into and out of marriage for many reasons, mostly like the person or agree with the decision. It is every between two people when they are alone and under one by their parents. As we reach the age 18 and older, our par- human being’s right to be married to someone they actual- roof. ents start hinting about marriage, and sometimes joking ly love and want to be with. The decision making part about it, when in reality they are very serious about it. You behind arranged marriages is based on whether or not ‘Marriage certificate’ also start hearing about your aunt who knows this guy/girl their family is compatible with the man’s/woman’s family, if At the end of the day, you can never know how a mar- they are from the similar social network, if they are finan- riage will go. Many people have been with their better half cially on the same level and so on. Arranged marriages are for years before marriage, and once they got married rarely about the two people who are actually getting mar- everything went downhill, while others enjoy the most ried. successful marriages which are arranged. I think luck has a However, I do not encourage girls or women to be little bit to do with it, and of course the two people in the meeting men all the time to finally find the right one and marriage, and how much they are willing to put in the get married to him. I encourage women to have a say in effort to make the marriage work. I only feel though, that the decision they are making. It breaks my heart seeing even if the marriage is arranged, the girl or woman should women and even young girls getting married to these men always have the last word and make the decision of that they don’t even know. Imagine spending your whole whether or not she feels she can marry this person, or not. day with a stranger, now times that to a lifetime. Parents Marriages succeed when two mature and responsible should always have their children’s best interest at heart, individuals meet and share something in common, and that may sometimes mean that parents know and because as years pass by, with kids and just years added would want to choose who their children end up with, but to your relationship, you want to have that common many people can come from well-known families, with ground that you both can enjoy doing similar things amazing parents, but their child can be the exact opposite rather than have both of you live different and separate to your daughter or son. life and the only thing bringing you together is the “mar- How many of us had that one friend who was heart-bro- riage certificate”. ken because the person they loved can’t get married to him/her after years and years of love due to social reasons and family issues? We have all been put on this earth to

Bjork to release album early after leak Pharrell Williams heads up ‘Live jork said Tuesday she would release her new album months ahead of schedule after she became the latest Bartist to suffer an online leak. The Icelandic singer said Earth’ global climate concert her first album in three years, “Vulnicura,” would be out with- ore than 100 artists will take part in a glob- in the next 24 hours and described it as a “complete heart- al “Live Earth” concert on June 18 to gal- ‘Humanity harmonized’ break album” about a romantic breakup. Songs from the vanise demands for climate action, former Williams would not divulge details on the lineup, album emerged on pirate sites Tuesday, several days after M US vice president Al Gore said Wednesday. “We are but promised “there are some interesting surprises Bjork had announced that “Vulnicura” would come out in going to have one event all over the world on all coming up.” He added: “We are literally going to March and provided a list of songs. seven continents,” he announced at the World have humanity harmonized all at once.” The July 7, In a message on Facebook and Twitter, Bjork did not Economic Forum in Davos. Singer-songwriter 2007 Live Earth concert took place in eight loca- directly comment on the leak but instead thanked her fans Pharrell Williams, responsible for the planet-wide hit tions-London, New York, Sydney, Hamburg, Tokyo, for their interest. Bjork described the album as a “pretty “Happy”, will be the show’s musical director. Johannesburg, Rio and Shanghai. It had more than much accurate emotional chronology” with three songs Gore predicted a TV, radio and online audience 150 acts, including The Police, , UB40, before a breakup and three after. “The anthropologist in me of two billion for the extravaganza. It will seek to Eason Chan, Shakira, Crowded House, the Black sneaked in, and I decided to share them as such. First I was ramp up pressure on governments over a UN cli- Eyed Peas, Genesis and Madonna. worried it would be too self-indulgent but then I felt it might mate pact, due to be concluded in Paris in The 2015 concert will add star power to a years- make it even more universal,” she wrote. “And hopefully the December. “This is the year of climate,” Gore said old UN effort to curb Earth-warming carbon emis- songs could be a help, a crutch to others and prove how bio- during a presentation on global warming and its sions, which must climax in December with a new, logical this process is: the wound and the healing of the impacts. “The Paris negotiation is crucial. If we’re to global pact. It will be followed by an online petition, wound,” she wrote. ensure success, we need the political will.” The event said Wall. “The purpose is to have a billion voices Internet leaks of albums have become increasingly com- will be organized by US producer Kevin Wall, who with one message to demand climate action now,” mon in an era in which reproducing music files requires little also took charge of the 2007 Live Earth concert to said Gore. Paris will host the final round of talks in technical skill and pirate websites enjoy an eager listener- boost climate awareness. the suburb of Le Bourget from November 30 to ship. Madonna last month released six songs from her Wall said the June 18 event would comprise con- December 11. Bringing together 195 nations, the month, with the task of trimming down a sprawling File photo shows upcoming album months ahead of schedule after early ver- certs “in major stadiums”. “We start in China; Sydney, agreement will aim to limit global warming to two blueprint for the accord. Two more rounds will take Pharrell Williams perform- sions emerged on the Internet. In contrast to Bjork, Australia; Rio de Janeiro; Cape Town, South Africa; degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre- place before Paris, with the likely focus being volun- ing on the main stage at Madonna voiced outrage, calling the leak “artistic rape” and New York City; in Paris, we’re ending at the national industrial levels. tary national pledges to reduce carbon pollution. Wireless festival in saying that the leaked tracks were not her final versions. stadium,” he said. “These events will run four to six Scientists say the world is on track for double Political pressure has been mounting from UN Finsbury Park, in London. The leaked versions of “Vulnicura” feature Bjork’s distinc- hours.” A band will play from Antarctica to account that by century’s end, based on current emissions. A Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as Pope — AP tive, wide-ranging voice over a lush orchestration of strings for the seventh continent, added Gore, who 4 degrees Celsius scenario would spell catastrophic Francis I, who last week urged governments to be and a layer of electronic beats, a defining trait of Bjork’s key became a campaigner on climate issues after leav- droughts, floods, rising seas and storms, as well as “more courageous” on climate change and is works including 1997’s “Homogenic.” Bjork worked on her ing office, and was a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel potential conflict as countries war over scarce preparing an encyclical (letter to all bishops) on the latest album with Arca, the Venezuelan DJ known for pro- Peace Prize with the UN’s top climate science panel. resources, they warn. topic. — AFP ducing rapper Kanye West and the rising British trip-hop “We have major, major artists, some of the biggest The UN negotiations, always fraught, are at a dif- artist FKA twigs. The album is Bjork’s first since 2011’s artists ever collected, with one message: ‘Take cli- ficult phase and campaigners and observers fear a “Biophilia,” a wildly ambitious production that used smart- mate action now,’” said Wall. weak compromise. The talks resume in Geneva next phone apps and other multimedia to explore the links between technology, music and nature. Bjork last week announced a series of intimate New York concerts to promote “Vulnicura” including two nights at Carnegie Hall, one of the world’s premier classical venues. Linkin Park cancels Bjork’s work will also be featured in a retrospective exhibit in March at New York’s Museum Modern Art. — AP tour after lead singer injures his leg inkin Park is canceling the rest of its US tour after its lead singer injured his leg. says he needs Limmediate medical attention and it’s impossible for him to perform. Bennington hasn’t said how he injured his leg. Linkin Park’s “The Hunting Party” tour kicked off last week. The rock band performed only three concerts. Bennington appeared onstage with crutches at the band’s Sunday concert in Indianapolis. He said Tuesday he’s “disap- pointed” he can’t perform and called the first few shows “mag- ical.” Fans can seek refunds for the remaining 16 shows. The Grammy Award-winning band’s hits include “,” “Numb” and “.” — AP This July 14, 2008 file photo shows Icelandic singer Bjork as she performs during her concert in Vilnius. — AFP File photo shows , left, and Chester Bennington of the band Linkin Park performing in concert dur- ing their ‘Carnivores Tour 2014’ at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ. — AP