Mail-order brides in an Internet age

Bonnie Erbe's article on mail order bridesis full of lies. She is obviously a bitter woman who blames foreign women for her poor social life. Her article claims that there is a "copious" supply of women in the U.S., when in fact, men far outnumber women in the U.S. and vice versa in Russia. She discusses cases of abuse of foreign women when, in fact, there is less domestic violence in these marriages than in regular American marriages and far less violence than in Russian marriages. I have been on two such trips and the women I encountered are far more intelligent than the likes of Erbe and her article reinforces my image of American women as pathetic fat slobs that can't handle a little competition.

I did not seek to marry a foreign woman because I thought she would be "submissive" as this article suggests. I found most American women I was dating to be shallow and materialistic. They seemed to be interested only in things that were fashionable and culturally popular. Of course not every one, but most that I had met. I was getting very tired of it. Why should I be limited to only women in my area that I would or could meet personally or through friends? There is a whole world out there! I found someone who is sophisticated, educated and far more worldly than anyone I have ever encountered here in America. Our relationship is based solely on sharing thoughts and ideas. I fell in love with her mind and heart.

Perhaps Ms. Erbes has never met someone who has brought a fiance or spouse to the United States on a visa. That would appear to be the case, since she is oblivious to the fact that many of the Americans who marry foreigners did not meet through a marriage broker, and that many of these petitioners are women, seeking to bring their foreign fiances and husbands to the US.

During the process of sucessfully petitioned for my Egyptian husband, I've met dozens of well educated, thoughtful, professional women who have chosen to marry men from overseas. I've also met dozens of well educated, thoughtful, professional men who have found equal life partners from foreign countries. Some have met while traveling or studying abroad, while others have formed romantic bonds through chat programs.

While there are certainly ignoramus out there like Sam Smith, they are by far the minority of those seeking marriage based visas each year. Read the recent piece in the LA times about couples who met via Skype to get a far better picture of those utilizing the marriage based visa system.

Bonnie fails to mention that she did not vote for Bush in 2004 and the men the IMBRA law offends mostly did vote for Bush and the Republican politicians who then betrayed them later on by foolishly siding with feminists on this law.

Expect lots of Republican politicians to be voted out of office, not necessarily because of IMBRA specifically, but because too many American males have noticed that the Republicans only listen to women constituents these days. "Veterans" as a constituency now falls below "Security Moms" as a Republican constituency. The military men will be sure punish Republican politicians for this by simply staying home on election day and hoping Karl Rove will get the message.

Bonnie has shown one of the reasons I never married an American woman; poor logic and giant leaps to unfounded conclusions.

To contradict almost everything she wrote:
1) My fiancee speaks better English than I do; she's British.
2) My fiancee makes more money than I do.
3) My fiancee is at the very least as well educated as I am, if not better.
4) My fiancee is by no means "submissive".

I did not go seeking a fiancee in a foreign country; it just happened. I had planned to live out my life single and care-free, as I had yet, in 38 years, to meet a compatible female here. Meeting my fiancee by chance on a message board changed all that.

People like you (Bonnie), who find marrying a foreign person to be a "bizarre act", are the reason I had given up on finding love in the US - prejudiced and mentally deficient.

I love my witty, beautiful, intelligent, non-prejudiced British fiancee. Guess I'll have to trade her in on a new model though, since she isn't submissive and stupid, eh?

Man, Bonnie out to meet my Russian wife. Is she submissive? Are Iraqi insurgents gentle?

I am aware that some dating companies advertise Russian woman as submissive. And I agree with Bonnie that they out to be shut down, but not because they are offering to help men find submissive women. BECAUSE OF FALSE ADVERTISING!

Life is Russia is hard. The police protect criminals and not the public, racial and ethnic discrimination is rampant, the mob is everwhere and anyone will take advantage of you if you are weak. There is no such thing as a submissive Russian woman. Russian women make American women look weak.

---

Bonnie's last sentence had me in stitches. She wonders why American women don't use the internet to find foreign men. Ha, ha, ha. Foreign men don't want to meet American woman. Apparently, some American men don't want to meet them, either. So Bonnie's solution is to prevent American men from meeting women abroad. I would better comprehend her opinion if it was published on April 1.

This article is so full of lies and contradictions; it's appalling.

Ms Erbe wrote:

"But I say the mere act (to wit, the bizarre act) of deciding to marry someone from a foreign country who is just about guaranteed to be less well educated…"

I would say, if the woman is Russian, she is "just about guaranteed" to be BETTER educated. Russian women seeking marriage through online dating agencies are mostly educated professional women. You can see the research here: http://www.elenasmodels.com/press/08082006release.htm

My opinion is that it is incompetent authors like Ms Erbe that create the delusion that foreign brides are submissive. Nothing can be further from the truth. You must be brave enough to venture outside national borders in your search for a compatible partner (and this is what foreign brides are looking for, otherwise they all would marry the first guy who expressed his interest in them).

I am a mail order bride.
Ms Erbe can ring me and check my educational and intellectual abilities, so when she writes something on this subject next time, she at least has some real-life experience.

Elena Petrova
http://www.womenrussia.com

First I find this article repuslive. How can this author write about something that there is an obvious lack of knowledge of the so called "mail order bride". Me as an American male that resides in a city of almost 4 million people have become disgusted by the expectations of the American Woman. The American Woman is so superficial that it seems they can not get enough. There was an article written in the USA Today with statistics (excuse me for not remember the exact percentages) showing that the American Man is more interested by percentage in getting married than the American Woman is. So why shouldn't I (the American Man) go outside my beloved country to find a suitable mate. I believe the author has given good reason for myself and other men to continue our quest for the foreign woman. It's known by standards that a foreign women holds family values at a higher standard than the lazy, overweight, insecure American woman. I found a woman and happen to be happily married to that values our family and works harder than most of her American counterparts. So I make note to the American Woman Beware. Continue in the manner that you are so inclined to do so and we will continue to seek out foreign women.

As far as the abuse. Have we got such a perfect track record with American Women and American Men relating to spousal abuse. I think not. Check your records Ms. Bonnie Erbe. Maybe you should look at your own social standing and truly see where your bitterness lies. You have obviously had your heart broken repeatedly by American Men and now find yourself wondering why they seek out foreign women. To the American Woman: "WE DONT WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE OF DESPERATION ANYMORE !!!!!"

Are you for real? You call yourself a journalist? Perhaps you should begin by learning how to investigate and research your topic and then try to learn how to write unbiased pieces.

The International Marriage Brokers Act affects ALL American men and women applying for visas for foreign fiances or spouses. It is not simply for people who met on the internet.

"Do we really want another 40,000 plus people entering the United States per year to satisfy men who cannot seem to find suitable mates among America's already copious supply? And, if the mail order marriage industry is so great for women, then why aren't American women flocking to the Internet to find foreign husbands"

What are earth are you talking about? Did you ever stop to think that a variety of situations exist whereby an American man OR woman may have met someone from another country? Did it ever cross your mind that in this global society, many of us travel and work in different countries and are therefore likely to meet someone from another country?

But I say the mere act (to wit, the bizarre act) of deciding to marry someone from a foreign country who is just about guaranteed to be less well educated and a lot less well off financially, creates such an incurably unhealthy imbalance of power in the union, even horrifically burdensome regulation won't suffice.

What a strange and bizarre take - my future husband, obviously from another country, has two graduate degrees and owns his own home. I highly doubt we have created an "incurably unhealthy imbalance of power in the union.

"one of the more laudable acts"

If you had done an ounce of research you would know that this law was so poorly implemented that the US Government did not even comply with it, resulting in a three month "hold" for 10,000 visa petitions - until USCIS could create a simple three item questionnaire to comply with the law.

Your kind of uninformed and biased reporting makes me sick.

I read this "article" and use the term lightly and found that while you may have a point it is completely lost because you have done little or no real research and that is apparent to anyone who has actaully looked into this process.

I did all the stuff people do when they are searching for a mate. In my early years I did the bar scene, then I moved to hobby groups and church, eventually I tried eharmony. All of these yeilded some sucess but I never truly found someone who I had enough in common with to truly consider her a soulmate. So I decided maybe my soulmate was not in north america.

The women I met via the international dating site were intelegent, well educated, funny, and truly interested in me. When I say this, I am sure there are people out there who instantly say sure she is cause you are her meal ticket. Yes that is the sterotype and maybe true in some cases but not in this one. The lady I am dating is very successful and comparatively speaking has a much better job in her country than I do here. She wants for very few things except a family and someone to love. In her country there are far more women than men so her choices were very limited.

I will admit that there are people who abuse the system but the I wonder what the percentage is given the media loves to highlight the bad and ingnores the good.

So with all of wars and other major problems in the world spending time and money trying to stop people who only want to find love and acceptance is a great use of my tax dollars.

My wife and I met in person, in the US. We are about the same age, have the similar language skills, and have similar university education. That she happens to be Russian has absolutely nothing to do with anything.

We decided to marry for the same reasons as anyone else would. We have had the same problems most couples do. I do not tolerate violence in relationships - in our case, the only violence was from my wife, directed at me.

While there certainly exists a potential for abuse of immigration law in the US, I honestly do not believe that it as common as this. And this potential exists in all Western countries.

I believe that most people (men and women) who become engaged to foreigners do not set out to do it on purpose. You cannot control who you fall in love with.

Certainly, one of the most important freedoms that Americans enjoy is the right to marry whomever they want.

"The only difference between our marriage and anyone else's is, we *know* ours is a sham!" -Troy McClure

Really, this is so sloppy that it's ridiculous to answer. But it will never cease to sadden me that in a country built and defined by immigrants, so many people are convinced they know all they need know about us when they learn my wife's nationality.

I am currently applying as a US citizen fiancee for a Visa. I met him in person and I am a french Canadian. I was not ordered by mail, I have education, planning on working and paying my taxes in the US like any other citizens. This article is just a huge misunderstanding of this visa. And not to mention all the woman applying for their fiance/husband that are outside the USA. Some of these people are from Canada, UK, Australia, Europe. Are they all less well educated and a lot less well off financially? I don't think so. I think this article is just a bunch of lies from a misinformed person. Just think twice and search more before writting things like that.

What makes this woman think that foreign brides are uneducated!! She sterotypes people and overgeneralizes, what a thoughtless article!! How can an organization allow such unresearched information be written? This kind of writing only serves to disinform and continue ignorance in this country!! I thought we wanted to be rid of stereotypes in our country, she just re-inforces possible stereotypes about foreign women. What a disservice to humanity and the general public. Many people came to the USA for a better life and perhaps that is what these women want! My wife just wanted to be married, not necessarily to an american, and actually wanted to marry a european, but our destiny was each other and I was not looking on these kinds of websites for a woman but was approached by a fictitious character in a USA website and out of a lark looked on one website and found my way to the woman who has become my wife.
Further, this a free country,what does she want? Dictate to whom men can marry and where to look for wives? I really think she lives in a world that is american, liberal-minded and egocentric. Whether she knows it or not or is conscious of it, she wishes to push her values and ideas onto other people and expects them to live according to her view of right and wrong. Just look at what she wrote! I have never read anything from this woman before but her thinking is surely stereotypical and mostly ignorant and comes off sounding like people that she would abhor! And besides she is very disrespectful in her tome of the President. To quote, "In one of the more laudable acts of the tenure of the White House", this reflects a generally unapproving opinion of the President, which is not a crime, but shows opinionated ideas, with hardly any facts to support this other than philosophical differences!!! Ans she further shows her ignorance by rambling about a topic she knows nothing about, except for some generalizations. Is this a regular writer for your organization??? I hope not

there is so much wrong with your commentary i don't know where to begin....

But I say the mere act (to wit, the bizarre act) of deciding to marry someone from a foreign country who is just about guaranteed to be less well educated and a lot less well off financially, creates such an incurably unhealthy imbalance of power in the union, even horrifically burdensome regulation won't suffice.

or like one of my american dates that told me that she loved to travel and want to visit all 52 states including puerto rico and canada........

or the popular musings of Jessica Simpson who had to ask if "Chicken of the Sea" was actually chicken or tuna........

IMBRA did nothing other than ask three additional questions during your visa application process, any of which the person could lie on and delay tens of thousands of applications because when the law was enacted, the forms had not even be decided on, much less printed.

And submissiveness is key, as the men portrayed in the Times article make clear.

that is sooooo lame. one of the reason i married my wife is she could THINK for herself(something obviously you have trouble with). i can carry on a conversation with her that doesn't revolve around what happened on Oprah or One Life to Live.

And, if the mail order marriage industry is so great for women, then why aren't American women flocking to the Internet to find foreign husbands?

did you every contemplate the foreign men are not interested in american women for many of the same reasons american men aren't? granted there are many fine women in the US, but i think you will find as posted in many of these comments, they are beginning to look else where for men as well.

when the average american man, who works a 40 hour week, doesn't go out drinking to all hours, pays the bills on time, doesn't sleep around, doesn't abuse women, and wants to be a good father, is undesirable to american women, then these men are going to go looking somewhere else for women who appreciate these qualities!

i could go on and on with your mistakes and sterotypes you've place in your commentary, but i think i can summarize by saying:

your commentary has made the case for the exact reasons men are flocking to other countries for women.....

I have travelled widely to Europe and Asia and I want to share this well-known observation - American feminist women have a terrible reputation among men around the world. They are widely perceived as obese, selfish, spoiled, boorish and emotionally demanding. They are also considered rather overbearing and hysterical. It's well known amongst expat communities around the world that American feminist women are shunned by men outside of U.S.A.

On the contrary, decent and well-off American men are generally viewed as the "cream of the crop" - highly coveted and desirable.... These gentlemen enjoy a great reputation among foreign ladies who perceive them to be respectful, nurturing, responsible, well-educated and financially secure. In addition, these women believe that American men make great husbands, especially in contrast to native men, who are often disrespectful, abusive and unfaithful.

The problem in this country is that the "best in the world" are often paired up with the "worst in the world".... a complete mismatch. It's like a highschool Prom King dating an ugly, domineering and boorish girl. It's very unlikely this type of relationship will work out. Sadly, this seems to be the case, as the marriages "made in America" have a higher divorce rate (55 to 60 percent) than in the cross-cultural marriages (15 to 20 percent). So why is risk of divorce so much lower when an American gentleman marries a "mail-order bride"? In a nutshell, it's because our Prom King is marrying a Prom Queen, who is beautiful, intelligent, feminine, appreciative and devoted.

A growing number of affluent American men are rejecting American feminist women and going overseas to embrace loverly, young foreign brides. A nearly fourfold increase in foreign women entering the U.S. on fiance(e) visas (over the last 7 years) supports this contention. It's no secret that by pursuing foreign women, men can find much younger, more attractive and devoted partners than what's available at home.

Take Tiger Woods, for example. This man has essentially rejected all American women and instead, he married a lovely Swedish woman. Tiger is a one very smart gentleman.... I bet he knows (that) marriage to a foreign lady would mean a lower risk of future divorce!

Let me tell you about the relationship between my loverly Russian wife and myself. Despite our 21 year age difference, our relationship is based on mutual love and admiration.... our love is real and valid. Also, our bond is strengthened by our common interests, continual romance and mutual respect for each other. As with most Russian women, my wife is independent and has a strong will. Our relationship is a 50-50 equal partnership. There is no control and no domination.

My experience, as described above, is very typical of most marriages to "mail-order brides" - in contrast to many marriages "made in America", there are no bitchiness or nagging, no hysteria or drama and no belligerant or confrontational behaviors.... only mutual love and admiration.

Therefore...., when a decent and affluent American gentleman marries a young, loverly foreign bride, what's created is truely, a match made in heaven - the best matched with the best....

And IMBRA is really a scornful feminist response to growing international romance.
http://www.online-dating-rights.com/blog/lestat/index.php?showentry=40

I want to inform modern American feminists of this new reality: most American men do not want you. They do not want to date you and they certainly do not want to marry you. Do you know why? Because any relationships with you pose too much legal and financial risks to American men. The enormous risks of divorce and financial insolvency that men face when they marry you is no longer justified by paltry (often minimum) rewards that you bring to a marriage. Thus, you are being scorned and ignored by a growing number of affluent American men who prefer more feminine and traditional foreign women who offer youth, beauty and loyalty, the qualities you lack. These men realize that by marrying foreign women, they incur lower risk of divorce and greater probability of successful marriage and happiness. Therefore,... many of you will never marry or have children... you will end up like one of your own, Maria Cantwell - old, un-married, completely childless, living with mommy... You need to understand that by depriving and denying your biological instinct to create, love and nurture a family, modern feminism has created a royal road to oblivion that ends with your emptiness, bitterness and despair. Whatever traits or value you carried in your genes will stop with you. No children, no legacy... When you die, you truely die.

A growing number of men now make no apologies for rejecting any modern feminist women. The enormous risks incurred in marrying an American feminist are simply not justified by minimal or no rewards that these relationships bring. An American gentleman now has to walk through a minefield of risks including false abuse claims, financial bankrupcy (from divorce), and denial of child visitation rights. Thus, any intelligent and self-respecting man would reject this modern feminist paradigm of marriage.

Does the author of this article have any idea what she is talking about? The short answer is no. Men should be free to choose who they wish to marry just as women should be. But Ms. Erbe doesn't think American men should have that right. Perhaps it is because she is afraid more men will discover the wonderous benefits of foreign wives. More men than ever are flocking to various countries in search of a wife. The reasons are varied, but the primary reason is the uncompromising American woman.

The men are searching for a feminine lady that enjoys being a woman. They are also searching for ladies that want a stable marriage without the constant demands placed upon them by American women. The aspect that the men are just interested in submissive women that they can abuse is so far wrong as to be unbelievable. My Ukrainian wife is not submissive and is highly educated. But, her preference was to look for a man not from her country. The choices there were poor at best and the likelihood of continued marital success is low. This has more to do with culture, economics and attitudes of men in that country.

Does this author have any idea how extremely difficult it is for a person (they aren't all women you know) to leave their country, family and friends for the chance at a better married life. This author also has the bloated opinion that America is the best place on the earth to live. We have it pretty nice here, but there is a lot wrong too. Ms. Erbe, get out of your ivory tower and travel a little. Maybe you should see how many foreign men will be interested in you, because you are of course an American woman.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the men to line up!

Online-dating relationships essentially involve three distinct, progressive stages:

1. Stage One is the Introduction Stage, in which people first greet each other ("hello"), exchange letters, e-mails, phone calls, etc.

2. Stage Two is the Courtship Stage, in which people actually meet, get to know each other better and advance their relationship. If the couple met via an International Matchmaking Organization (IMO), the gentleman usually travels to meet the lady in her native country.

3. Finally, Stage Three is the Consular Visa Stage. At this time, the couple is engaged (or married), and the lady applies for a fiance(e)/spousal visa so she can move to the U.S. to join her partner (if her visa is approved).

IMBRA imposes two extensive criminal background checks on all U.S. male clients of IMOs:

1) at the Introduction Stage (at the level of initial contact) and

2) at the Consular Visa Stage (during fiance(e)/spousal visa application)

The two current lawsuits against IMBRA challenge the mandatory background checks at the Introduction Stage, but not at the Consular Visa Stage.

It is very important to emphasize that there has been no documented cases of violence against foreign women (by American men who met them via IMOs) during the Introduction and the Courtship Stages of online-dating relationships. This suggests that for foreign women, there is virtually no risk of physical abuse at these stages. Therefore, it is completely senseless to require unilateral disclosure of personal and criminal information of all American male clients of IMOs at the Introduction Stage (level of initial contact).

Foreign women will be adequately protected by having extensive criminal background check done on their fiance(e)s/spouses at the Consular Visa Stage, before they immigrate to this country.

The Tahirih Justice Center (the main proponent of IMBRA) have failed to give any reasonable explanation as to why mandatory background checks must also be done at the Introduction Stage, even though there is no risk of harm (to foreign women).

Furthermore, what is highly disturbing is that IMBRA provides exemptions (from having to do background checks on male clients) to Domestic Matchmaking Organizations (DMOs), despite numerous cases of brutal murder, rape and torture of women that occurred as result of contacts "facilitated" by these agencies.

And above all, what I find most appalling is that the Tahirih Justice Center continues to desperately defend these exemptions in Courts, even though eliminating them will help prevent many cases of murder, rape and exploitation of women.

http://www.online-dating-rights.com/blog/lestat/index.php?

Online-dating relationships essentially involve three distinct, progressive stages:

1. Stage One is the Introduction Stage, in which people first greet each other ("hello"), exchange letters, e-mails, phone calls, etc.

2. Stage Two is the Courtship Stage, in which people actually meet, get to know each other better and advance their relationship. If the couple met via an International Matchmaking Organization (IMO), the gentleman usually travels to meet the lady in her native country.

3. Finally, Stage Three is the Consular Visa Stage. At this time, the couple is engaged (or married), and the lady applies for a fiance(e)/spousal visa so she can move to the U.S. to join her partner (if her visa is approved).

IMBRA imposes two extensive criminal background checks on all U.S. male clients of IMOs:

1) at the Introduction Stage (at the level of initial contact) and

2) at the Consular Visa Stage (during fiance(e)/spousal visa application)

The two current lawsuits against IMBRA challenge the mandatory background checks at the Introduction Stage, but not at the Consular Visa Stage.

It is very important to emphasize that there has been no documented cases of violence against foreign women (by American men who met them via IMOs) during the Introduction and the Courtship Stages. This suggests that for foreign women, there is virtually no threat of physical abuse at these stages. Therefore, it is completely senseless to require unilateral disclosure of personal and criminal information of all American male clients of IMOs at the Introduction Stage (level of initial contact).

Foreign women will be adequately protected by having extensive criminal background check done on their fiance(e)s/spouses at the Consular Visa Stage, before they immigrate to this country.

The Tahirih Justice Center (the main proponent of IMBRA) have failed to provide any reasonable explanation as to why mandatory background checks must be done at the Introduction Stage, even though there is no threat of harm (to foreign women).

What is also very disturbing about IMBRA is that Domestic Matchmaking Organizations (DMOs), such as Match.com, are completely exempted (from having to do any background checks on male clients), despite numerous cases of brutal murder, rape and torture of women which have occurred as result of contacts "facilitated" by these agencies..... Furthermore, what I find most sickening is Tahirih's desperate and deliberate attempts to defend these exemptions for DMOs in Courts, even though these exemptions, if upheld, would increase rape, abuse and exploitation of women..... It's obvious that the Tahirih has turned a blind and self-serving eye to this appalling problem.

Russian women - beautiful, intelligent, feminine, stylish, and mysterious. These are the words that I often hear that describe these lovely European ladies. They are looking for a decent American husband to share their lives with. Like any of us, these women want to love and to be loved. They seek a strong family unit marked by devotion and loyalty, but they are not submissive.

With the U.S. having one of the highest divorce rates in the world (over 50 percent), I think it has become important for many American men to think "outside the box" and go abroad to find a bride. Fortunately, the social globalization and the Internet have made this feasible for many men.

As a group, the male clients of International Matchmaking Organizations are well-educated, financially secure and professionally successful. Most of these men are in the age range 35 to 55 years old. Like Russian ladies, these gentlemen seek strong family relationships.

It's no secret that by pursuing Russian women, men can find much younger, more attractive and traditional women than what's available at home. Moreover, American men would also enjoy a significantly less risk of divorce and better chance of having healthy babies with younger, slender Russian ladies than with overweight American feminist women. All available evidence indicate (that)compared to marriages between two Americans, these inter-cultural marriages enjoy greater degree of mutual devotion and loyalty, stronger family ties and lower divorce rate.

In the last post, "IMBRA And Tahirih Justice Center's Hypocrisy", I have shown (that) there is no justification to force unilateral release of personal and criminal information of all American male clients of International Matchmaking Organizations (IMOs) at the time of initial contact because at that stage, there is no risk of harm to foreign women.

I have also stated that unlike IMOs, Domestic Matchmaking Organizations (DMOs), such as Match.com and Friendfinder.com, are given a complete exemption (or a "free pass") on having to do any background checks on their male clients. Proponents of IMBRA justify these "free passes" by claiming that in DMO-facilitated relationships, men and women are charged and treated the same and therefore, the balence of power is not skewed to empower the male client. As result, they claim, there is less risk for abuse in these relationships.

This assertion is a complete hogwash - in fact, all evidence indicate that there is a significant threat of harm against women and girls as result of these initial contacts made via DMOs. There have been numerous documented cases of brutal murder, rape, torture and exploitation which have occurred as result.

Here are some examples:

(1) A 14 year old girl met a 37 year old man in an American Online Chatroom in 2000. The man was convicted of taking her across state lines to have sex with her. http://www.dangersofinternetdating.com/int...tcrimelinks.htm

(2) A 13 year old girl, Christina Long, was murdered by a 25 year old man she met in an American Online Chatroom. He has confessed to strangling her. http://www.dangersofinternetdating.com/int...tcrimelinks.htm

(3) The body of a young woman who posted her profile in myspace.com was found near Richmond, VA. The suspect is a man whom she met through myspace.com. http://www.bobparsons.com/october2005.html

(4) A 13 year old girl was killed by a 47-year old SanDiego man (who later committed suicide) whom she met in an internet chat room. http://www.bobparsons.com/october2005.html

(5) An affluent real-estate agent in California is charged with with raping three women, two of whom he met through MillionaireMatch.com, a domestic marriage broker.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ia/15833372.htm

(6) A man has been charged with raping 10 women in the Philadelphia area. He met these women via Match.com Hey Tahirih, why isn't Match.com regulated?
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=...&id=4713302

(7) A man is charged with having sex with minor, whom he met via MySpace.com
http://www.nbc5.com/news/10205650/detail.html#

These are just a few examples of hundreds of vicious murder, rape, torture and exploitation against women and girls which have occurred as result of contacts facilitated by DMO's. Many of these horrifying acts of violence may have been prevented if DMOs were forced to do extensive personal and criminal background checks on their male clients.

Now, here is the most heinous part - Tahirih Justice Center, a main proponent of IMBRA, has been fighting in the court of law to preserve these exemptions for DMOs, despite the fact that these "free passes" have enabled many cases of horrendous rape, torture and exploitation against women to occur. If Tahirih gets its way, it will allow murderers, sexual predators, pedophiles and premeditated torturers a free pass to find their next victims. Tahirih's behavior has been deplorable and deeply destructive to efforts to protect women and girls.

Therefore, I urge everyone to fight against Tahirih Justice Center's efforts to preserve exemptions for DMOs.
http://www.online-dating-rights.com/blog/lestat/index.php?

This reminds me of a recent WJLA (Baltimore) segment in which Tahirih Justice Center appeared in a case of false (probably fabricated) claims of rape/abuse against David Dickerson (brought on by his immigrant wife) and raised hysteria about immigrant abuse.

Appearing on a case of fabricated rape and abuse allegation to "cry wolf" indicates a sense of desperation. This video raises some troubling questions about Tahirih Justice Center's credibility. Just how many of the Tahirih Justice Center's so-called "mail-order bride" abuses are really false or unsubstanciated allegations of rape or abuse? What were they doing appearing on a case of fabricated rape and abuse claim in the first place?

I think WJLA and the reporter Scott Thuman did a good job of capturing this Tahirih Hysteria.