Published:October 29th, 2009 16:17 EST

I Now Pronounce You Man and Wife

So, I`m reading the newspaper today, enjoying my frosted flakes, when a tiny little article caught my eye. Ahmed Mohamed Dhore, who claims to be a centenarian, was married before a hundred guests in Central Somalia. His bride, Safiya Abdulle, was only 17. The first thought that crossed my mind is that he probably went to school with his wife`s grandmother. 

For those of you wrinkling your noses in disgust, it gets better. His children and two other wives agreed to the marriage, as did the parents of the bride. So Ahmed now has three wives, with one young enough to be his great granddaughter, with kids older than his wife, and his other two wives agreed to it all?

The next question that popped into my mind was how he could do that and not look like a dirty old man. I mean, we as Americans have our share of dirty old men, but even this seems a little extreme. Polygamy alone makes even the nicest guy look dirty, but the 80 plus age difference adds a whole new level of creepy. 

Finally comes the read over your shoulder commentary, from a loving parent this time: It`s a cultural thing. What`s acceptable here may not be acceptable there and vice versa. Well, mommy dear, I`m sure you`re still glad I haven`t moved to Somalia.