Is this a fear based on prejudice?

I was bored and watched Dr. Phil today.

Here is a link to the episode they aired:
http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/975

Basically, this family is upset that their 18 year old daughter went to Palestine to be with a man she met on myspace and fell in love with.
They fear he 'has something to hide'.

In my opinion they should just spit it out, they're afarid he's a terrorist. They're buying into stereotypes.
I admit the guy does seem like a total asshole, but a lot of 18 year olds fall for assholes. It's a rite of age.
I think what makes this different is the guy is middle eastern.

The whole thing seemed bogus and prejudice to me.

But what do you guys think? Am i totally off base?

Its a re-run and the girl actually ends up moving back to the U.S. with her family and said that the guy was phsyically and emotionally abusive towards her.  

But I do kind of agree that they are stereotyping him, but if my daughter ran 1/2 way across the world to be with some guy she's never met before I would be pissed off as well. And I think they think he's hiding something because he wouldn't go to get his VISA to come to the U.S.

It is hard to say without seeing the show.

I would be freaked out a bit if my 18yr old daughter met a man off of the internet period! (no offense to those who have met their SO's of of the net) Not to mention he is another country, middle east or not.

Quoting Orions Mommy:“ I was bored and watched Dr. Phil today. Here is a link to the episode they aired: http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/975 ... [snip!] ... guy is middle eastern. The whole thing seemed bogus and prejudice to me. But what do you guys think? Am i totally off base?”

I dont know if they are afraid he is a terrorist...how old is he? If he is an older guy that caused their daughter to move to Palestine after meeting him on myspace, I would be very suspicious as well, and it would have nothing to do with his nationality. I would need more details since i didnt see the show (I am at work)

Is that the one where she ran away once before?? I saw that one. He seems like a real jerk to me. He calls her names and hits her. I would not want my daughter to go to a different country with someone who does that to her.

Quoting Jess8168:“ Its a re-run and the girl actually ends up moving back to the U.S. with her family and said that the ... [snip!] ... be pissed off as well. And I think they think he's hiding something because he wouldn't go to get his VISA to come to the U.S.”

Agreed. I seen the episode too when it first aired  

Quoting Jess8168:“ Its a re-run and the girl actually ends up moving back to the U.S. with her family and said that the ... [snip!] ... be pissed off as well. And I think they think he's hiding something because he wouldn't go to get his VISA to come to the U.S.”

I understand that. I was frustrated that because he wouldnt get a VISA that he must be hiding something.
Why can't it be that he doesn't like America and doesn't want to be here? I don't blame him. A lot of people in America have huge stereotypes of Muslims right now. If i was Muslim and lived in the Middle East my whole life, i wouldn't want to be here either.
Doesn't mean he's hiding anything. Just means he is afraid and would probably rather keep her there with him, under his control. There was a huge cultural difference there. Muslims are very different with their women.

Quoting Dev22:“ I dont know if they are afraid he is a terrorist...how old is he? If he is an older guy that caused ... [snip!] ... well, and it would have nothing to do with his nationality. I would need more details since i didnt see the show (I am at work)”

He was 20. Not too much older than she was.

Oh if he was abusive as well then that explains it. No wonder they dont like him! I dont think they are racist, they are trying to protect their child. They probably are thinking he is hiding the abuse.

Quoting Lady S.:“ Is that the one where she ran away once before?? I saw that one. He seems like a real jerk to me. He ... [snip!] ... He calls her names and hits her. I would not want my daughter to go to a different country with someone who does that to her.”

I agree that he seemed like a total asshole. He kept blowing off questions and looking down at his cuticles.. and sort of just, glaring into the camera.

I don't think he was good for Katherine, don't get me wrong. I just think that the family was buying into a large stereotype and it sort of pissed me off.

Quoting Dev22:“ Oh if he was abusive as well then that explains it. No wonder they dont like him! I dont think they are ... [snip!] ... him! I dont think they are racist, they are trying to protect their child. They probably are thinking he is hiding the abuse.”

Very true. I didn't consider that!

Quoting Orions Mommy:“ I understand that. I was frustrated that because he wouldnt get a VISA that he must be hiding something. ... [snip!] ... her there with him, under his control. There was a huge cultural difference there. Muslims are very different with their women.”

I agree with you, but at the same time as a mother I understand where her family was coming from. There is a big culteral difference, and I wouldn't want my daughter letting some man run her life and her thoughts.
And Dev22 her family didn't know he was abusive until she moved back to the U.S.

Quoting Jess8168:“ I agree with you, but at the same time as a mother I understand where her family was coming from. ... [snip!] ... some man run her life and her thoughts. And Dev22 her family didn't know he was abusive until she moved back to the U.S.”

Oh ok, thanks!

I also agree with you about the man controling her life. Its a very different life for women over there, and I wouldnt want that for my daughter at all. Ultimately if that is what she chose and what she really wanted and belived in, then I would deal with it, but I would never be happy about it.

Quoting Orions Mommy:“ I was bored and watched Dr. Phil today. Here is a link to the episode they aired: http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/975 ... [snip!] ... guy is middle eastern. The whole thing seemed bogus and prejudice to me. But what do you guys think? Am i totally off base?”

I disagree.
If my son up and moved to another country to marry some woman that he'd never met, and I'd never met, who didn't want to meet me. I'd be suspicious too. My ass would be on the next plane to wherever he was. No prejudice involved. It's a stupid decision that shows her maturity level.