I have permission from my interviewee to record the interview. The following is an exact

Sabah: Nora! How I miss you, it’s been a long time!
Nora: Good morning! I’ve missed you too. The past days have been full of preparations and work.

Sabah: What preparations?

Nora: My brother’s wedding, and family preparations. It was an extremely busy period.

Sabah: Oh really? Congratulations! Who’s the lucky one?

Nora: A cousin from the same tribe. You know my position on marriage within the tribe.

Sabah: (interrupting with a smile) Ah, the official advocate for tribal marriage!

Nora: I’m not just an advocate, but a believer in this position. Let me explain.

Sabah: Okay!

Nora adjusted her sitting position: It might seem strange to some that someone like me, who studied abroad and was exposed to different cultures, holds onto the idea of marriage within the tribe, but my experience abroad strengthened my convictions about the importance of preserving our cultural identity in an era that is rapidly moving toward dissolving specificities. Preserving identity and cultural heritage is extremely important. In the era of globalization, we have becom in dire need of preserving our cultural specificity.

Sabah: And how is marriage within the tribe a solution for that?

Nora: Preserving identity and cultural heritage comes at the forefront of these reasons. Each tribe in our society has its history, traditions, and distinctive values. This cultural specificity forms part of the richness of society as a whole. When members of the tribe marry each other, this heritage continues to be transmitted naturally and smoothly.

Sabah: But isn’t this a kind of isolation?

Nora: Oh no, no no, this is not isolation. I am not against globalization and openness in absolute terms. I believe in cultural and knowledge exchange between civilizations.

Sabah: What about social bonds?

Nora: One of the most important features of our tribal society is the strength of family and social bonds. Marriage within the tribe strengthens these bonds and vmakes them more solid. Imagine an intertwined network of family relationships, where everyone is close to everyone, and everyone cares for everyone, that’s the tribe.

Sabah: But isn’t this limited?

Nora: Nah-uh our tribal societies, the concept of social solidarity is still alive and active. If a member of the tribe falls ill, you find dozens of relatives visiting and offering help. If someone needs financial support, you find someone extending a helping hand. This strong social network is what distinguishes our societies, and it’s what we fear losing.

Sabah: Isn’t it possible to maintain these bonds even with marriage outside the tribe?

Nora thought for a moment and then answered: Theoretically, yes. Oh, but reality says otherwise. Over time, bonds with the original tribe weaken, and new loyalties emerge. This is natural. But the problem lies in the fact that this gradual weakening of tribal bonds leads to the disintegration of the traditional social fabric without being replaced by an alternative cohesive social system.

Sabah:….

Nora saw my unconvinced look and said: Marriage, my dear, is not just a relationship between two people, but an integration between two value systems and culturable. The closer these systems are, the better the chances of a successful marriage.

Sabah: Do you mean that marriage outside the tribe will necessarily lead to failure?

Nora: No, but in my study of divorce cases in our society, I found that a large percentage is due to cultural and value differences between spouses. These differences may seem simple at the beginning of the relationship, but they worsen over time, especially when raising children.

Sabah: So marriage within the tribe is safer?

Nora: Bingo! In tribal society, everyone knows everyone. You know the person’s background, family history, behavior, and morals. This prior knowledge gives both parties a high degree of reassurance. When you marry someone from outside your social circle, this prior knowledge decreases. You may discover things after marriage that you didn’t know, and these discoveries can sometimes be shocking.

Sabah: Don’t you think that your speech doesn’t suit the word “bingo”? Hahahahaha

Nora: Hahahahahaha what do you mean?!

Sabah: Nooooo nothing at all! Hahaha

I asked her: Isn’t it possible to get to know the person adequately before marriage, even if they are from outside the tribe?

She answered: Theoretically, yes. But the period of getting to know each other before marriage is limited in our societies. Even with an engagement period, it usually doesn’t reveal all aspects of a person’s personality. Deep knowledge comes from long coexistence, and this is what life within the tribe provides.

Sabah: Well, don’t you think that diversity in opinions and values might enrich the marital relationship?

Nora smiled and said: “Disciplined diversity is certainly positive. But the problem lies in radical differences on fundamental issues in life. Uh, for example, if—-one spouse believes in the importance of extended family relationships, while the other prefers independence and staying away from family interventions, this will create constant tension.

Sabah: Makes sense, and what about the children?
Nora sighed and replied: I know that one of the most important challenges is the issue of identity. To which tribe do the children belong? Which traditions do they hold onto? These questions can create a kind of confusion for the children, especially in societies where tribal identity is still important. Children feel scattered and will often lean towards one side over the other, causing more tensions.

Sabah: But can’t cultural plurality be an advantage?

Nora: In an ideal world, yes. But in reality, children often suffer from identity conflict. They may feel that they don’t fully belong to either culture. This is what we observe in many cases of children from mixed marriages, Sabah.

Sabah: Some people believe that marriage within the tribe may lead to health problems due to repeated marriages between relatives. What do you think?
Nora seriously: This is an important and scientific point. But we must distinguish between marriage within the tribe and marriage between direct relatives. The tribe includes thousands of people, and marriage can be between individuals who are not closely related.

She paused a little and added: Also, modern science has provided means for medical examination before marriage, which reduces potential health risks. I support marriage within the tribe with a commitment to medical examination and avoiding cousin marriages if there are health risks.”

Sabah: What about another common criticism that this view promotes racism and closes off to others?

Nora responded firmly: “This is an inaccurate accusation. Preserving identity does not mean rejecting or condescending to others. We can respect all tribes and cultures while maintaining our specificity. The issue is not racism, but preserving cultural diversity.”

Sabah: It’s impossible for me to end a conversation without my essential question: what’s your view of the future?

Nora smiled: I was waiting for it! Wait, I’ve worked for a great conclusion! I think the future will witness a balance between authenticity and modernity. Preserving our traditions doesn’t mean rejecting development. We can benefit from technology and modern science while preserving the essence of our identity.

She added: In the end, I am not calling for imposing marriage within the tribe on anyone, but I call for understanding its value and importance. Each person is free in their choices, but it is important that these choices are based on full awareness of their implications, both on the personal and societal level.

Sabah: What a model answer, Nora!

Nora: I told you! Count on me and I’ll make this article of yours amazing! Hahaha I’ve been preparing my answers in advance to make sure I cover all aspects.

Sabah: As I’ve always known you, Nora. Thank you for this deep conversation.
Nora laughed and said: Thank you for listening and caring, and thanks for this assignment and extra work!