America’s sweethearts forced to hire private security
In January, just after he scored the winning touchdown, Ian Johnson dropped to one knee in front of his girlfriend, Chrissy Popadics and the world to ask if she would marry him.
My heart warmed at the precious moment Ian Johnson chose to share with me, a perfect stranger. That warmth was quickly followed by a sense of sorrow and pity for what I knew this young couple was about to endure.
At that instant, viewers of the Fiesta Bowl were divided in two - reminiscent of the 40’s and 50’s we have seen in old syndicated television shows.
Racial tension had again emerged - as if the previous 50 years had made little difference.
It was great that he had scored the winning touchdown to bring the underdog Boise State to the win, but heaven forbid he want to marry a white girl.
Ian and Chrissy are set to be married Saturday in Boise and unlike most weddings this wedding is having to invite wedding security because of all the racist threats they’ve received.
Having very old fashioned parents who are completely against interracial relationships and marriage, I can clearly see a persons right to their own opinion, but there are times when it’s best to have your opinion and keep your mouth shut!
My parents impressed their belief on me and I would have never thought to engage in a mixed relationship out of respect for my parents. But that doesn’t mean I’m against a persons right to fall in love with whomever they want.
I believe the relationship and marriage between Ian and Chrissy is between them and their parents. Beyond that, if anyone has a problem with it, they need to get over it! It’s none of their business.
I’d like to wish Ian and Chrissy all the happiness in the world and may the world grow color blind to the colors of their skin and share in wishing them peace and happiness in life.
Tags: Boise State, Chrissy Popadics, Fiesta Bowl, football, Ian Johnson, interracial marriage, interracial relationshipsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Controversial Issues, Dating Trends
9 opinions for America’s sweethearts forced to hire private security
Chrissy Popadics to Marry on Saturday
Jul 27, 2007 at 7:04 am
[…] America’s sweethearts forced to hire private security Ian Johnson and Chrissy Popadics Will Marry on Saturday Ian Johnson and Chrissy Popadics Have to Hire Security For Their Wedding […]
Ager Ruuska
Jul 27, 2007 at 10:50 am
How and why is this marriage between the couple AND their parents??? It is hard for me, as a European, to believe that Americans, who are (in)famous for claiming to have the most advanced society and best country in the world, still have major problems with the issue of mixed race relationships and marriages, particularly when they involve a union between so-called african americans and white americans. Odd that something so trivial as skin color and/or ethnicity is powerful enough to thwart the power of love in America. Your society is as racist as ever, even today as mankind trudges into its 21st century of modern existence. Sad that this can even become an issue today, and shame on America for not being able to eliminate this most trivial aspect of its bloody past.
Jennifer
Jul 27, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Ager; I think it’s fair to say that individuals are racist — but whole societies? That’s not a full truth. I know people in different places who are and who are not for interracial dating/marriage. Personally, I think this situation is sad and it’s totally unnecessary and lame that they would even need security. Grouping people together though, as one big ol’ racist society is just as lame. But I do agree that the parents don’t and shouldn’t have a say. It’s not their deal.
Good post though. And good title, I’ve never visited this blog and the title drew me over.
Gayla McCord
Jul 27, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I guess I need to make my “parent” comment a bit more clear based on what I’m thinking…
I do agree that the parents shouldn’t have much say in who a person falls in love with, but when couples marry, it usually helps when the parents like the choice.
In the situation of interracial marriage, if a parent is very prejudiced — the child has to consider just how much they’re willing to give up to be with the other person.
However, that should be considered before ever making the decision to date.
I hope that made sense. It did in my head LOL
Babs Grant
Jul 29, 2007 at 5:54 am
Gayla, It made since in my head as well.. Ager you only spontaneously reacted to the surface.. It goes beyond if the parents were to like it or not and their beliefs having an impression on the union. The depth goes to future generations that will materialize from this union.
But I have a sneaky suspicion that the parents involved here are more than pleased and feel that each side is gaining a blessed addition.
NOW can we get onto the bigger issues here.. Children going hungry, children killing one another, illiteracy of todays youth!
The real issue.. If we say Today’s Youth are our Future, we are Procratinating!
Oops! Did I go off on a tangent.. this is a dating column isn’t it? Sorry =)
Have a blessed week
Barbara
Timo
Jul 30, 2007 at 9:30 pm
WOW- what century are we living in again? This may be a silly question, but…..who is sending all the hate mail to this young couple? Is it the whites who are so disapproving, or is it blacks who feel each should marry within his/her race? WOW is all i can say to this.
Hanna
Jul 31, 2007 at 6:32 am
What an absurd, hypocritical world we live in! Timo- I can assure you, without having read a single hate letter that this couple received, that every single one of those threats came from white people. There is of course a possibility that many of them are just playing around and sent hate mail just for kicks, but you can rest assured that no black person sent them hate mail, and that many of the haters probably also claim to be devout Christians. I think that when blacks exhibit this type of hatred, it is out of spite, to return the hate that they receive from whites. My gut feeling is that you would be hard pressed to find such strong opposition to an interracial relationship/marriage on the part of blacks. I once dated a black guy in college, and was totally unaware of the consequences, due in part to the fact that my parents had raised me to be very open minded, and made a tremendous effort to instill in me the fact that all people are the same, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Boy, was I surprised at their negative, almost violent reaction when I non-chalantly brought my boyfriend home to meet them one evening- ouch! I had no idea that my parents were such racists, because of how they raised me- but the interracial thing was obviously a completely different story for them, and so there was a serious double standard they expected me to adhere to. While Gayla chooses to acknowledge and “respect” her parents in this regard, I don’t- I just happened to marry a white guy, but if he had been black, I still would not have hesitated to marry him, and I most certainly would have ignored my parents’ racial feelings on the issue!
Winston Groenemeyer
Jul 31, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Geez louise, this is really something- what’s wrong with marrying someone of a different color or ethnicity? Can’t believe people are still tripping on this kind of stuff- that’s pretty amazing. I always thought this kind of thinking was fictional- like in that movie with Gene Hackman, Mississippi Calling, or something like that- but it seems as though people really do think that way in this day and age. I was fortunate to have grown up in a place that is not so old fashioned, but I will tell you this: as long as you sit around “waiting for the right time to come” before you slap your society in the face and say that this kind of attitude is no longer acceptable, this problem will continue to exist, and it will never go away- and the problems it fosters will penetrate all levels of your society, and you will continue to wonder why people still think this way.
Jeannie
Aug 1, 2007 at 8:01 am
This is really terrible to see that people are still such racists. And if you are hiding behind the excuse of what your parents may think about it (for example, the things Gayla said in her post about respecting the wishes of her parents), or what the children will face in the future, e.t.c., then you’re a racist just like those who sent the hate letters- the only difference being that the authors of the hate letters are a bit more honest with themselves. All relationships face problems, and all children face problems- this is an integral part of life! I personally have never been attracted to men of color, but I have never had a chance to meet any on a more personal level- that just happens to be the way things are for me in my lifestyle (career, circle of friends, e.t.c.). However, if I were to meet a man of color whom I liked and found attractive, I would have absolutely no problem with dating him and/or marrying him if he turned out to be the right person for me, and I couldn’t care less about what my parents, or anyone else for that matter would say about our union, or what they thought of the children that we would eventually have. Though I disagree with Ager’s broad sweeping statement, I do understand where he’s coming from- our society is indeed still totally obsessed with the issue of race, and race plays an extremely important role, whether you admit it or not. I can also understand Gayla’s position on the one hand, but on the other hand, I feel that she (and probably the majority of white Americans in society) are living in great denial about their racist tendencies. Out of curiosity, how many of you would honestly be open to an interracial relationship or marriage with a person of color?
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