How important is having a similar background to marriage?

Can marriage work between people from 2 different backgrounds %26amp; very different cultures within the same country?





Please give examples. Thanks.How important is having a similar background to marriage?
I am a Black/Puerto Rican male. My wife is White. I was born in downtown Manhattan, NY and she was born in South Dakota. Basicallty we are from two different ends of the earth in almost every aspect to include music and taste for movies and entertainment. Even with us being from such different backgrounds and lifestyles, we've remained married for over 11 years now. You would never think that I would have a common denominator with a woman who grew up around things so different from me but we did. We both were fairly poor but our parents raised us as best as they could. Ultimately, I think if you are raised with the moral values that it takes to view a person by their soul and not by their image, you could learn to love just about anyone regardless of how different they are.How important is having a similar background to marriage?
Marriage can and cannot work, even if you're both from the same background.





The thing about marriage is not the backgrounds or cultures of the 2 persons involved. It's more to do with the ';ability'; of the individuals to adapt, accept, tolerate, understand and embrace the other person for who or what he/she is as a person.





Even a couple with a similar background will not agree and tend to disagree on a lot of things depending on how he/she ';accepts'; the other persons reaction to it.





In short, marriage is about accepting the differences in your spouses and not attempting to change him/her, but also to understand and respond to your spouses in the most positive way possible.
I suppose it could, but it will take a lot more work unless one of the partners is willing to adopt most of the other culture. My wife and I share more or less the same religion, morals, and agree on many things. We learned to speak each others language, but I find that after 18 years of marriage there are still some cultural issues. I find myself wanting to gravitate to my culture, and she also may be wanting that. It could be that its more than just a culture issue, but from my experience I can see where it is doable, but proceed with much caution and think it through first. Let your heart be your guide.





Good luck.
The answer is not simple. It can work out... but usually doesn't. The few times I have seen it work, one person converted/adapted to the other person's religion/culture. Whichever person has stronger ties to culture/faith/family is usually the one who keeps their own. The one who gives way has to do it with a free heart and no hard feelings, though. You see why this is so hard. There must be love, yes. But patience and self sacrifice are a big part of it, and few people have large helpings of those. Now, no one wants to hear this. They want to hear: ';Of course it'll work out if you love each other!'; If this is a situation you are considering, ease into it slowly. Talk a lot about which customs you'll follow, how your children will be raised, (not to mention if you want children, and how many!) where you'll live, anything and everything that could cause a conflict. The more you have worked out before any marriage, the better, but especially a marriage of two such different people.
I don't think it's that important. If two people love each other and are willing to understand each other's background and culture, then things should work out.





Umm...Heidi Klum and Seal?