A recent post about whether you could stay with someone who lied about being transgendered remindered me of a situation that occurred in my family back in the early 60's.
My father's uncle went off to college cut off all contact with his family in the 1930's.
Fast forward to the 60's, my dad and his brother were contacted by a woman (white) who said that their uncle (her husband) wanted to see them immediately because he was dying of a terminal disease.
Imagine my dad's and uncle's reaction when they realized that their uncle had been living the past 30 years as a white man. After college this blue eyed, blonde haired man changed his name, went into the navy and changed his identy to a Italian man. He than married and adopted 3 children. He was an active member of his church and the President of the local bank in his town.
Almost everyone in town began to shun this family when word of his color became know after a big mouthed health care giver told the pastor of their church.
Once his wife told my dad and my uncle the story, both refused to visit their uncle. After much prodding by my mom and my aunt, the two men went to see their uncle and had a tearful and final meeting. In the end I believe all were happy to be reunited.
As a child, me and my cousins despised my uncle because of his decepton but as I grew older, I realized that based on the time he lived and his outward appearance, he made a painful choice to live a life that appeared to be easier and more acceptable within most of society and increased his chances of a successful career.
I have two questions:
1. Could you lie about your religion, race, or gender to be accepted by others or for material gain?
2. Could you love someone who has lied about their race, religion or gender to be accepted by you or for material gain?
