Reading both Saj`s and Vikki`s comments makes me feel like you guys are both arguing about two different topics but with a wall.

Saj`s opinion boils down to the following: If a person is in love with and wishes to marry someone non-indian, he (she?) feels that one`s parents should realize that their child`s happiness is strongly dependent on whether or not he/she marries this non-indian person.  Whether marrying the person results in loss of culture, faith, etc, is besides the point.  That is something that the two in love have to consider.  Often times, in US/Canada, parents are so fearful of their kids marrying outside of our culture that they set unreasonable rules on their kids and try to force their kids into marriages they would otherwise be unhappy about.

My understanding of Vikki`s point is the following: There are many 1st/2nd generation kids who choose to marry people who are indian/punjabi with their own will.  It does not make them less respectable or brainwashed.

I guess the point Im trying to make is that both of you two have valid arguments.  I have seen occurrences of both of these situations with affects that would be unexpected: an interracial couple that is trying very hard to hold on to their indian culture by teaching their kids hindi and punjabi; and an indian-only couple who is so white washed that they barely know what indian food tastes like.

As for the issue of Punjabi`s dating other religions, these two things are not mutually exclusive.  You all have to realize that their are Punjabi Hindus, Punjabi Sikhs, and Punjabi Muslims (to name only a few).  I can say for myself, that I have dated a Punjabi Muslim (Im hindu), and he was and is wonderful.  Simply because he is Punjabi is not enough for me or my parents.  I know they would have a hard time dealing with the issue if I decided that I wanted to marry him.  And like Saj, I wish that my parents would be more understanding of my feelings, but at the same time, like Vikki, I am also apprehensive about it.  Marrying into a Muslim family would no doubt be very different from a Punjabi Hindu family.  In spite of all of the cultural similarities, there would STILL be that many more differences.