The intellect of our ancestors is not in question here. They set parameters base on the ethics and cultural norms. Marrying cousins with DIFFERENT last names is within the parameters. However, I’m beginning to see that in the United States, this is less of an occurance.
Are you really so naïve?
The same justification you have for marrying your own clan name can be used to justify marrying your sister, mother, brother, father, uncle, etc… So where does it stop? It’s unethical as stated by our ancestors. Furthermore, it’s not a cultural norm. Society is defined by laws and cultural norms; even if they pose no real threat. They still have ethical and moral implications. For instance, you can make a case for marrying your sister; even to the extent of providing scientific proof that it doesn’t hurt anyone. Yet, it will still be condemned by society. In fact, it’s illegal in many parts of the world, including the US in some way, shape or form.
There is no law that prevents you from marrying your own clan name. However, it is socially taboo in Hmong society. If this reason isn’t good enough for you, then what is? Does it need to be handed down from gods? People make rules as to what is culturally accepted or not. Same name clan marriages generally are not. Do a search on the Internet or ask around. I believe most people, regardless of race, have reservations about marrying someone with the same last name.
I'm sorry for the belated post here but I feel strongly about this topic enough to rebut you.
Ok, we 1st generations (Americans or came here as an infant) 'generally' scoff at the Hmong social norm of approving of marrying our first cousins with different last names. But first cousins with same last names are prohibited - according to that same Hmong norm. Go figure. Which btw, incidentally are both prohibited (not technically legal) in the USA altogether. And that is after all the elder statesmen telling us it's OK to carry on the former (sentence) of marrying our first cousin w/ a different last name.
Me personally, I don't care as long as it's not your brother/sister, mother/father.
Here's my main point: I even care much, much less if it were two virtually unrelated people with the same last name, e.g., Xiong and Xiong, Vue and Vue, etc., which by virtue is in the same 'clan', I believe.
You argue that we really shouldn't push the boundaries of societal norms lest we be ousted by society. Well, there you go. First cousins marrying in America is pushing the boundaries of societal norms, even illegal. So ARE you a hypocrite or does American social norms NOT count? Or are you actually still in favor with that (kissing cousins) but still disallow within the same 'clan' marriage. If so, then you undoubtedly are a hypocrite in my book.
Yet same last name marriage practices - as long as there are no multi-generational lineage- are way, way more common across the planet then first cousins getting hitched/dating.
And that is the situation right now (above sentence) with our cultural conundrum - if you can call it that. We are the only East Asian culture on the planet to appoint 'clans' and prohibit marriage within that 'clan' just because we have the same last name YET approve of first cousin marriage. Every other Asian ethnic, or anyone else in the World, marry comfortably within the same last name as long as they check up on their lineage.
The goal is to avoid first or - second or even third (if we even want to go that far) - generational incest. That is not incest. That is arbitrary tribalism to pit the 'clans' against one another. Again, only we Hmong do that.
TLDR, It's fine to marry first, second, third cousins with different last names BUT against 'our' (Hmong) edict to marry another person of your 'clan' (essentially a stranger with your same last name) of which you surely have zero lineage too. Go figure. I disagree. It's antiquated tribalism NOT incest. Your cultural parameters are outdated as like segregation in school.