Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Religious right gripes over West Point wedding? Good.

Who would think that one little wedding would give so many religious right members such a huge stomach ache?

According to the AP:
Cadet Chapel, the landmark Gothic church that is a center for spiritual life at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, hosted its first same-sex wedding Saturday.

Penelope Gnesin and Brenda Sue Fulton, a West Point graduate, exchanged vows in the regal church in an afternoon ceremony, attended by about 250 guests and conducted by a senior Army chaplain.

The two have been together for 17 years. They had a civil commitment ceremony that didn't carry any legal force in 1999 and had long hoped to formally tie the knot. The way was cleared last year, when New York legalized same-sex marriage and President Barack Obama lifted the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibiting openly gay people from serving in the military.

Naturally, members of the religious right are going apoplectic. 

Pat Robertson commented on the wedding in his usual nonsensical way, whining about how several generals, such as Douglas MacArthur, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee are "rolling over in their graves":



And not to be outdone, the Family Research Council had to get a word in:

Army officials are experts at following orders--except when it comes to federal marriage law. For the second time in two weeks, the brass at West Point opened its gates to lesbian "wedding" ceremonies in direct defiance of the Defense of Marriage Act. Adding insult to the law's injury, Saturday's service was held in the Cadet Chapel, a 176-year-old house of worship that has been the heartbeat of the Academy's Christian community for almost two centuries. Brenda Fulton, one of the "brides," said the Chapel was a particularly meaningful site, because it's where she first heard the Cadet Prayer: "Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong"--words that, in the end, even West Point failed to live up to. Fulton and her same-sex partner marched down the aisle knowing full well they were leading the military's own processional away from the rule of law. "The liberal social experiment with our military continues," said a frustrated Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) in June. 

The fact that FRC had to reach far in the past to get a doom-ridden quote should give you an indication of the difficulty the organization had in making this non-controversial story into something dire and huge.

But you have to give FRC  ome pity points for attempting the moral panic. The organization's post was accompanied by the following graphic:

Lighten up, folks! It was a just a wedding. You know, a joyous occasion.

I guess for the rest of us who are happy over the blessed event - specifically the brides - it's a case of mind over matter.

Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

So, FRC and Mr. Robertson, I guess you don't matter.

6 comments:

JT1962 said...

FRC said that the officials at West Point "opened its gates to lesbian "wedding" ceremonies in direct defiance of the Defense of Marriage Act." Could someone please point out to me where the Defense of Marriage Act specifically states that same-sex weddings can't take place at West Point? I think their mouthpieces need a re-education seminar on what DOMA actually does and does not say.

Unknown said...

One of the interesting things about that photo is that many, many military folks were weeping in that Chapel Saturday - tears of joy.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Sue!!!!! Happy for you!

Unknown said...

Is it just me or does the FRC need to practice more of what their name implies; research?

Trisana said...

I think it's very fitting that one of the first women at West Point would be one of the first to have a same-sex wedding there. Congratulations, Sue.

I love having people to cite when I try to talk to opponents of marriage equality. Sue, your story made my mum think, as she is one of your West Point classmates, and move past her position to be happy for you. So thank you for being brave enough to come under fire for doing the right thing.

All of the best!

Glenn Ingersoll said...

See, even hunky soldier boys cry at weddings! So sweet.