Posted on 08/29/2005 11:40:55 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CRAWFORD – The bride wore an embroidered peasant top. The groom was equally casual in slacks and a short-sleeved shirt.
For all its informality, the Sunday wedding of Genevieve Van Cleve and Peter Ravella at the main Crawford peace rally site was very much a formal statement against U.S. militarism.
The Austin residents said Sunday that they support Iraqi freedom and democracy, but question the U.S. military's role in that mission. Van Cleve and Ravella said they felt it was appropriate to start their lives by affirming love and peace into their marriage covenant, which was sealed before an audience of at least 300 peace demonstrators at Camp Casey II.
“I wanted to add some joy to what has been a somber event,” said Van Cleve, 34, who performed slam poetry at Camp Casey II a week ago at the behest of Liz Carpenter, former press secretary and chief of staff for Lady Bird Johnson.
Van Cleve and Ravella were to be married in a more traditional setting in the fall, but Van Cleve said she was inspired to rush the wedding after attending the peace protests and meeting with like-minded people near President Bush's vacation home.
Ravella, 46, agreed. The pair was able to convince family and friends throughout the nation to take a drive or flight to Central Texas.
“It's not a zoo,” said Ravella, referring to the atmosphere at Camp Casey II. “Most people here are people who have never spoken out against their country in a public way É The guts (to do so) is incredible. Their courage is incredible.”
While some may question the insertion of politics into a wedding, the Rev. Tom Nuckols said a marriage is inherently about politics. Nuckols, a professor emeritus at Austin College, officiated the couple's wedding ceremony.
Marriage is “about which values you'll choose to live and to set priorities,” he said.
A wedding at a peace rally is a first for Nuckols. But he said he agreed to perform the ceremony because he thought the couple's intentions and political statement match that of Jesus, who sought justice and compassion for the lesser of society.
The couple insisted that they do not want their wedding to be viewed as a sideshow. Still, they asked Cindy Sheehan for permission to hold a wedding ceremony at the protest site.
Sheehan started a sit-in on Prairie Chapel Road on Aug. 6 to catch President Bush's attention in an effort to bring an end to the Iraq war. It has since grown to two camps within a few miles of Bush's ranch.
Sheehan, who sat on the front row of the Van Cleve-Ravella wedding, said she gladly approved of the nuptials taking place at Camp Casey II, the larger of the two peace protest sites named after her slain Army son.
“I was so happy when they wanted to get married at Camp Casey because Camp Casey is a place of love, and what better place to get married?” Sheehan said.
“But I'd like to have someone come and have a baby here,” Sheehan quipped.
tdejesus@wacotrib.com
How heterosexist of these moonbats, when they could have had a proper same-sex wedding to consecrate Camp Casey!
How does this sound, Cindy? One lesbian could impregnate her partner with a turkey baster.
I agree with him. It's a complete nutbar circus.
I thought this woman was a complete moron and she proved it again. Does she actually think that once President Bush leaves Crawford, the media or the people are going to hang around? The MSM hates it there and only loved her because she gave them a diversion.
The press has track shoes on waiting for President Bush to return to Washington. Sept 1, the President's motorcade leaves his ranch and the media will be right behind him. Not because they want to cover it, they want to get out of there ASAP. I love watching President Bush make them squirm. They thought the Cindy story would be good revenge for the Crawford trip. Were they wrong.
I wonder if they bought a license? I think a marriage license in Texas cost $100 when my daughter got married. Not much left over for refreshments, I'd say.
Oh, wait a minute. I forgot about the Texas Common Law marriage. They don't need a license. They just have to claim that they are man and wife in front of other people! Bingo! They are married! And it will take a real divorce to dissolve it. They can just save that $100 and donate it toward materials for more white crosses.
I do honestly wish the newlyweds a long and happy marriage, but have my doubts. I question the sincerity of a couple who decide that a hate-filled war protest is the appropriate venue for such an event.
Excellent summary of the situation. I noticed that the "minister" who married them said something like, "Marriage is intrinsically political." Sounds like a recipe for disaster, to me.
If they did a "common law" marriage sans license, with an "officiator," (i.e., a priest or witchdoctor or whatnot), they and the officiator broke the law.
Tis a crime to officiate a weddings without a license.
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