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
Groom Peter Ravella, left, wipes his face as bride Genevieve Van Cleve closes her eyes as Rev. Tom Nuckols, center, begins to lead them in their wedding under the big tent at Cindy Sheehan's Camp Casey 2 near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Looney toons.
Sappy
***.....Casey Sheehan died during a rescue mission he volunteered to join.
A convoy had been attacked in Sadr City, and although he had no obligation to take part in the rescue mission, he went anyway.
For his heroism, he was awarded a purple heart and a bronze star.
His father tells stories of how Casey knew he wanted a life in the military, and how he loved the military because it gave him a chance to serve his country, which he did proudly and willingly.
Casey’s sister said, “That’s all he wanted to do is serve God and his country his whole life.”
So what does it say for Casey that his mother has publicly announced that she feels that “this country is not worth dying for”?
Was it a waste that he volunteered to fight for his country and ultimately gave his life for a cause he felt strongly about? .....***
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1472710/posts
This becomes a bigger freak show every day.
I'm surprised it wasn't a gay wedding.
"The couple insisted that they do not want their wedding to be viewed as a sideshow."
It's not a sideshow ... it's a FREAK SHOW!
The bride looks like Peter Tork, in perfect harmony with the pre-packaged, goofy sixties theme.
These people are starting to make the folks who attended Woodstock in 1969 look sane!
Wow man that's like you know like a beautiful thing man! Peace and love dude, like let's end this war before like 1970, err I mean 2006 man! Now let's go find like a camera to get in front of dude! Beautiful!
Yikes!
That pictures needs captioning...
any takers?
“But I'd like to have someone come and have a baby here,” Sheehan quipped."
Cindy upping the insanity ante yet again. She is nuttier than a fruitcake.
Well, you could kinda say that the Laft Wing groups using wacky Sheehan are "making babies" with her.
"Strangers in the ditch...exchanging talk points..."
where's DFU when you need him?? lol
I see they are dressed appropriately for the happy day.
Take a close look at that audience: Ugly and bitter. Why don't these people like their country?
About 75 of them, at last count.
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