You have to love liberals who take their silly beliefs to their logical extremes. You just cannot put a price on the entertainment value.
At the top of liberal Europe is liberal Sweden. Socialist Utopia. At the heart of liberal Sweden is liberal Stockholm. In Stockholm resides the latest uber-liberal to take her herself and her kooky ideas way too seriously.
Meet Yvonne Hallin, a Lutheran Church vicar in Stockholm. She is upset and she is doing something about it. She will no longer tolerate the sexist oppression that surrounds us and that regularly treats women as mere property. She has taken a noble stand against these horrible sexist oppressors. Who are these monsters? Well, fathers of course.
What has the Rev. Yvonne’s panties in a bunch? Fathers who walk their daughters down the aisle. I know, it is almost too much to bear.
Couples who marry “are equal when it comes to finances, politics, values … but when they come to the church … the woman suddenly turns into a man’s property,” Hallin said. Now if you think that this is just one kook, think again. She has got the rest of the kooks jumpin’ on the crazy bandwagon to the consternation of unsuspecting brides.
The decision caused consternation in the bride’s family. The mother of the bride, who chose not to be named, said it was an old tradition in her family for the bride to be walked down the aisle.
“I think my daughter can decide for herself how she wants to do it. She’s thirty years old and is extremely aware of equality issues,” she told news agency TT.
But church authorities are adamant that it was not suitable for a woman to be given away.
“This symbolizes that the father is the owner of the daughter and that he is giving her away to her new owner,” said Rev Eva Brunne, diocesan dean and assistant to Bishop of Stockholm Caroline Krook.
Wow. I wonder if my wife (a.k.a my property) knows how horribly she was repressed lo those many years ago. I think I will go ask her. She is currently barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen.
October 3, 2007 at 2:25 pm
The priest who married my husband and me in 1990 in Virginia pretty much insisted that both of our parents walk both of us down the aisle. For the same reasons!
October 3, 2007 at 3:10 pm
The Rite of Marriage in the reformed liturgy calls for the celebrant, ministers, and wedding party to participate in the procession. Historically, what actually occurs is a concession to (Protestant) custom, and defies a proper understanding of Christian marriage. The symbolism of “giving the bride away,” to be honest, is exactly how it is described in this story; that is precisely how and why the custom originated.
That being said, in my past experience as a sacristan, the most “liberated” woman in the world will most likely want to be given away in marriage by her father, or at least by the nearest older male relative with a pulse.
I could do without it.
October 3, 2007 at 3:31 pm
David,
The historical basis for the custom is largely irrelevant. If the brides want it as a nice custom, she should get off her liberal high horse. Wouldn’t that be more ‘liberal’?
October 3, 2007 at 3:34 pm
David,
Further. If we can’t have a little fun at the expense of silly, over the top, worried about nothing progressives, there would be no joy left in the world. Let’s keep it light.
October 4, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Patrick:
“The historical basis for the custom” is what it’s here in the first place, therefore while not of practical use, is hardly irrelevant.
If we are to base “custom” on what the bride wants, we may continue to see the “bridezilla” phenomenon increase, along with the bill. On the other hand, there is a trend toward men taking more of an interest in the details of their wedding. You will notice that I avoided the wishes of “liberal” thinkers in my original statement. That’s because such ideological notions are irrelevant.
As it any attempt to attribute notions of immemorial custom to what is, in its essential nature, a Protestant phenomenon. (Did I mention this is not the girl’s coming out party?) The point is, don’t tell the bride no, but ask the bride AND the groom how they wish to present themselves, and give them the basis for each option. Maybe the father of the bride could then “keep it light.”
Eventually, I suspect the custom will subside. We could live without it.
October 4, 2007 at 3:07 pm
David,
Never my intent to debate the historical basis of the custom.
My point was only that it is silly for the Rev to get exorcised over such a matter.
I considered it irrelevant because the post was just a joke. Upset liberals are just funny to me. Everything doesn’t need to be debated. If you didn’t think it was funny…don’t laugh.
October 4, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Pat:
Hey, I laughed, okay? A real gut-buster, for real!
Then I got real for a moment and underscored the issue behind it. After all, sometimes “the Rev” is a Catholic priest who doesn’t intend to push an ideological agenda, so much as (drumroll) the rubrics!!!