You Marines are going to love these two guys, the wedding couple dressed as stylized Marine four-star generals; “The couple wore military designed Nehru jackets accented with officer eagle globe and anchor collar insignia, gold eagle buttons, four star epaulettes…”
But President Obama sent his congratulations, so they have that going for them;
Thanks to Mary at Fake Warriors for the heads up.
Comments
115 responses to “Stolen valor wedding”
@ 49 Matthew John. As I said @ 31, they wanna be gay? Cool beans! They wanna get married? Cool beans! That they’re two “4-F faggots” that want to play make believe with military style costumes? Cool beans! That they would use the Eagle, Globe & Anchor IS NOT cool beans. I endured 13 weeks of physical and mental abuse, that was Marine recruit training in the ’70s, to earn the title United States Marine. The Eagle, Globe & Anchor is an emblem recognized, worldwide, as excellence in military service. Unless either one of them served in my Marine Corps, fuck them. Unless YOU served in my Marine Corps, same for you.
I’m going to have to agree with the minority here in that there is no ‘stolen valor’ here – just a couple who is using a military-themed style because they like the look of it. If anything, let our Marines take pride in the fact that some stylish gay guys have just proved they have the best looking uniforms.
With that out of the way, we’ve just got two people getting happily married. Congratulations to the both of them, and I wish them the best of luck for the future.
@49.
1. “For the most part[,] I have supported this blog 100%….”
Talk about going both ways! Well, which is it, the most part or 100%?
2. “Those outfits are meant to be regal they are in no way attempting to give anyone the impression they are military.”
Despite the fact that this is a military blog, the word “outfits” somehow seems inappropriate when you use it.
3. “I am glad I now see the bigoted nature of the people who post here and their ignorance.”
Assuming that your observation is correct, why does this make you glad? Does what you deem to be bigotry invalidate all else someone says or does?
4. “Clearly they belong to the Imperial Court system…”
Head slap! How could anyone have missed that! The funny thing ( I almost said “the queer thing”) is that most of us visit the Imperial Court System website nearly as often as we’re here.
5. “The Imperial Court of San Diego alone has raised over 25 million dollars.”
Well, now you’re talking! That must buy more than a few wedding cakes, eh? Seriously, 25 million? From the San Diego alone? Wow. I have no idea what the import of that is but it must be meaningful. You see, some organizations have little money but many members while others have few members but a lot of money. I’ll explain further if you want.
6. “This is not an issue for this blog….” I’m shocked that this thread has not yet been deleted. Shocked.
Note to Jonn: Please consider obtaining the prior approval of Matthew John, if not Luke amd Mark, before you post future topics.
@49: I have to side with Yat Yas on this. If they want to be all delicious for each other; who cares? However, take the Marine Corps emblem off. You are correct that it’s not really Stolen Valor, but it is highly disrespectful and shows that they don’t give a shit about anything but how fabulous they think they are. No, they aren’t regal, they’re assholes. Earn the emblem or take it off.
Can we just back up to the part where the president and First Lady along with the vice-president and wife sent congratulations. Who the fuck are these two and why do they rate such attention? Or like everything else about this duo is it so much fluff?
@55. You ask a good question, Grunt. THEY are not special and few outside of their families give a darn about them. Taking deviance mainstream is what this and all such similar stories is about. It has gotten to the point where good people are supposed to feel that there is something wrong with them if they don’t quietly accept this repugnant insanity. Here’s a link to a piece that you or others might find illuminating.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1147428/posts
@54 In theory, ‘earn the emblem or take it off’ sounds like a great idea, but in practice it’s messy. Wearing full-on Dress Uniforms with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor is pretty clearly a no-no, but if I wear a t-shirt with it to show support for the Marines, is that bad? Is it OK if I have a son who serves with them? What about if I’m playing a Marine in a local play? Or it’s Halloween?
Ultimately I think intent needs to inform outrage, and maybe there’s more to it, but these guys just seemed to like the style. My guess is they just didn’t know the Eagle, Globe and Anchor is considered sacrosanct. You may find that unacceptable, but it doesn’t seem these two warrant the fire that’s being direct their way by this.
@55 See post #48 – he gave the following link where you can order greetings from the President:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/consumer/a/greetings.htm
That’s my guess, too.
Imperial Court System?
Then why aren’t they dressed as storm troopers?
It’s pretty clear from my posts I have no quarrel with the marriage of gays, but why the need to be 4 star Marine emblem wearing Duke and Duke?
I think it points out what others have said under different articles, that mainstream America is so out of touch with the military that these 2 maximus homosexualis lads would wear this in the first.
What the fuck are “spectator shoes”?
@ 52 & 54. Guys, I ain’t saying anything about “stolen valor”, my beef with them is the use of the Eagle, Globe & Anchor. That emblem is something I went through hell to earn, that they use it as a decoration on their “costumes” for whatever fantasy world they live in is what pisses me off. How many thousands or hundred of thousands of men have died while wearing that emblem? There are very few things that mean anything to me. My children, my GRANDCHILDREN, my mother (dad’s gone), my siblings & extended family and the Marine Corps. These guys wanna/got married? Congratulations! DO NOT use my Eagle, Globe & Anchor as an accessory on your costumes!
@57: They are wearing it as a piece of costume jewelry, not in support of anything. If you want to wear a t-shirt with it as a show of support, that’s fine, but you know as well as I do, since this was a wedding photo I stand by my previous statement, that it was a show of disrespect.
@61 Understood and I agree. I just think they were unaware of the significance of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, and while ignorance is never good, it’s also rarely cured by malice — of which there has been some in the responses here.
Casually explaining to them why wearing the emblem without having earned it is offensive to many Marines would probably be far more productive than ranting, I think.
@62 Fair enough – I agree they probably weren’t wearing it in support of the Marines. Let’s break it down into three broad categories of why someone might wear it, though: malice (stolen valor, false credentials, etc.), ignorance and support. Malice we’re all against, support we’re all in favor of, and ignorance, I think, is something we need to cure. But we won’t get there by treating it like malice, and it’s not worth this mighty a spotlight or this level of scorn, in my opinion.
@63: I think they knew the significance of the emblem, since they wear also wearing the rank of a 4-star to go along with it. Well, maybe not the full significance, but they knew enough.
I counseled my son to use the military as a way to learn a trade. Sean joined the Air Force. He’s now a plumber who makes more than I do (a Bachelors +18)! My daughter was psycho to join the Corps, she has asthma and wasn’t eligible. That she got Marine tattoos and wears Marine Corps t-shirts is fine with me. My grandchildren have Marine Corps clothing and accessories which I feel they get to wear by proxy. I served, they are Marins through me.
I don’t think these guys fall into the classic stolen valor category. Like someone said, they are using the globe and anchor as costume jewelry, but not really pretending to be real Marines. In the past I probably wouldn’t care at all. But perhaps because I’m a bit older and experienced, it does annoy me that random people choose to use military emblems as fashion statements. Particularly the globe and anchor. In my view, this is different than wearing a Marine Corp or Army T-shirt because those essentially can express support for the service members or institution as a whole. Heraldry placed onto a wedding outfit for purely fashion reasons is different and in bad taste.
I saw a guy at the DMV the other day wearing ACU bottoms, ACU boots, and normal work clothes for the rest, along with a mullet, facial hair and strong assumption that he never served, and if he did wouldn’t go out in public like that. That was annoying too.
@64: I agree. They haven’t risen to the level of malice and in some ways, I find it almost comical, because no one, and I mean no one, would ever think that they were anything other than flamboyant in a Liberace sort of way.
If you want to have a military-themed wedding, you should not go shopping for wedding garb at an Army-Navy surplus store. Go to a costume shop instead. Since those jackets are not tailored, I think they may have actually come from a costume shop, because they look like ripoffs of USMC dress blues, but they’re too close to the mark to not be offensive as presented.
Come on, guys, have you ever seen a round Marine like the Earl on the left? Where could the quartermaster get a dress jacket that big? Think about it for a minute!
Yeah, it’s offensive, and if they were dressed in pre-1975 WAVEs uniforms, I’d be offended, too, unless they were two old ladies like me dressing up for a WAVEs reunion.
Matthew John is a moron.
Dammit. I had a whole paragraph that I was going to post and Green Thumb at 70 did a better job than me.
Insulting to use the eagle globe and anchor on all accounts to Marines and if they didnt know I am sure the wedding planner/costume designer knew complete in your face disrespect to the Corps..
They could have gotten by with the 4 stars on the shoulders. But when they pinned the EGA to their collars shows complete dis-respect to every Marine that has earned the Eagle, Globe & Anchor. Hence, They shall be tagged for Marine Posers….Semper Fi.
@66: Do you not see the contradiction? You are ok with your daughter getting USMC tattoos after never serving, but not with two guys wearing military-style wedding jackets that have the eagle, globe, and anchor?
If their “pho” uniforms were adorned with Ranger Tabs, they would be two-hole Rangers…!
@74 – There is a serious difference between getting a tattoo and wearing a military uniform inappropriately.
Imperial court system? Who knew? I mean that seriously. Who here (other than Matthew John) had ever heard of this absurd organization? I read the wiki page and am reminded of a gay friend who said gay men were the only group who would parade around in assless chaps and then stomp their foot because they weren’t being taken seriously. How self-important can you get.
Seriously, if you really think about it, they should have gone to the Renaissance Faire and bought costumes for men. Then they could stuff their cod pieces. To the max. And wear REALLY big swords.
I think Matthew John was probably attended the wedding.
I think it was in poor taste. I would go into more detail, especially about what Matthew John wrote, but 2-17 AirCav beat me to it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve worn MODIFIED uniforms before as part of costumes. However, I would never disrespect any branch of service by wearing Service Distinctive Insignia (The EGA, Engineer buttons, etc.).
The fact that these two persons (gentlemen nor ladies seem to apply, in my opinion) are ignorant of or willfully insulting the Corps is a slap in the face for anyone who has earned the right to the EGA. Either they and their wedding planner didn’t do their homework or they did.
As for the POTUS and VPOS giving them a seal of approval, I am either calling BS or BS. If they did, then this is an insult to I don’t know how many people who write in for Presidential approval (Eagle Scouts mostly, to name one group). If they did not, then these two should be called deeper on the carpet.
As for the “Imperial Court System,” I have never heard of them. I can guarantee they are not in the SCA (the only place I know of to use those kinds of titles). However, I doubt that Laurel and Hardy up there would ever be into that (let along find a suit of armor that would fit Twinkie the Kid in that picture).
@ 74 Ben, my little girl had every intention of enlisting in the Marine Corps. She has asthma and wasn’t eligible. She has never worn the Eagle, Globe & Anchor in any way, shape or form. Her t-shirts and tattoos are the Marine “bulldog” or some other emblem. NEVER the Eagle, Globe & Anchor”. I have said she as earned the right by proxy because of my honorable service. Unless you are a Marine, you need to “SHUT THE FUCK UP”. it’s easy to run your ‘cock suck’ , which I’m sure you use regularly unless you’ve been there.
For someone who wanted to know about spectator shoes, they are bi-colored shoes with color blocks, usually black and white.
@39 and 49 – It’s got nothing about the gayness of the event. See below.
I’m not going to speak for Yat Yas or any other Marine here, this is just my opinion.
All the following are in the category of “If not a Marine”.
1. Little kid wearing a Marine costume for hallowe’en or some such? Cool. Like that little kid wearing the Marine costume on this very site not too long back. I’m good with that. To my mind, that’s falling in the category of honoring the service.
2. Wear the Marine emblem on a t-shirt? Cool. I’m ok with that, though it starts to make me uncomfortable if it looks like a Marine PT shirt. In my mind, that falls into the category of honoring the Corps. Same thing with Yat Yas’s daughter. I’m sure she wouldn’t claim to be a Marine or represent herself as such.
3. Turn the emblem of my beloved Corps into a piece of costume jewelry WHILE wearing a Marine styled uniform? NOT cool. And not solely because of a Stolen Valor thing. This is making a mockery of the service of myself and people far better than I.
Turn it around. Take the whole Gay thing out of the equation. Would it be acceptable to me for a straight couple to be costumed up for a wedding, wearing Marine styled uniforms along with the EGA? Hell no. I’d be just as irritated if the groom and/or the bride wore Dress Blue styled costumes with EGAs for their wedding.
It’s not just the uniform. I’d think it dumb, but ok. But the moment they put the EGA on the uniform, it crossed the line. If they’d gone with a more generic look, same uniforms but stars or something in the place of the EGA, I’d have shrugged and not thought much of it.
There is a simple answer to this problem. Artillery.
Thanks Nik well said..As a female Marine from a different era I never tattooed myself, I now have two nieces serving in the Corps and like me they have never had the overwhelming desire to tatoo themselves to identify themselves as Marines. We all feel like 13 weeks at Parris Island along with our Marine Corps bearing is all we need.
In addition I served when the Lesbian scandal broke at Parris Island. I completely disagree with DADT because regardless of what people think whether you are a male or female gays in the military are a distraction to the unit…
I’m sure the Imperial Court System has its unique organizational symbols and rituals, Matthew John. I wonder how Imperial Court System members would feel if some other group appropriated their symbols or rituals without permission and used them in an “in your face” kind of parody?
I suspect Imperial Court System members would be a bit torqued about that. Just like most of the Marines (current and no-longer-serving) here are about this little episode.
I’m not a Marine myself (Army background), and I’m not trying to speak for Marines on this matter. I’m providing this as an example for your benefit, Matthew John – so that maybe you might finally understand, at least in part, why Marines could find this offensive.
That “why” was obvious to me, but you didn’t seem to “get it”.
These two individuals belong to a narcissistic organization and claim the title of Duke. We all shouldn’t be surprised that they are narcissists themselves and wear four stars when they didn’t earn it. I am ticked off but just not surprised.
Spectator shoes? How Goauche!
I see a trend with Mathew John and left leaning (I’m guessing) ilk. It goes as follows: criticize the actions of a president who happens to be black, you = a racist. Criticize two clueless bozos disrespecting the Marine Corps’ uniform who happen to be homosexual, you = an anti gay biggot. Please take your self righteous manufactured outrage elsewhere.
@89: Sure, why in the world would anybody think that there is anti-gay bigotry on this site? I hate Stolen Valor as much or more than the next guy or gal, but good grief, Jonn named the tournament the “Ballduster McSoulpatch Memorial Stolen Valor Tournament.” Also, there are multiple posters on this very thread calling these gentlemen homosexual slurs, when their orientation has nothing to do with them appropriating (wrongfully, according to many) the EGA for their wedding attire.
@81: Again, you know not who I am. To say I shouldn’t speak about the matter because I’m not a Marine…
We all castigated a guy on here not long ago for getting tabs tattooed on his arm. I agree with Ex-PH2, yes tattoos are different from wearing a uniform, in that the tattoo is a permanent display to someone that you may have served. Do I find it a little strange that they’d want to wear these uniforms with four stars and the EGA? Yes, but they aren’t claiming to have served to my knowledge, and it’s made pretty darn clear in the article that they were “styled” for the occasion. Hell, maybe they thought they were honoring service members by wearing them, much like people who get the Marine Corps Bulldog tattoo when they never served.
@90 man how can you even see the computer screen from the high horse you are sitting on?
They would be criticized on this blog no matter what group they belonged to.
The difference in your tattoo reference is tabs, rank, and the EGA are all official heraldry. The MC bulldog is not.
The ballduster refers to the growth of hair (the “soul patch”) that is unauthorized for a military member. But the tournement’s namesake sported on his ugly face while wearing his stolen valor costume at a military gala. I expect you’ll come to the rescue of the community of unatteactive persons for my use of the word “ugly” next. How valiant of you.
Try again.
@91: Yes, I know that the “ballduster” refers to the soul patch, but the man in question was gay, and it was obviously a reference to him dusting someone’s balls with it while performing oral sex. Or maybe there’s some secret code on here I’m not aware of.
Not sure what the problem is here, they wanted attention, they got it, even though it might not be the kind they were looking for. Take your medicine gents.
Just like Ballduster Mcsoulpatch, BTW.
@92 and there you go. You proved my point from #89 elequently. Any attack on the man, warranted or not, is spun by you folks into a attack on his sexuality. Thereby more easily dismissed. This tactic is mirrored by the POTUS’ supporters with great frequency. It’s liberal battle drill 1A. I feel safe to assume you’ve never served, so I’ll let you in on the fact that that is a military reference and not a gay slur.
Blinders are for horses sir. Perhaps remove yours and give then to the tall horse you use as a chair at your computer workstation.
Yeah, we didn’t know Michael McManus was gay when I named him Ballduster. We didn’t even know who he was, besides a guy in a ridiculous uniform when we first posted his picture. In fact, it was someone from the Houston gay community who told us his name.
@96: That doesn’t help your case. “Sure, we called the guy a gay slur, but we had no idea he was gay until after we called him that.” And for those of you assuming I’ve never served, you are wrong. The issue I take with those who decry “political correctness” and “liberals” messing up everything, just admit that you want to be able to act like an asshole with impunity and be done with it. You think I’m on a high horse? What about the sentiment that anything you say shouldn’t be taken as offensive, and if someone does get offended then they are just “liberals,” “pussies,” “have never served,” etc.?
I find Ben to be shallow and pedantic. 🙂
@97. “[J]ust admit that you want to be able to act like an asshole with impunity and be done with it.”
Let me see if I have this straight, so to speak. We are graced with a picture of two gushing queens dressed up in who knows what, replete with Marine Corps emblems, and YOU ARE complaining that at least one of us here wants to act like an a-hole with impunity? Bwahahahahahahaha.
I find EVERYTHING that EVERYONE says on this board to be OFFENSIVE (NOT), but I’m a girl hanging out with guys, and this is the way guys are. I’m sure that if they got together in a bar and started talking about me, they’d all have something snide to say about my dress size and my bra size and I can hand it right back to everyone of them. This is the way it is everywhere I’ve been. Long ago, some PH1 was pissing me off when I was extremely busy, so I verbally threw him out of my photo lab. My division officer said he’d been wondering when I was going to do that. “SO I’m not on report?” “Hell, no, the guy’s an asshole.”
Deal with it.
If you don’t want to accept what the big boys do and say, then don’t hang out here.
Watching LSU v. Florida LSU 3 FL 0
Some of those tackles have bellies hanging over their belts, but you should see them slam into the other players.