You're minding your own business, when all of a sudden you find out the president of Poland using your wedding footage to bolster his argument against gay marriage and saying that your life would be "against the universally accepted moral order in Poland and force our country to introduce an institution in conflict with the moral convictions of the decided majority of our country."
That's exactly what happened one New York man, Brendan Fay. Upon learning that Polish President Lech Kaczynski had interwoven the video of his wedding into a speech warning against the dangers of adopting the new EU constitutional treaty that could open the door to same-sex marriage in Poland, Fay fought back. Describing the experience he said, "I started getting translations of the phrase the president used as the image appeared... My reaction was just really... I thought, 'oh my God, what an insult.'"
An insult he wasn't going to accept. To see what he did, read more. Fay has filed a complaint against the president with the Polish consulate. He said, "Our images clearly were being used in a campaign by the president of Poland against lesbian and gay persons, and fostering intolerance and fear among the people of Poland."
The story has brought to light some of Kaczynski's historical positions on homosexuality. For instance as mayor of Warsaw, he refused to grant parade permits for gay rights marches. Kaczynski's twin brother has also served as prime minister during which time he said, "it's not in the interest of any society to increase the number of homosexuals."
Can you imagine seeing your wedding video co-opted and used in a political speech? Is Fay right to fight back?
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Lech that name makes me think lecher everytime I see it and that isn't a good thing. As for his inolerance it only serves to show how ignorant he is as my momma always says any peson who is violently opposed to gay rights or gay marriage is hiding something in the closet.
1I don't think that I'd want my wedding video co-opted, regardless of whether or not I agreed with its political usage.
It's one of those things that I'll show to my children and grandchildren, not to everyone who happens across it.
How did the Polish President even get a hold of the video? I mean, if it was up on YouTube or something then I don't think he has as much right to complain.
2nyara - I agree with your momma!
3I'm with you, alsw. I mean, it's wrong for him to use the video no matter what, but I'm still curious as to how the pres got a hold of the video in the first place.
4probably got it on youtube, how disgraceful for a presidet to stoop to stealing someone's wedding video shouldn't he be working on trying to bolster Poland's economy and quash those incredibly insane football holigans??
5I think he is absolutely right for fighting back! I think this is a disgusting display on behalf of the Polish President. He is demonstrating a widespread hatred and whether he likes it or not, he's alienating a portion of his country because newsflash to all these anti-gay countries: GAY PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE! *GASP*
Seriously, this is absolutely disgusting and I hope this man gets lambasted for what he's done.
6Sure he should fight back not only for the invasion and rape of a sacred moment of his life, but also the broader issue of equality for homosexual couples.
As for the President of Poland he should go do something useful like play in traffic.
7hypnotic - You've done it again! Seriously, that last line is brilliant, darlin'! *high five*
8I'm applying for my Polish drivers licence now Matdredalia, LOL!
9That is disturbing on so many levels. To take someone's private life like that and make a spectacle out of it; using a special moment like that as fodder for why it shouldn't have happened in the first place? That is the lowest of the low.
10We have a new member here!
Hypnotic! Welcome!
11This makes me sick. It's sooo wrong of him to do that.
12That's disgusting. What a violation.
13Thanks Shopaholichunny.
14That is so hateful.
15Hypnotic, you're funny. And I agree, KrisSugar — so hateful and pathetic.
16It is just so hard for me to understand how homosexual hatred and fear can be so strong in this day and age. It just blares "I AM IGNORANT" to me. They are just people!
17Jillness I can understand how homosexual hatred and fear is so strong in this day and age because racism, sexism, and other forms of hate and discrimination still exist. Hatred doesn't die because powerful people like The Polish President don't allow it to die. Using this couple's wedding video out of context proves the point.
18I still don't understand why the world is obsessed with marriage?
I mean why do you get special benefits for "marriage"
I see marriage as completely spiritual and religious - marriage by government standards is all contracts, and that is a completely irrational mix.
I mean lets assume me and my sister decide to live together, we have an agreement that she stays home and does house work (she gives up her job/school) and I my end of the deal is to work - if i kick her out in 10yrs the question of whether my sister gets benefits/support from me should not be based on personal relationship - fairness and justice requires that she gave up something based on reliance on my promise and I breached our agreement - why the hell is sex/religion/family values included in these scenarios!!!
If I was "ruler of the world" I wouldn't give gay people right to marry, I would take away the legal meaning to marriage from straight people and tell them legally speaking you need to contract b/c spiritual/religious beliefs don't decide government.
19I'm half Polish, and I'm disgusted at this. Yes, Poland is a highly Catholic country, but the Pres. isn't even using this defence!
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