Today on CNN, I saw a woman who had big stars and stripes on her wedding gown. At the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom said the Pledge of Allegiance, in addition to saying their wedding vows.

Not that tackiness at weddings is anything new--our culture is constantly bombarded by such horrors as unwearable bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen in hideously inappropriate attire, and cringe-worthy vows written by the beloveds. But this goes beyond tacky--this was clearly a We Love America moment. Kind of like those bumper stickers that advertise the drivers' personal religious beliefs.

"She wanted to show her support for the president," the news reporter said of the bride. At her wedding? It was a church wedding, a religious service, possibly a sacrament. Suddenly, in America, it is hard to discern the difference between religion and government. This danger has been creeping up on us for some time, and now it is here, fullblown, expressed shockingly by a woman who chose her marriage ceremony to promote the public "patriotism" that has become so popular since the terrorist attacks of 2001.

It isn't cute. It isn't touching. It's a sign of the times, and not a good one.