BROUHAHA IN BERKELEY
No apology offered to Marine Corps
Have you been following the story of the city council in Berkeley, Calif., and how it told Marine Corps recruiters they were no longer welcome? That they don't belong in Berkeley? Well, the council and Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates have done some back-pedaling, explaining they support our troops but oppose the war in Iraq. More recently, on Feb. 12, protesters filled the streets in front of Berkeley City Hall. At its peak, about 2,000 demonstrators gathered, with Marine Corps supporters having a slight edge over "anti-recruiter" demonstrators.
"The demonstrations were for the most part calm," said John Raughter, director of communications for The American Legion, "with occasional shouting matches breaking out between vocal members of both sides." A substantial police force kept violence at bay, although a few scufflers were arrested.
Dick Seavey, a Legionnaire from Post 246 in Danville, Calif., and his wife Georgeanne were two of the many people who showed up at city hall to support our troops. "We have a son in Iraq," Seavey said. "We saw what was going on, and we wanted to be here." The Seaveys think the Berkeley City Council's attempt to make a political statement was badly handled. "You don't penalize the Marine recruiters," Seavey said. "Most of the kids out here demonstrating against the Marines don't know what they're doing."
As the protest went on in the streets, the city council convened indoors. When the matter of Marine recruiters came up, several people had something to say, including this statement from Kevin Graves: "I am the proud father of Spec. Joseph A. Graves, who was killed in Iraq on July 25, 2006. He died in honor. He volunteered. Our military are not coerced, they are not lied to, and they are not deceived ... You owe the military an apology."
The city council voted 7-2 against sending a letter to the recruiting office asking them to leave town. But the council failed to apologize to the Marine Corps, as requested by American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser. Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, a former Army officer, tried to soften things a bit: "We have attempted to distinguish, maybe not successfully, between the people in the military and the recruiting, which is a problem for us because we don't support the war."

I think if the Marines are not welcome there then all Recruiting Offices should pull out. I can't believe the City Counsel after hearing this US Navy Seal Mothers statement did not apologies post haste and in a hurry to her particularly and all military members for their overall ignornce and incredible stupidity.

Come on, after all it is Berkeley! Don't you remember the 60's?? Timothy Leary, LSD, Viet Nam protests?? It is their legacy and they never have been very supportive of the military, rule of order, the establishment, and all that jazz.

Of course they're ignorant. They're COLLEGE KIDS! It is my humble opionion that college should be reserved for those who served first and all others, second.

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It is their legacy

And that's about the extent of it. The city has changed quite a bit, as the demographics shift to a city of people who can afford million dollar homes near the campus. The baby boomers and free-lovers have abandoned much of the 1960's as they head into their actual 60s. Most of them just play at protesting -- it's mainly a nostalgia thing!

It's wise to not take them too seriously!

...gjd

Do million dollar homes disqualify them from being liberal? Or are you just stereotyping? I know someone living in Albany that lives in a home valued at 850k....that he bought for 5k..and the builder put up the first $500.00..He's still liberal...

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over this. These are people just using their rights. While I may not agree with their message, it's not the biggest thing on my mind today.

It is not their right to discriminate against people based upon their job! Sure they speak ill of the military now but let anything happen and these liberal bigots will begging for help.

I know what the Corps should do. They ought to ‘man’ this place with black women, Hispanic men and homosexuals. Then these liberal bigots won’t know whether to picket against them or for them!

Tolerance… what a frigging farce! Liberal bigots are not tolerant but instead, discriminate against ANYTHING that they do like. Intolerant, hypocritical bigots are showing their stripes. And these stripes are yellow.

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I know someone living in Albany that lives in a home valued at 850k....that he bought for 5k..and the builder put up the first $500.00..He's still liberal...

I probably am "just stereotyping," but a 850K home in Albany (CA) almost qualifies as a hovel.

If he is indeed a member of the privileged class, he is probably still a liberal either out of guilt or a fear the revolution may indeed happen and the unwashed masses will run him over. (Some call it "Enlightened Self Interest.")

...gjd

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Originally posted by geejaydee:

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I know someone living in Albany that lives in a home valued at 850k....that he bought for 5k..and the builder put up the first $500.00..He's still liberal...

I probably am "just stereotyping," but a 850K home in Albany (CA) almost qualifies as a hovel.

If he is indeed a member of the privileged class, he is probably still a liberal either out of guilt or a fear the revolution may indeed happen and the unwashed masses will run him over. (Some call it "Enlightened Self Interest.")

...gjd

He's a liberal because he's 90+ and not about to change his ways...He does admit that it's certainly not the same as in the "good old days" Liberals have changed as have conservatives, over the years(we both agree the two used to have much more common ground)...Ya know handshake deals...what have you. Great guy though, I used to live next door when I was serving on Yerba Buena Island.....(Cutter Point Heyer). If I'm in the area I always look him up.

Nice place, by the way...I might be underestimating the value of his place.

The last thing he or I am concerned with is some perceived "revolution"...him, because heck...He's flippin' 90...and me because not enough liberals are on the same page and the numbers aren't really that great in the first place, except in two places NY city and Los Angeles.

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He's a liberal because he's 90+ and not about to change his ways

At 90+ he has no doubt paid his dues, and has the right to be or call himself anything he wants.





...gjd

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Originally posted by Badge3157:
Come on, after all it is Berkeley! Don't you remember the 60's?? Timothy Leary, LSD, Viet Nam protests?? It is their legacy and they never have been very supportive of the military, rule of order, the establishment, and all that jazz.

Of course they're ignorant. They're COLLEGE KIDS! It is my humble opionion that college should be reserved for those who served first and all others, second.

It is Berkley but even Berkley is still part of the US and protected by the US Armed Forces (of which the US Marines are part of). How can they not at the very least apologies for their actions? It's not the protestors there that I have a problem with. After all that is their right. It’s the overall attitude of the City Counsel and its actions which I find despicable and poor in judgment. Just as members of the Military are not allowed to protest in uniform and take official sides. The City Counsel should only enforce the laws and NOT take sides whatsoever. Just my opinion. Protestors are a dime a dozen and if they weren’t complaining about this they would be complaining about something else because that is their nature.

Berkeley has always been a hot bed of desention.
But I DO NOT agree with the situation now. I was at the airport to pick up my nephew coming home from Vietnam, there was a protestor standing in one lane, I rolled down my window and said "if you are still standing there when my nephew comes through that door, I'm going to hit you with my car." My nephew came through the door, the protestor was still standing there, I turned my wheels right at him. He jumped over a lane and almost got hit by another car, I yelled "I meant business."

I always have to laugh whenever the good folks in Berzerkly are featured in the news. Whether it's over the city counsel calling the Marines "unwelcome invaders" or it's the university's decision to cut down the oak grove to make room for a sports complex, the media always seems to find the biggest nutjob of the bunch (talk about finding a needle in a stack of needles) and place them squarely in front of the mic and camera. I really had a chuckle during last nights news report that said no protesters were hurt, but several police officers sustained injuries. Nice peaceful protest. Bunch of self-righteous hypocrites if you were to ask me.
Berzerkly will just be Berzerkly. If there was nothing to protest, the people there would fill the streets to protest the fact that there was nothing to protest! That's their right! Of course it's my right to think that they are blithering idiots too!

Sean

Using their rights by denying others their rights. They chained themselves to the doors and blocked potential recruits from entering. They also chased and attacked a member of SFSU College Republicans down the street threatening him with violence. But hey, they're just using their rights. I would suggest you go view some of the myriad of videos available on the net of these so called "tolerant" *******s that are always screaming about freedom while they try to deny others theirs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ssTOGTHbTY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61_Yz61cEQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixaI7ofN3pg&feature=related

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Originally posted by mboccia:
I wouldn't lose too much sleep over this. These are people just using their rights. While I may not agree with their message, it's not the biggest thing on my mind today.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CHGuns,

But you can still get a great hot dog on Durant!

Some things are just more important than others.

...gjd

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Originally posted by CHGuns:
Using their rights by denying others their rights. They chained themselves to the doors and blocked potential recruits from entering. They also chased and attacked a member of SFSU College Republicans down the street threatening him with violence. But hey, they're just using their rights. I would suggest you go view some of the myriad of videos available on the net of these so called "tolerant" *******s that are always screaming about freedom while they try to deny others theirs.

Mike thank you for posting these links. This is exactly why I feel the City Counsel is acting so irresponsibly. They are instructing the police there to just stand by and do nothing while the protestors are blocking the USMC’s Recruiting Office door and trespassing. What a joke, and to make it worse one of them is a former Army Officer. I understand not agreeing with the war and wanting to protest it. It is their Constitutional Right to express their opinions. I just feel the Govt. has no right to assist them in their endeavors. They would be arrested if they were chaining themselves to an abortion clinic so why not here? Taking your frustrations out on the men and women who protect and defend your freedom is completely wrong. It’s not like they have a choice in what wars they want to fight. If they want to protest they should go to their Congress person, Senator or the President. Only a complete MORON goes after the Military for fighting a war which they have no choice in and not the people who sent them in to fight it.

Cajun,
I for one am sick of thes leftists proclaiming their patriotism. They are complete liars and truly part of the blame America first crowd. Leslie Cagan, Medea Benjamin et al are in reality communists. One need only scratch the surface of their organizations to find out their true mission. There have been some folks that have gotten inside some of their meetings where their true allegiances and views come out and those have been videotaped. I will try and find the vids for you. Their claims of supporting the troops are a falsehood of the highest order.

What exactly is wrong with barring the USMC from the Berkley Campus? Who really cares, If someone wants to join the USMC, do you honestly believe that because they're not allowed on campus, that's going to be a deciding factor in anyones mind?
Why would anyone want to join the USMC anyways? Iraq is the first thing I think of, so that smashes that idea.

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What exactly is wrong with barring the USMC from the Berkley Campus? Who really cares,

Principal, to make a statement, to let Berkley know EXCATLY where the USMC stands.

Bring back the draft special for Berkely!

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Originally posted by cutthroat07:
What exactly is wrong with barring the USMC from the Berkley Campus? Who really cares, If someone wants to join the USMC, do you honestly believe that because they're not allowed on campus, that's going to be a deciding factor in anyones mind?
Why would anyone want to join the USMC anyways? Iraq is the first thing I think of, so that smashes that idea.

Honor? Integity? Tradition? Patriotism? The feeling you owe your nation for the freedom you enjoy?

Here's one answer from someones blog...

http://writeontheright.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-join-marine-corps.html