Berkeley, California: Marines are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" [Updated]
Can you believe this? The city of Berkeley, California, has passed two resolutions to harass and kick out a US Marine Corps recruiting station in the city, and are aiming for more:
"By taking a stand against recruitment we are protecting the health and safety of our youth," said PhoeBe sorgen, a member of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission. "I see the protest as taking a proud and courageous stand."Good luck with that last bit, since the UCMJ and United States Code are mandated by Congress. Michelle Malkin is all over this story, as well as Move America Forward, but I had to say a couple things as well.
Code Pink, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months, under one resolution.
The other resolution more directly criticizes the presence of the center in Berkeley. The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" in the city.
In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city's anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military's consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.
In addition to defending our own nation in every major conflict in its history (as if that's not enough), the US Marine Corps has been involved in peacekeeping missions all over the world. In recent years, they provided humanitarian and medical relief after the 2004 tsunami that hit SE Asia, after the 2005 earthquake that hit Kashmir, and after Hurricane Katrina hit the Southern US the same year.
Boycotting the Marine Corps is not only myopic, but incredibly short sighted. The US Marine Corps was officially founded in 1798. It's been around long before the Iraq War started, and will be around long after it's over. Boycotting them because you oppose the war in Iraq is like boycotting the police because you don't agree with one particular police raid. The United States has a legitimate need for the Department of Defense. Who would protect these pacifists if the kind of people who joined the Marines just packed up and left the country one day?
In fact, these are sad and miserable cowards, who, from the safety of their easy chairs, congratulate each other for their "courage" (e.g. Mrs. Sorgen's quote above) and enjoy all the benefits of their free nation, while attacking those that have kept it so.
Oh, and I just had to say this: I question their patriotism. Am I allowed to say that now?
UPDATE: 02/01/2008 11:08:00 AM:
See great response in the comment section.
Also, great quote by American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser:
"Without recruiters we have no military. And I don't think we can count on the flower children from Berkeley to protect this nation when it comes under attack. They have to remember that Marines are not the enemy; the terrorists are."
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