[Rhodes22-list] Marines & Berkeley - More Political Scum - A reply

[Tootle]

Brad:

I know that Rik will blast his horn that I am rude, and others will say
crude, inconsiderate, etc.  However, in reading the prior discussion I can
have to say that John’s line of reasoning made me think of the following
quote off the internet:

"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical,
liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a
turd by the clean end."

Ed K
Greenville, SC, USA




Brad Haslett-2 wrote:
> 
> Robert,
> 
> Attached is a letter to the Berkeley newspaper from the Captain who runs
> the
> USMC office there.  Written in October, it details the reasons for
> locating
> there.  Berkeley is the worst of the Bay Area but by no means the only
> lunatic city.  My son gets treated shabbily in Alameda while wearing a
> USCG
> uniform.  I respect people's feelings against war in general and this war
> in
> particular, though I disagree with their reasoning, but to treat anyone
> wearing the uniform badly is just plain wrong.  These CodePinkers are
> hopelessly stuck in the 60's and their behaviour now is just as disgusting
> as it was in their youth. They have no more legal right to harass a
> recruiting office than they do an insurance office or flower shop.  The
> city
> council of Berkeley is obviously aiding and abetting these loons and they
> should be held accountable, ie, cut off federal funding to Berkeley.
> Perhaps then the 'sane and rational' citizens of Berkeley, assuming there
> are some, will throw the bums out or suffer the consequences of their
> decisions.
> 
> Brad
> 
> PS - Kudos to your grandson and the USMC!
> 
> ---------------------
> Commentary: An Open Letter to Code Pink * By Richard Lund (10-02-07) *
> 
> 
> While the protest that you staged in front of my office on Wednesday,
> Sept.
> 26th, was an exercise of your constitutional rights, the messages that you
> left behind were insulting, untrue, and ultimately misdirected.
> Additionally, from the comments quoted in the Berkeley Daily Planet
> article,
> it is clear that you have no idea what it is that I do here. Given that I
> was unaware of your planned protest, I was unable to contest your claims
> in
> person, so I will therefore address them here.
> 
> First, a little bit about who I am: I am a Marine captain with over eight
> years of service as a commissioned officer. I flew transport helicopters
> for
> most of my time in the Marine Corps before requesting orders to come here.
> Currently, I am the officer selection officer for the northern Bay Area.
> My
> job is to recruit, interview, screen, and evaluate college students and
> college graduates that show an interest in becoming officers in the Marine
> Corps. Once they've committed to pursuing this program, I help them apply,
> and if selected, I help them prepare for the rigors of Officer Candidate
> School and for the challenges of life as a Marine officer. To be eligible
> for my programs, you have to be either a full-time college student or a
> college graduate. I don't pull anyone out of school, and high school
> students are not eligible.
> 
> I moved my office to Berkeley in December of last year. Previously, it was
> located in an old federal building in Alameda. That building was due to be
> torn down and I had to find a new location. I choose our new site because
> of
> its proximity to UC Berkeley and to the BART station. Most of the
> candidates
> in my program either go to Cal or to one of the schools in San Francisco,
> the East Bay, or the North Bay. Logistically, the Shattuck Square location
> was the most convenient for them.
> 
> Next, you claim that I lie. I have never, and will never, lie to any
> individual that shows an interest in my programs. I am upfront with
> everything that is involved at every step of the way and I go out of my
> way
> to ensure that they know what to expect when they apply. I tell them that
> this is not an easy path. I tell them that leading Marines requires a
> great
> deal of self-sacrifice. I tell them that, should they succeed in their
> quest
> to become a Marine officer, they will almost certainly go to Iraq. In the
> future, if you plan to attack my integrity, please have the courtesy to
> explain to me specifically the instances in which you think that I lied.
> 
> Next, scrawled across the doorway to my office, you wrote, "Recruiters are
> Traitors." Please explain this one. How exactly am I a traitor? Was I a
> traitor when I joined the Marine Corps all those years ago? Is every
> Marine,
> therefore, a traitor? Was I a traitor during my two stints in Iraq? Was I
> a
> traitor when I was delivering humanitarian aid to the victims of the
> tsunami
> in Sumatra? Or do you only consider me a traitor while I am on this job?
> The
> fact is, recruitment is and always has been a part of maintaining any
> military organization. In fact, recruitment is a necessity of any large
> organization. Large corporations have employees that recruit full-time.
> Even
> you, I'm sure, must expend some effort to recruit for Code Pink. So what,
> exactly, is it that makes me a traitor?
> 
> The fact is this: any independent nation must maintain a military (or be
> allied with those who do) to ensure the safety and security of its
> citizens.
> Regardless of what your opinions are of the current administration or the
> current conflict in Iraq, the U.S. military will be needed again in the
> future. If your counter-recruitment efforts are ultimately successful, who
> will defend us if we are directly attacked again as we were at Pearl
> Harbor?
> Who would respond if a future terrorist attack targets the Golden Gate
> Bridge, the BART system, or the UC Berkeley clock tower? And, to address
> the
> most hypocritical stance that your organization takes on its website,
> where
> would the peace keeping force come from that you advocate sending to
> Darfur?
> 
> Finally, I believe that your efforts in protesting my office are
> misdirected. I agree that your stated goals of peace and social justice
> are
> worthy ones. War is a terrible thing that should only be undertaken in the
> most dire, extreme, and necessary of circumstances. However, war is made
> by
> politicians. The conflict in Iraq was ordered by the president and
> authorized by Congress. They are the ones who have the power to change the
> policy in Iraq, not members of the military. We execute policy to the best
> of our ability and to the best of our human capacity. Protesting in front
> of
> my office may be an easy way to get your organization in the headlines of
> local papers, but it doesn't further any of your stated goals.
> 
> To conclude, I don't consider myself a "recruiter." I am a Marine who
> happens to be on recruiting duty. As such, I conduct myself in accordance
> with our core values of honor, courage, and commitment. I will never
> sacrifice my honor by lying to anyone that walks into my office. I will
> never forsake the courage that it takes to restrain myself in the face of
> insulting and libelous labels like liar and traitor. And, most
> importantly,
> I will never waver from my commitment to helping individuals who desire to
> serve their country as officers in the Marine Corps.
> 
> 
> 
> Captain Richard Lund is the United States Marine Corps' officer selection
> officer for the northern Bay Area.
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 2, 2008 9:47 PM, Robert Skinner <robert at squirrelhaven.com> wrote:
> 
>> As my grandson said on his way to his third
>> tour in Iraq as a LtCol USMC, "Just another
>> day at the office."
>>
>> I hope that the USMC takes no official notice
>> of this foolishness.
>>
>> /Robert
>> ----------------------------------------------
>> Brad Haslett wrote:
>> >
>> > Robert,
>> >
>> > Here's an update on Berkeley-
>> >
>> >
>> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/02/BALTUQKOE.DTL
>> >
>> > I posted the link rather than the text so you can see the photos.
>> > Yesterday, protesters chained themselves to the door of the Marine
>> > recruiting office for 7 and 1/2 HOURS!  Since when is it legal to close
>> down
>> > a business and where are the Berkeley police for 7 and 1/2 hours?
>> > Congresswoman Lee protested Sen. Demints proposal to de-fund Berkeley
>> by
>> > saying it wasn't right to deprive children of lunches and citizens of
>> first
>> > responders.  I'd say these people don't need to be having children and
>> if it
>> > takes over 7 hours for the police to respond, they don't need them
>> either.
>> >
>> > Brad
>> >
>> > On Jan 31, 2008 6:59 PM, Robert Skinner <robert at squirrelhaven.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > > Sorry to hear about this stupidity - but it looks as
>> > > though the Leathernecks picked a poor beachhead.
>> > >
>> > > Any town that does not welcome the Marines does not
>> > > deserve them.  What kind of dweeb confuses the loyal
>> > > Marines with the leadership and policies that they are
>> > > sworn to follow?
>> > >
>> > > I, for one, am damned glad to have a fellow Marine
>> > > next to me under any circumstances, whether or not we
>> > > share political views.
>> > >
>> > > /Robert
>> > >
>> > > -------------------------------------------------------
>> > >
>> > > Brad Haslett wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > Boys and girls, here is a perfect opportunity to solve our energy
>> > > problem.
>> > > > I say we take spent nuclear fuel and dump it right smack in the
>> center
>> > > of
>> > > > Berkeley.  That, or pull every last federal dollar out of that scum
>> > > infested
>> > > > city.  Brad
>> > > >
>> > > > ----------------------------
>> > > >
>> > > > Berkeley council tells Marines to leave
>> > > > By Doug Oakley
>> > > >
>> > > > STAFF WRITER
>> > > > Article Launched: 01/30/2008 01:48:16 PM PST
>> > > >
>> > > > Hey-hey, ho-ho, the Marines in Berkeley have got to go.
>> > > >
>> > > > That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 8-1
>> > > Tuesday
>> > > > night to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting
>> > > station
>> > > > "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they
>> do
>> > > so as
>> > > > uninvited and unwelcome intruders."
>> > > >
>> > > > In addition, the council voted to explore enforcing its law
>> prohibiting
>> > > > discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation against the
>> Marines
>> > > > because of the military's don't ask, don't tell policy. And it
>> > > officially
>> > > > encouraged the women's peace group Code Pink to impede the work of
>> the
>> > > > Marines in the city by protesting in front of the station.
>> > > >
>> > > > In a separate item, the council voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a
>> designated
>> > > > parking space in front of the recruiting station once a week for
>> six
>> > > months
>> > > > and a free sound permit for protesting once a week from noon to 4
>> p.m.
>> > > >
>> > > > Councilman Gordon Wozniak opposed both items.
>> > > >
>> > > > The Marines have been in Berkeley for a little more than a year,
>> having
>> > > > moved from Alameda in December of 2006. For about the past four
>> months,
>> > > Code
>> > > > Pink has been protesting in front of the station.
>> > > >
>> > > > "I believe in the Code Pink cause. The Marines don't belong here,
>> they
>> > > > shouldn't have come here, and they should leave," said Berkeley
>> Mayor
>> > > Tom
>> > > > Bates after votes were cast.
>> > > >
>> > > > A Marines representative did not respond to requests for comment.
>> > > >
>> > > > The resolution telling the Marines they are unwelcome and directing
>> the
>> > > city
>> > > > attorney to explore
>> > > > ------------------------------
>> > > > ------------------------------
>> > > > issues of sexual orientation discrimination was brought to the
>> council
>> > > by
>> > > > the city's Peace and Justice commission.
>> > > >
>> > > > The recommendation to give Code Pink a parking space for protesting
>> and
>> > > a
>> > > > free sound permit was brought by council members Linda Maio and Max
>> > > > Anderson.
>> > > >
>> > > > Code Pink on Wednesday started circulating petitions to put a
>> measure on
>> > > the
>> > > > November ballot in Berkeley that would make it more difficult to
>> open
>> > > > military recruiting offices near homes, parks, schools, churches
>> > > libraries
>> > > > or health clinics. The group needs 5,000 signatures to make the
>> ballot.
>> > > >
>> > > > Even though the council items passed, not everyone is happy with
>> the
>> > > work of
>> > > > Code Pink. Some employees and owners of businesses near the Marines
>> > > office
>> > > > have had enough of the group and its protests.
>> > > >
>> > > > "My husband's business is right upstairs, and this (protesting) is
>> > > bordering
>> > > > on harassment," Dori Schmidt told the council. "I hope this stops."
>> > > >
>> > > > An employee of a nearby business who asked not to be identified
>> said
>> > > > Wednesday the elderly Code Pink protesters are aggressive, take up
>> > > parking
>> > > > spaces, block the sidewalk with their yoga moves, smoke in the
>> doorways,
>> > > and
>> > > > are noisy.
>> > > >
>> > > > "Most of the people around here think they're a joke," the woman
>> said.
>> > > >
>> > > > Wozniak said he was opposed to giving Code Pink a parking space
>> because
>> > > it
>> > > > favors free speech rights of one group over another.
>> > > >
>> > > > "There's a line between protesting and harassing, and that concerns
>> me,"
>> > > > Wozniak said. "It looks like we are showing favoritism. We have to
>> > > respect
>> > > > the other side, and not abuse their rights. This is not good
>> policy."
>> > > >
>> > > > Ninety-year-old Fran Rachel, a Code Pink protester who spoke at the
>> > > council
>> > > > meeting, said the group's request for a parking space and noise
>> permit
>> > > was
>> > > > especially important because the Marines are recruiting soldiers
>> who
>> may
>> > > die
>> > > > in an unjust war.
>> > > >
>> > > > "This is very serious," Rachel said. "This isn't a game; it's mass
>> > > murder.
>> > > > There's a sickness of silence of people not speaking out against
>> the
>> > > war. We
>> > > > have to do this."
>> > > >
>> > > > Anderson, a former Marine who said he was "drummed out" of the
>> corps
>> > > when he
>> > > > took a stand against the Vietnam War, said he'd love to see the
>> Marines
>> > > high
>> > > > tale it out of town.
>> > > >
>> > > > "We are confronted with an organization that can spend billions of
>> > > dollars
>> > > > on propaganda," Anderson said. "This is not Okinawa here; we're
>> involved
>> > > in
>> > > > a naked act of aggression. If we can provide a space for ordinary
>> people
>> > > to
>> > > > express themselves against this kind of barbarity, then we should
>> be
>> > > doing
>> > > > it."
>> > > >
>> > > > E-mail Doug Oakley at doakley at bayareanewsgroup.com
>> > > > __________________________________________________
>> > > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > Robert Skinner  "Squirrel Haven"
>> > > Gorham, Maine         04038-1331
>> > > s/v "Little Dipper" & "Edith P."
>> > > __________________________________________________
>> > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>> > >
>> > __________________________________________________
>> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>
>> --
>> Robert Skinner  "Squirrel Haven"
>> Gorham, Maine         04038-1331
>> s/v "Little Dipper" & "Edith P."
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> 

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