Berkeley To Rethink Its Declaration Against The Marines
San Francisco Chronicle:
(02-04) 18:52 PST Berkeley — A week after blasting the Marines as “unwelcome intruders” in Berkeley, two city council members want the city to back off the declaration that ignited the wrath of the nation’s right wing and inspired a Republican senator to try to sever Berkeley’s federal funding.
Council members Betty Olds and Laurie Capitelli proposed today that Berkeley rescind its letter to the U.S. Marine Corps that stated that the downtown Berkeley recruiting center “is not welcome in our city,” and publicly declare that Berkeley is against the war but supports the troops.
The city council will vote on Olds’ and Capitelli’s two proposals at its Feb. 12 meeting.
“I think we shouldn’t be seen across the country as hating the Marines,” said Olds, who voted against last week’s proposals. “If you make a mistake, like we did, you should admit it and correct it and move on.”
Meanwhile, the Code Pink protesters said they were disappointed that Berkeley might rescind its letter to the Marines.
“I hope they’re not acting out of intimidation,” said Code Pink spokeswoman Medea Benjamin. “Berkeley is a city of peace, and a recruiting station does not fit Berkeley’s values.”
The brouhaha started last week when the council passed two items condemning the Marine recruiting center on Shattuck Square, which opened about a year ago. The first called on the city clerk to send a letter to the Marines telling them they’re unwelcome, and the second item grants Code Pink a parking space in front of the recruiting office every Wednesday afternoon and allows the group to operate a loudspeaker. After the items passed, the council was besieged with criticism from right-wing groups and military supporters. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) proposed that the federal government cut off funds for Berkeley, including lunch programs, ferry service and UC Berkeley.
Olds said she heard from hundreds of people angered by the city’s action, including many in her Berkeley hills district.
“People are so mad about this. They have relatives in the service and now they think they’re not welcome in Berkeley,” she said. “My twin brother was a Marine in World War II. He’d be turning in his grave if he saw this.”
The council appears split on the idea of backing down. Some council members said the original proposals inadvertently insulted veterans and those currently serving in the military. Others said Berkeley should stand by its convictions.
“People are used to Berkeley taking a stand for peace, but you have to do it intelligently,” said Councilman Kriss Worthington, who voted against sending the letter calling the Marine Corps unwelcome. “You don’t want to slap one group in the face and then, the next minute, slap the other group. I think we have an obligation to be thoughtful and sensitive and not be counterproductive to the cause of peace.”
Councilwoman Dona Spring said the council should not be cowed by the volume of hate mail and threats.
“I still oppose the Marines recruiting in Berkeley because it’s one way of protesting this wasteful war,” she said. “Our military policy is a shambles. But we’re not in opposition to the Marines, we oppose the policy that directs the Marines.”
Mayor Tom Bates, a former Army captain, said it probably wouldn’t hurt if the council clarified its position.
“It’s a symbol, but there are consequences to symbols,” he said. “A lot of people think we’re anti-Marine, but there’s a difference between the warriors and the war. This an attempt to clarify that.”
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BULLSHIT THEYRE ANTI TROOP AND THEY FUCKING KNOW IT, It’s not fricking protesting the war its strickly hurting the Marine Corps, FUCK BERKLEY and everything they support, I lit them up with emails trying to get them to admit their wrongdoing and I haven’t recieved one reply, doesn’t that say something?
February 4th, 2008 at 10:07 pmToo Late. Time to pay the piper. They selected an individual uniform service to attack. Time people learn that there are consequences to their actions. They made a decision and now they will have to take responsibility for that decision.
Guess this goes right into what the liberals want. Instead of individual accountability the collective “village” will be held accountable for the actions of a few.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:09 pmThese douches are spouting that same tired saw:
“against the war but supports the troops”.
like Andrew…I call “bull-shit”!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:27 pmThis is definitely a good sign. I don’t think I’d believe most of those city councilmembers at this point even if they said something that really DID sound like supporting the troops, but we can hope they rethink their gambit of injecting city government into the CodePink protests.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:15 pmto late,,,TOOOOOOO LATE,,, BOMB EM
February 5th, 2008 at 2:12 am“Berkeley is a city of peace, and a recruiting station does not fit Berkeley’s values.”
That’s gotta be one of the most ignorant sentences I’ve ever read. If Code Pink spokeswoman Medea Benjamin looked beyond the tip of her wretched little nose, she’d realize that peace she enjoys is a gift. That gift is given to her and the rest of the Code Pink ignoramuses by those same Marines she hates with all her black heart.
Some mental hospital somewhere is missing a bunch of patients with a ‘pink’ fetish.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:20 amit was NOT an inadvert insult-they were adults, they knew what they were saying, and how people would react.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:46 amThese people make me SICK. I know first hand how small minded and evil these people are. I did my ROTC time there. All I can say is I pray that the Gov’t cuts off all federal money from that communist city!
February 5th, 2008 at 4:51 amfuck you and fuck everyone of you pieces of shit in berkeley that sat by and let this continue
“inspired a Republican senator to try to sever Berkeley’s federal funding”
so your ass is for sale too… fucking whores on top of traitors
February 5th, 2008 at 5:25 amMaybe they realized that if people didn’t have a CHOICE there would be allot more back alley recruitment. Just think how bad that would be… Unwitting enlistees could be duped into joining up with the wrong service or worse they may be forced to use coat hangers.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:19 amOh the humanity.
They should make the Marine recruitment center a voluntary euthanizing center where the local people can off themselves in order to reduce their carbon foot print and do this country a great service.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:50 amFucking liberals.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:00 amAlways looking to have things both ways.
Hahah! Too late now, bitches! Thank goodness a conservative never forgets — even if we don’t pull funding from there (which wouldn’t happen anyway, unfortunately. And, I am disappointed that ole Arnold doesn’t do something) they will feel the wrath of it. I wonder if we could all pool money together to mass mail each and every one of them a copy of Corps Values, or … I don’t know, the Federalist Papers, or … something to wake them from this communist manifesto. If we overran their city with our ideologies of freedom, maybe they’d capitulate and move to Canada.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:06 amThis is one time I do not understand our strategy or logic. It’s obvious the Berkeley community and greater San Francisco area are, for the most part, anti-military. I say grant them their wish and be gone. Bear with me…
I would yank everybody recruiting office out of the city, never to return. And then I would work on pulling anything having to do with any military funding, national guard, ship presence, shows, including ancillary and otherwise. Any parts supply, bases in proximity, anything and everything to do with things that could be construed as affiliated with our military, all gone. No presence whatsoever.
And when parting, I would tell the entire city and respective geographic region very respectfully, we will not bother you again - in war, or otherwise. Thank you for our stay.
And then I would stick to my guns. Let them feel what is like to be unprotected by the good guys. And drag your feet when called. Let Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer explain it to the masses when America shows little concern whether S.F. exists or not. I would isolate them and anybody like them. Let them hang themselves…as a message to the rest of American loathing left.
I can almost guarantee you within five years or at the first sign of fear, Code Pink and the respective hippie clan would be scorned by even the most raging left and probably beat to death by their own pathetic comrades - once they begin to understand the consequences of their actions. If somebody should attack, don’t bother to show; at the very least drag your feet to be completely uneffective. Earthquake hits, sorry we can no longer help quickly but we feel your pain and sympathize.
And I apologize to the few remaining patriotic types that are most affected and have chosen to remain in Gomorrah. You deserve better.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:47 amSaying you are for the troops but against the war is asinine. Its the same as saying I am for doctors but against medicine, for teachers but against learning or for cops but against law. They need to stop besmirching us by hiding behind the line that they support us.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:27 pm““I hope they’re not acting out of intimidation,” said Code Pink spokeswoman Medea Benjamin.”
Hey if intimidation is good enough for Code Pinkos, why not Bezerekley?
Still no statement from Bezerkeley district US Senators Boxer and Feinstein. Still no statement from Bezerkeley district US Congressthings Lee and Pelosi.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pmWhy not?
Feeling the heat, liberal bitches?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pmGot to keep the heat on those assholes they will learn you fuck with the Marines you WILL get your ass kicked!!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 4:37 pm“Berkeley is a city of peace, and a recruiting station does not fit Berkeley’s values.”
February 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pmI believe if the bordering states would pipeline their sewers to Berkeley’s front door and flush simultaniously, their values would be matched.
I am Marine Corporal Jessica Rivera. I have been through two combat tours in Iraq and have re-enlisted for another 4 years. Some service members claim there is nothing more traumatizing than the horrific scenes of combat and it’s collateral damage on the innocent. I strongly disagree. My experiences overseas may haunt my subconscious, however, it’s tremendously devastating to acknowledge the decision Berkley Officials made to represent the public declaration of Code Pink against the Marine Corps. This is appalling and nothing less than indisputable betrayal against American Service men and women who fight for their freedoms.
Medea Benjamin (spokeswoman for Code Pink) is someone who has politically fought for human rights and social struggles around the world. She above all, should consider the limited civil liberties of the Iraqi people and the conflicts within their society that are outrageously detrimental to the countries existence. Ms. Benjamin and her “crusaders” should exercise their influence FOR American Troops in Iraq. We’re in the same fight; to improve Iraq, not destroy it.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:22 pm