What country is this "Berkley" in?

[mickeyd]

Any Marines care to comment on this community activity?

Quote:

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.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8120433?source=rss

[Notmuchlonger]

This is one of those times I cannot put a positive spin on a story.

[FUEGO]

My great alma mater (the Berkeley of the East coast) has a standing ban against "on-campus recruiting"* for certain branches of the military due to the university's non-discrimination policy for on-campus recruiters. I recall there was some sort of threat that the fed govt would withhold education funding if the university continued to refuse the military access to on campus recruiting.


* A formal arrangement where private firms and government agencies can receive resumes from students and conduct interviews on campus.

[saluki9]

Is there any way we can just push them off into the ocean?

[Khan]

Certainly nothing in more unAmerican than disagreeing with the government.

[Notmuchlonger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan Certainly nothing in more unAmerican than disagreeing with the government.

True, however Id would prefer if people took it up with the politicians and not the people who put their asses on the line for its citizens.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notmuchlonger True, however Id would prefer if people took it up with the politicians and not the people who put their asses on the line for its citizens.

This may come as a huge shock, but there arre some Merkins that view the military as a self-perpetuating oppressive force in our society. They don't hate the soldiers, they despise the organization.

[Rivrider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan Certainly nothing in more unAmerican than disagreeing with the government.

It's fine to disagree with the government. But, it's a bit shameful to denigrate Marines knowing that those same Marines will lay down their lives to protect you.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 They don't hate the soldiers, they despise the organization.

Although I wouldn't claim to necessarily agree with the second half of this statement today, I can't say I didn't feel exactly the same way during the last couple of years I served.

[Caroline]

Are ex-Navy allowed to comment, or only Marines?

[Notmuchlonger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 This may come as a huge shock, but there arre some Merkins that view the military as a self-perpetuating oppressive force in our society. They don't hate the soldiers, they despise the organization.

Nope no shock. I get it. I would just prefer if people would put their energy towards the elected officials.

[Gumby]

I have been opposed to the policy from the very beginning. The arguments for keeping gays and lesbians out of the military are specious and the policy is morally bankrupt. I spent 5 years on active duty in the Navy and I can tell you that there was never a single instance where anyone said "Lieutenant, before we do what you say, we're going to have to ask you a few questions about your personal life". The whole argument that it is bad for unit morale because some people in the military are homophobic is akin to letting the inmates run the asylum. The proper response is to tell them to shut up and do as they are ordered. Those homophobes who will not comply should be separated from the service. I found it disgusting to watch President Clinton cave in to the mouth-breathing knuckle draggers of the Right on this point.

That said, harassing individual Marines is not going to change the policy. They are simply trying to do their job. I agree with others who say that Congress is the proper target for these actions.

[Shawn]

I don't know if it's still true, but at one time the Berkeley city council voted to stop reciting the pledge of allegiance at city council meetings. To make up for it, the city council in Albany, the town immediately north of Berkeley, voted to recite the pledge of allegiance twice during their council meetings.

[free4now]

What I like about the USA is that it's one of the few countries where the law is respected as being more powerful even than the military. Berkeley shows up here as one of the last strongholds of rule of law. That's my kinda place!

[mb]

Good ol' Berkeley!

It IS different than the rest of the country.

The protests. Telegraph Ave. People's park. Tie-dyed everything. Street people everywhere. (I was told not to give them money because, "It just prolongs the time until the revolution.")

Middle americans from fly-over country are missing something by not being exposed to Berkeley unless perhaps they are from Madison or Ann Arbor.

About the only place around where I could be considered a right winger.

Being a grad student there was great! I miss it! Kind of wish I was back there sometimes!

MB

[clifp]

Now now before you all jump up and down about the Berkeley City Council last crazy stunt.

I must say the Berkeley City council has done some useful things.

For instance when I went to school there the BCC passed a resolution which required any police officer who issued a marijuana citation to appear before the city council and explain why they were wasting tax payer money issued said citation. Needless to say the number of marijuana arrests was tiny. Now law an order types may find this to be a mockery of our drug laws but from the perspective of college student I loved it. The advisor for our frat was Berkeley PD officer who used to have bong hit with us while in uniform.

For any current or former members of the military who are understandable offended, it is the peoples Republic of Berkeley... don't give it a second thought.

Personally, I find the BCC to be a terrifically useful organization. Anytime I found myself agreeing with them, I assume I am either wrong or going crazy.

[UncleHoney]

Humm........ Ninety years old and still p!$$ing and moaning about the government. Must not be able to ER in Berkeley.

Maybe they spent all their money on Mary Jane.

[Khan]

I didn't realize that stateside Marines were so delicate that they would get the vapors from little old ladies quietly protesting certain policies.

Shouldn't they be proud of defending The Bill of Rights?

[Notmuchlonger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan I didn't realize that stateside Marines were so delicate that they would get the vapors from little old ladies quietly protesting certain policies. Shouldn't they be proud of defending The Bill of Rights?

The Marines didnt comment.

[Insanity]

My initial thought on reading the news summary was "Yea, that's Berkeley."

My thought on reading the "can we just push them into the ocean" comment here was "yea, that's politics."

And my thought on the comment that "it's a shame" they're attacking the Marines, who are "putting their lives on the line" is "Yea, 160,000 armed men can't defend themselves from a bunch of women and transvestites in pink?"

People seem to have forgotten that any organization as large as the Marines is, by definition, in politics. On one side, the President on down have no druthers whatsoever about trotting out in front of the cameras to make a political campaign speech to the people through the Marines, who are obligated to look respectful and accepting of the message. On the other side you have people like Code Pink, making statements to the country about the political powers that be by campaigning for their own causes using the Marines as a backdrop.

The only difference here is that one message is delivered by those who make the rules and have the power to (mostly) control the messages we hear, the other message is delivered by those who don't make the rules, but want to get their own message out.

It's all fair. Always remember the adage All's fair in love, war . . . and politics.