The City of Berkeley Votes to Eject the Marines

... Code Pinko head Medea Benjamin, who actually said the following about the dickwads at Berkeley: "We are the defenders of democracy, the upholders of the Constitution ... if it weren’t for people like the people in Berkeley, standing up for what they believe, we’d be living under Hitler.” Yes, folks, while protesting the US Marines, this hag gave credit for saving freedom from Hitler to a bunch of hippies. There are some days it just doesn't pay to gnaw through the leather restraints.

And let's be honest here, the "don't ask, don't tell" thing is a justification for Berkeley's dickery. The hate the military and all those who serve, and long to return to the halcyon days of the Vietnam War when they could spit on servicemen with impunity and shame those returning from overseas into changing out of their uniforms.

As a proud life citizen of Berkeley who worked close to the Marine recruiting office; I just want to say that I am in complete support of code pink. They were faithful in picketing the office for months before this decision. Government drone recruitment has no place in Berkeley and I'm glad that there are people as impassioned about saving lives as they are about sacrificing them! GO BERKELEY!!!

Here is great info on the history of free speech here

If this action is more about homosexuals in the military ... than my response is the same as it was before in a previous thread. There are simply facets of the military job that are not at all like those in the corporate world. It's easy in a corporate job to simply not care whether the guy in the cubicle next to you is homosexual - orientation has no impact on your well-being or whether the job gets done. That's not necessarily the same in the military - read my previous post for one example why before responding to this.

In any case, America has an all volunteer military. There is no draft. Therefore, the only means the military has for getting people to volunteer is to have recruitment stations. So by all means - kick them out. But be prepared to either have particular funds cut from you (it is the government after all) or be prepared for your community to have "special attention" in the event of drafts ... since you're under represented by eligibility for volunteers.

This boils down to a lack of understanding, or perhaps a refusal to understand, what it means to be a member of the military. Or to have a different kind of patriotism. Personally, I find giving the Marines the boot to be an insult to them. In the event of a natural disaster, I would certainly not expect any citizens of Berkeley to expect assistance from their national guard. In the event of a terrorist act in that area, I would not even listen to them afterwards. Ugliness, thick-headedness, a blind eye and insulting behavior can come from intellectuals and stalwarts of peace, too.

I would encourage everyone to at least learn about organizations before bashing them though...code pink has done a lot of positive things for A LOT of nationalities of people here in America, they're founded and run by women, not "sweet men" as the name may imply...again I don't agree with every political stance that they've made but check out how many different issues they're involved in!!

From the CodePink site:

The initiative was triggered by the unexpected appearance of a Marine Recruiting Station in Berkeley in 2007 – a phenomenon never expected nor experienced in this town that historically has always proudly embraced core values such as anti-war and pro-peace.

Now that I think of it, it was kind of odd in a funny sort of way for the Marines to drop a recruiting station right smack dab in the middle of a place of this renowned culture.

Wait! There's more:

The group has been holding a weekly, and most weeks daily, vigil outside the Marines Station, which includes life-affirming activities like a baby playgroup and mother's breastfeeding circle, yoga, singing, reading, and other activities.

I'm sorry. I'm from the Northeast. That is just so California! to me.