First of all I will say briefly that I am encouraged by the building support against Berkeley. The fact that I have seen so many local comments from people who are aghast at the total idiocy of this situation, particularly from the oh so liberal Seattle, was a bit of a surprise (I expected much more push back), but then again Code Pink (note please my restraint to not call them Code Pinko as so many others do) has always been an extremist fringe group.
This blog will be looking at the actual city council resolution and seeing just what they actually said. It will also talk about the Mayor's attempts to make everyone happy and save face. And I will link to the petition now active concerning this.
First, the resolution. A commenter linked me to the actual city record search. Interesting stuff.
First, here is the letter sent to the City Council and Mayor by the Peace and Justice Commission concerning the Marines. A first read makes it sound like a Moveon.org or Code Pink manifesto, but in fact, this is an official commission whose members, according to the link above, are appointed by "Each Councilmember and School Director".
So, bearing that in mind, this is the official advice they gave the Mayor and the City Council concerning the Marines (emphasis mine):
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Submitted by:Steve Freedkin, Chairperson
Subject: Marine Recruiting Office in BerkeleyRECOMMENDATION
(1) Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley; (2) direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders; and (3) encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.
Note: Since when does a City Commission encourage civil disobedience? Just curious...
FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
Staff time to research the City's options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley.CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECT
The United States has a history of launching illegal, immoral and unprovoked wars of aggression and the Bush Administration launched the most recent of those wars in Iraq and is threatening the possibility of war in Iran. These wars have produced catastrophic loss of human life, both civilian and military, as well as physically maiming and deforming and psychologically destroying countless numbers of civilians and military personnel.The United States Marine Corps is being used as one of the means of perpetrating and prolonging illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary wars of the United States. Military recruiters are sales people known to lie to and seduce minors and young adults into contracting themselves into military service with false promises regarding jobs, job training, education and other benefits. Many enlisted persons never see the benefits they are promised and find out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to loopholes and they did not receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for jobs outside the military.
The United States military discriminates by refusing to hire gays, lesbians, or bisexuals. By ordinance (BMC § 13.28.030; Ord. 5106-NS § 1 (part), 1978), the City of Berkeley prohibits such discrimination; requires employers to post a notice that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by law; and provides for a fine of up to $50 per offense for failure to do so.
I am going to interject one comment here. The Military enlists people, it does not hire them. Those of us who served understand the differences...
BACKGROUND
At the meeting of January 7, 2008, the Peace and Justice Commission approved the following motion: M/S/C (Meola/sorgen) that the Council of the City of Berkeley approve the following recommendation:WHEREAS, the Peace & Justice Commission advises the City Council on all matters relating to the City of Berkeley's role in issues of peace and social justice [Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) Chapter 369.070]; and WHEREAS, the United States has a history of launching illegal, immoral and unprovoked wars of aggression and the Bush Administration launched the most recent of those wars in Iraq and is threatening the possibility of war in Iran; and
WHEREAS, the United States armed forces, including the Marine Corps, explicitly refuse to hire openly non-heterosexual individuals, and will discharge an individual in their employ "who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts" [10 USC § 654(b)(2), "Policy Concerning Homosexuality in the Armed Forces"]; and
WHEREAS, Berkeley Municipal Code § 13.28, "Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation," provides that "It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to fail or refuse to hire, or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment on the basis of such individual's sexual orientation" [BMC § 13.28(A)(1)], and applies the same standard to employment agencies and job-training programs [BMC § 13.28(A)(3), § 13.28(A)(5)]; and
WHEREAS, these wars have produced catastrophic loss of human life, both civilian and military, as well as physically maiming and deforming and psychologically destroying countless numbers of civilians and military personnel; and
WHEREAS, the people of the City of Berkeley have long voiced their stand for peace and against unnecessary wars; and support people following their consciences to do what is morally and ethically right to resist illegitimate authority; and
WHEREAS, the United States Marine Corps is being used as one of the means of perpetrating and prolonging illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary wars of the United States; and
WHEREAS, military recruiters are sales people known to lie to and seduce minors and young adults into contracting themselves into military service with false promises regarding jobs, job training, education and other benefits; and
WHEREAS, many enlisted persons never see the benefits they are promised and find out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to loopholes and they did not receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for jobs outside the military; and
WHEREAS, the people of Berkeley should want the Marine Corps present near Berkeley High School, Berkeley City College, and University of California no more than they would want other violent influences downtown.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Peace & Justice Commission recommends that the Council of the City of Berkeley direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.
Ayes: Unanimous; Absent: Brody, Cohen, Litman, Seaton, Sherman.
CITY MANAGER
The City Manager takes no position on the recommendations of the Commission. However, it is unlikely that the City has the ability to enforce Chapter 13.28 against the United States military.CONTACT PERSON
Steve Freedkin, Chairperson, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 595-4626
Robert Meola, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 644-1102
Manuel Hector Jr., Secretary, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 981-5110
(Yes I will print their contact numbers because this is a public document. I will however immediately say that I will not condone any threats or harassment made using those contact numbers.)
So. According to the Peace and Justice Commission:
Again, in reference to a comment earlier, I am ignoring the aspect surrounding the Military's don't ask don't tell (DADT) policy concerning Homosexuals. I will say that most military people understand that there are some valid aspects of that policy.
In fact, on second thought, let's discuss that briefly after all.
Here is a shocker: The military is discriminatory. Overtly and by regulation which has the force of law. But not against gays, or minorities.
Against women. In the US military a significant portion of the military is closed to the military. Specifically any significant combat role such as infantry. While this is not a guarantee that women will not come to harm (Jessica Lynch being a case in point) they will do so only when the support roles they are thrust into are engaged by the enemy.
Realistically this is a throwback to some atavistic time when men was mandated to protect their women as the weaker sex and all that. Contrarily, in modern American society women are specifically mandated to have equally opportunity in all fields. In all industries. As near as I can tell, women have full access to any job they would want.
Except the Military.
And strangely enough, Code Pink, the City of Berkeley, a plethora of liberal organizations, the average Hollywood star and anyone else bitching about the Military, they all seem to ignore that in favor of the Military.
The Democrats and Liberals have long been the champion of equality. They made the Military inclusive of Minorities didn't they? And don't forget the DADT policy was actually a softening of the Military on homosexuals. Before President Clinton signed that policy into law, the Military actively investigated and pursued gays, and discharged them.
But all this time, women are still not good enough to fight and die. And for that reason alone, I call bullshit on all the liberal arguments. I have oh so much more to say, but that will be a later post.
Moving on.
So what are these wars that Code Pink....Excuse me, the Peace and Justice Commission...feel are illegal, unconstitutional and immoral and constitute this supposed history?
The Civil War? Naw. WW1 and WW2? I don't think so. They could mean some of the smaller actions like Grenada and Panama, but I am betting the average Liberal only sees one word when you say "illegal and unnecessary war": Vietnam, and to a lesser extent, Korea.
But honestly, in my opinion, this is nothing but a continued Vietnam protest by a bunch of aging hippies who hate being old and irrelevant.
The complaints about the Recruiting problems have merit but those days are not as bad as they used to be. Recruiters who lie don't keep their jobs. When I was in Basic Training in 1982 we had one guy who claimed he was lied to by his recruiter. I never believed him. He was a whiny lazy ass who suddenly didn't want to play military any more, and that is based on his contrary nature just within my group. He was argumentative, abusive, racist and hostile to most everyone. He got his wish and got out. We never missed him. The other 40 something people were like me, their recruiters told them clearly what to expect, in detail. But my experience is anecdotal. I have no doubt that there are shady recruiters. But they represent a vast minority. So unless this particular office has a bad history they can demonstrate, I call bullshit again. And since this is an Officers Recruiting office, I doubt there is anything to tell. The officer recruiting programs are nothing like the enlisted.
I saved the worst accusation for last because it is frankly the most insulting.
The Marine Corps is a tool used to "Prolong" the wars. What utter and complete nonsense.
If you took a moment to talk to any soldier or Marine, I can pretty much guarantee that winning the war and going home as soon as possible is their number one and two priority.
So frankly the whole thing, in my opinion, is a pack of garbage, and it only has one purpose: To defame the Marines, the Military in general and of course, the Bush Administration.
And considering the history of the US Marine Corps, and their accomplishments to protect and defend this country, that alone is a really crappy bit of work, in my opinion.
So I have no problem not only exposing this, but in joining others protesting the protest, and linking to this petition below.
To see the reality of these protests, go to this link or this one and see real pictures. Take a moment and admire the discipline and restraint of the Marines. See how the protesters work to prevent anyone from going in by chaining themselves up and blocking the entrance.
And ask yourself: Would protesters blocking an abortion clinic be tolerated by these hypocrites?
So if you were the Mayor, how would you deal with? Who will you piss off more? Who can you afford to piss off?
The Mayor of Berkeley is carefully straddling the fence by both offering to help the Marines leave and by asking the council to back off (via Michelle Malkin):
The mayor wants to evacuate the Marines and is casting the city as the victim:
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates offered Friday to help the U.S. Marines leave town by negotiating an end to the lease for their recruiting station, even as he backpedaled on a City Council resolution declaring the Corps "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" in the city.
In the face of an onslaught of pro-military criticism from around the country, Bates, a retired Army captain, also issued a statement that said the City Council's resolution Tuesday night "did not adequately differentiate our respect and support for those serving in the armed forces and our opposition to the Iraq war policy." He said he would ask the council to modify the resolution at its next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 12.
I have a hard time accepting his word that they respect the military. Sorry.
A Marines spokeswoman said Friday that the Corps has no intention of abandoning its space at 64 Shattuck Square that has been the subject of protests for months.
In an interview Friday, Bates said he has received more than 1,000 e-mails on the resolution, mostly from "the right wing that has really seized up on this and mobilized to pound us."
As we should because we find it outrageous.
Michelle's link above has info on contacting the city council.
You can sign the petition now at www.moveamericaforward.com.
And this from Melanie Morgan, also Via Michelle Malkin:
In addition to marching on the Berkeley City Council on February 12th, the next regularly scheduled meeting, several Marine veterans groups are planning to jump aboard their motorcycles and join us in protest.
Cal Berkeley Republican students are coming, San Francisco State University student Republicans, as well as Joe and Jane Citizen.
Judging from the response to our office, there are going to be a LOT more folks who join in.
Our phones are flooded with people who are insulted, angry, and frustrated at what has transpired in Berkeley, not just in the San Francisco Bay Area, but across the country as MoveOn.org proceeds with it's incremental strategy to oust military recruiting efforts and undermine support for our military men and women who are the BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST this country has to offer.
I wish I was there.
Posted by guitarplayr at February 03, 2008 03:43 AM | Email This