Recent Updates by Topic

Popular Opinion Pieces

Op-Ed

Berkeley Ousts Marines

Print: Email: Share:

Heartless, Not Stupid

This is an extended version of the article that appeared in the print version of The Sun on Feb. 13

Two weeks ago, the City Council in Berkeley, Calif. approved a resolution aimed at disrupting recruiting efforts for the Marine Corps, requiring the city clerk to address a letter to the Marines stating that their Shattuck Avenue recruiting station “is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.” It also directed the city attorney to investigate whether the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy violates anti-discrimination laws. The measure also commended those that “volunteer to impede” recruitment efforts. Finally, Code Pink was given a designated parking space in front of the station for six months, as well as a freesound permit, allowing the group to use loudspeakers for protests.

The actions taken by the city council demonstrate two very disturbing trends in the anti-war movement. First, the proposals reveal the deceitful nature of the anti-war slogan “Support the troops, not the war.” Second, the encouragement given to Code Pink reflects Berkeley’s desire to regulate thought.

A sense of outrage descended upon the city when news of the resolution hit the Internet — this time it was not Code Pink. Pro-war groups like Move America Forward launched protests in the city. The story eventually reached Washington, as Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) introduced legislation to revoke over $2.3 million in federal funding to the city.

Now some members have recanted their support for resolution. When the resolution passed, Mayor Tom Bates said that “the Marines don’t belong here, they shouldn’t have come here, and they should leave.” Last week, Mayor Bates reversed himself. Bates played the “it depends on what the definition of ‘intruder’ is” card, explaining that the city was “[not] anti-Marine.”

Councilwoman Dana Spring is taking an even more dishonest route than the mayor. Spring continues to support the resolution’s theme, but claims to revere the troops.

The honorable councilwoman said earlier this week, “I still oppose the Marines recruiting in Berkeley … [but] we’re not in opposition to the Marines.” Spring made it clear that she is not in opposition to the group that she derided as “unwelcome intruders” she just doesn’t want around.

Councilwoman Laurie Capitelli, who voted in favor of the resolution, introduced a new proposal yesterday that expresses “support” for the troops and opposition to the war. Capitelli said, “subtly stated in the [first] resolution is perhaps an impugning of the soldiers fighting for us in Iraq and … that was never the intention.” The councilwoman is certainly right about one thing — the term “unwelcome intruder” is quite subtle.

This backpedaling however, cannot cover up the ugliness of the council’s letter. The claim that the letter was a misunderstood critique of the Bush administration’s foreign policy is an outright lie. Other cities and towns such as Detroit, Mich. and Brattleboro, Vt. have passed resolutions condemning the Bush administration. This is not what the Berkeley city council did. Instead, it chose to directly insult the Marine Corps. The letter was addressed specifically to the marines in the town, not the White House. It was an intentional attack on those carrying out the president’s foreign policy.

The newfound “esteem for the troops, disdain for the war” rhetoric that Berkeley is now embracing, echoes the position of many Democrats. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s recently observed that the surge was a “total failure,” before hastily adding that she thought the soldiers were doing a great job (despite their failure). Former-Marine Sergeant and Fallujah veteran Seth Conner highlights the inconsistency of this rhetoric in An Open Letter to America: “How can you support the troops when you condemn the difference they try to make? You don’t support the troops, you demoralize them.”

Councilman Max Anderson, who introduced the recommendation to give Code Pink a parking space and free sound permit, has refused to abandon the original resolution. The councilman compared the Marines to another Berkeley boogie monster: greedy corporations. In his most patriotic tone, Anderson declared that Berkeley’s citizens “are confronted with an organization that can spend billions of dollars on propaganda … we can provide a space for ordinary people to express themselves against this kind of barbarity” (emphasis added).

This is not the first time that the councilman has locked horns with the “barbarous” Marine Corps. Anderson washed out of the Marines because he was too scared to go to Vietnam; he is now too scared to allow younger, more noble souls to serve.

Dissenting councilman Gordon Wozniak explained his opposition to Anderson’s proposal by saying, “There’s a line between protesting and harassing … We have to respect the other side, and not abuse their rights.”

While it has made no accommodations for the Marines, the city council allows Code Pink to obstruct the station entrance. They actively help Code Pink advance claims that recruiters are “military predators … known to lie to and seduce minors … into contracting themselves into military service with false promises.”

Some war-supporters dismiss such claims as laughable. “By that rationale,” Conner says, “car salesmen are responsible for the 40,000 Americans who will die this year on the nation’s highways.” The incident in Berkeley, however, demonstrates a disturbing trend in the anti-war movement.

Anti-war protesters, for all of their claims of open-mindedness, are terrified of allowing the military to disseminate information to students. Anderson and Code Pink are trying to impose their will on younger generations by silencing those that support the war effort.

The anti-war movement cannot accept the fact that soldiers volunteer for the military and support the mission. Therefore, recruitment efforts must be forms of brainwashing because they convince youths to aid in the war effort, rather than oppose it. Attempts to hinder recruitment are really attempts to silence pro-war arguments. They deny others the right to serve their country; potential recruits are forced to accept the anti-war message instead.

After Code Pink vandalized the door to his office — “Recruiters are Traitors” was scrawled onto his door — Officer Capt. Richard Lund decided to speak publicly for the first time since the city council passed their resolution.

Lund wrote: “While the protest that you staged in front of my office … was an exercise of your constitutional rights … 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.”

Berkeley may be trying to muzzle the Marines, but they don’t call them devil dogs for nothing.

• Add new comment
• Printer-friendly version
• send to friend