http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/07/berkel ... index.html

The logic of some people never ceases to amaze me.

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I'm so SICK of this SH1T!!! FU*K all those bleeding heart liberals.
This country(USA) was founded on WAR. If it wasnt for the brave souls who perished in prior wars in the US(Revloutionary War) those old bitches wouldn't be holding a damn picket sign NOW!!!



WOW....that felt good.

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"What the hell are we gonna use man....harsh language"!!!

ok you have the right to protest a war , but that is so wrong in many ways...everyone in that council should be sacked..... i hope that law is passed so they hold back the $2m .....
If America was attacked i bet these people would be the first screaming for the Marines....

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Pfc Glenn Allen ,
1st Batt. 69th Regiment,
Homers Hero's..
Drops so Far.... 29 and counting

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


What the council (as a local government) is doing is probably going to be ruled as un-Constitutional under Article I, section 10 or Article IV, section 3, however.

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Cpl. PC Nerves
A04/TQ2.0.62136E1

pnerves.com


Welcome to the Bill Paxton Martini Ranch and Gun Club.

As soon as I saw the title of the article, I had to click out of it because I could feel my blood starting to boil.

Why don't we round up all the anti-war protesters and send them out to the front lines to protect their own damn rights? It might give them a different perspective on life.

The problem I have with this is they are attacking the military (specifically in this case the Marines), not the government. By extension of the government I suppose the military could be seen as a representative of the federal government, but if they want to effectively protest the war in Iraq then they should take it to Washington... not the local recruiting office! The military is not to blame for their grievances. Their government that controls said military is where their voices and actions should be vented.

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I think this is thread is a mistake. Regardless, or perhaps because of feelings- on both sides, it is bound to be incredibly divisive and besides the tenuous connection to the Marines, has nothing to do with USCM.

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Cpl. PC Nerves
A04/TQ2.0.62136E1

pnerves.com


Welcome to the Bill Paxton Martini Ranch and Gun Club.

dated February 05, 2004:

"George Tenet, the director of the CIA, said today that Iraq posed "no imminent threat" to America in the months leading up to the US-led invasion."

Maybe the perspective on life those protesters hold is in some way influenced by the statement above.



Chris

The freedom of speech means being able to say things that people disagree with without repercussion from the government. The bill is the very definition of censorship and is most certainly unconstitutional.

I'm not saying I agree with what the protesters are saying, but I damn well agree with their right to say it.

The Gunnery Sgt. in the article is very well spoken:

"The Marine Corps is here to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, which does guarantee the freedom of speech," Franklin said. "In terms of the situation in Berkeley, the City Council and the protesters are exercising their right to do so."

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Jay Pennington

*Some might find the following opinion Vulgar*



Wow a tough heated topic to say the least. The right to protest something, whether I agree with it or not, is a right that have been bought for us by those that have fought in the wars of the past. I dont agree with the bill to force the marines out of that city, however I do agree with what they are protesting (no not the Marines, but ultimately the war in Iraq.) You'll never hear me utter a negative word against the military people, however the current administration is filled by a bunch of Fuck Heads! If you think about it we have been involved in a Military conflict, in Iraq, longer than we were involved in both World War 1&2 combined. We've done what was the original goal, no not to kill Sadam Hussein (which was a nice bonus), but to find weapons of Mass destruction. Iraq doesn't have any! Okay? Now its time to admit the mistake, are you listening Mr Bush, and bring the troops home. I'm tired of our sons and daughters losing their lives over something that not only doesn't benifit us, but will probably never accomplish anything anyway. Its time to come home......

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If you accept pocket lint as a currency well I'll take it all!

As a guy that has a father who went to U.C. Berkeley, and myself, a California Golden Bears fan, we together know that here in the land of fruits and nuts (formerly known as Northern California) the capital is not Sacramento, but Berkeley.

These guys are regular attention whores, and this is nothing new.
Last I checked, they were protesting the University's Memorial Stadium expansion plan by hiding out in some old Oak Trees near the stadium, because they believe that the darn trees are more important than a new stadium and workout facility.

They know nothing of how important protecting a country is. The Marines know. The Army knows. The Navy, The Air Force, the branches of our military, they know.

These aging hippies? They don't know.

I saw that too. Made me sick..

So if I understand this correctly- the protesters are not specifically protesting the war in Iraq/Afghanistan- but are trying to drive the Marine Corps recruitment station out of town. And this is being condoned, even encouraged by the city's council?

Sorry but they do have their heads up their asses.

It's one thing to be against the war- but that should be directed at the government, not the soldiers/Marines.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I live in the bay area. Have any of you guys ever been to Berzerkly? With the exception of the university, most of the folks who live there aren't wrapped to tightly.

The war in Iraq is wrong, but blaming the Marines it outright idiocy.

Now if only the Feds could just tell Berkley that if the Marines go so does federal funding that would shut them up fast i bet.

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SFC
Michael Larson
Minnesota-USA

A03/TQ1.0.92141E1

Im spending the weekend here in Napa a stone throw from Berkeley. That place is beyond far left. If I lived here I would buy a Hummer and blow the smoke from my stogie out the window.

Don't forget the big brown baby seal eyes for headlights and the all leather cow interior.

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SFC
Michael Larson
Minnesota-USA

A03/TQ1.0.92141E1

I want to post, but I'm not going to for obvious reasons.
All I'm going to say is:

We may not agree with what they say....but our men and women in uniform have died for their right to say it.

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We may not agree with what they say....but our men and women in uniform have died for their right to say it.[/quote]

Amen

Hell yea 101, Leary all the way. I dont have to agree with the war but I will always support the troops. Screw the wha wha people. Integrity is standing up for what you believe in when it is inconvenient NOT convenient. I like things that burn Gas, Guns, Red meat, Beer, flying and Sci props.

My roomates (for another 2 days) are from Berkeley.

They're definitely not Bush supporters, but at least they have intelligence and common sense, and can tell the difference between soldiers and the Government that sends them to war.


Aside from that, I don't think a Frenchman's opinion on the general situation is something that would be wise to write on this thread!

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The city council can do nothing but pass resolutions, they mean nothing. The Recruiting station is a federal establishment and as such city government has no control over it.

Their protestations are nothing more than Berkeley staying true to it's legacy and an attempt at self promotion. I see it as a clarion call to all would be protestors and pacifists to "come back to Berkeley... Been a long time since we had a good protest..."

By what I can gather the protestors are getting more jeers from passers by than support

The gratuitously mis-informed Berkeley council started a fight they will soon regret.
They are going to have to grow far thicker skin if they intend to go toe to toe with the United States Marine Corps.

As professionals I believe that the Marines directly involved in Berkeley, will cheerfully accept the individuals right to free speech, and should the need arise, in a most poetic twist of irony if say a drunken redneck comes and trys to take a swing at one of the old gals with pink signs, there'd be a Marine there to make him change his mind.

As the Emperor once said, "Oh I'm afraid this recruiting station is quite operational..."

M

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"Stand up for something...Or get knocked down for nothing..."

Once again we see the Military suffering from the protesters due to their stupidity.
The Men & women of the Armed forces don`t get to pick & choose their Wars. The Politicians send them there,thus the Goverment is to be held accountable.

The men & women in uniform do as Ordered,as you do when you sign on the dotted line & take the Kings shillin.

They may get to pick & choose their fights though not the war that initiated the fights.

It`s truely sad that as said already these very said people would probably be the first to put a call to arms from the Goverment if their vested interests were attacked.

I wish we had a goverment that truely supported it`s armed forces instead of demanding More & giving Less.

Hell look at HMS Invincible,it`s 2nd launch has seen the aircraft carrier return to port again,due to a technical fault of none vital equipment (once upon a time that would mean nothing). First time it was a broken fridge (tis important).
That`s what happens when you get the lowest bidder doing all the work. They don`t do the job properly.
The Goverment/MoD has a nasty tendancy to do this to our armed forces whilst still demanding so much from them.

jason

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What ya gonna do when I TECKNO HUG Youuuuu!!



Pvt.
STEAD,J "TECKNO VIKING"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1

Skype: ulthur1

When I was in high school I sent gave a form to my principle to "opt out" from military recruitment. Meaning, I block military recruiters from contacting me. Was I doing a bad thing? No. Some people just don't believe in that sort of thing.

Granted, I do agree that we have our government and not out military to blame for this war, there is nothing wrong with protesting something you don't believe in. Since, this country was founded on protest. Protest that led to war.

In my opinion, the people at Berkley are focusing their attention on the wrong source. Which is just seems to be fueled by a war that is doing more to dwindle our rights than protect them.

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We get alot of this sort of thing in the UK.
There will always be those who are anti-military but over there the whole "support the troops" movement is far more evident than it is here.

A friend of mine took a jet over to a couple of airshows in the US recently while on a training detatchment in Canada. It was his first time in the US and he couldn't believe how much respect he was given as an RAF pilot. When asked for proof of age in a que for a nightclub he produced his military ID card as it was all he had and was amazed that he was treated like a VIP, taken to the front of the que and offered free drinks.

Over here it's often the exact opposite. We rarely use our military ID as proof of age because you'll often be told "no forces" and turned away.

My issue with the anti-military protest is not that contrary opinions are held (even though many of those opinions are misguided and aimed at the wrong people) but with the way such opinions are expressed.

Everyone has the right to decide that they don't agree with it. They have the right to decide that they don't want to be part of the armed forces. But I don't believe that they have the right to impede people doing their job, or to subject them to aggression and intimidation.

I've seen it first hand. I've had all sorts of abuse hurled at me while on duty. Most notably from the country's youth.

In the first years of the war there were ALOT of these sort of demonstrations around here.
Protest marches were organised in London where thousands of people carried signs proclaiming "not in my name" or similar.

I believe they have the right to make such a declaration but not the right to expect and demand that things should change just because they don't agree with them. And certainly not to resort to verbal abuse, vandalism and physical violence when their complaints are not given the attention that they think they deserve.

That's what I dislike most about it all. That they feel they have some sort of right as civilians to dictate what our armed forces do.
If they have never served in the armed forces then frankly I don't think it's any of their business.
We don't tell them how to do their job...

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"The other Gareth"