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They're at it again. The same loveable City Council that threatened to fire firefighters for displaying the American flag on their trucks is now trashing the US Marines.

We all remember how the Berkeley City Council endeared themselves to America when, in the aftermath of 9/11, they told firefighters that they could not display the American Flag on their vehicles. Something about the Flag being "offensive" to the citizens of Berkeley.

All I can say about that one is that if the American Flag offends you, you're in the wrong country. These people would fit in a lot better in Communist China. Or maybe they should move to Venezuela see if they can beat Dictator Hugo Chavez at saying hateful things about the USA.

Well, you kind of expect stuff like that from Berkeley. California has a reputation for being home to a lot of flaky people, but Berkeley out-California's California. If you want to know what it's like to live in a Communist nation without having to actually leave the United States, move to Berkeley.

But now they've gone too far. They're insulting the US Marines! If it was the Navy or the Air Force, I wouldn't like it, but it wouldn't be so traumatic. (Can you tell I served in the Marine Corps?) They might get away with insulting apple pie, motherhood and even baseball, but this is too much! They called the Marines "thugs" and said they were "Uninvited, unwelcome intruders."

It all started when Mayor Tom Bates and the City Council decided they wanted the Marine Corps Recruiting Station, which has had an office in downtown Berkeley since 2006, out of THEIR town. I wonder if these boneheads ever considered the fact that if it weren't for the Marines (and yes, the Army, Navy and Air Force who assist the Marines in winning wars), they wouldn't even have a town?

But they seem to have an uncanny ability to twist just about anything totally backwards. The Council tried to take away the parking spaces designated for the Marines' building. Then they gave the traitorous anti-American group Code Pink a designated parking space directly in front of the Marine office and a sound permit to use in protesting the Marines' presence. Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, uttered these completely idiotic words:  "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." She's obviously smoking some pretty strong stuff. But that's probably legal in Berkeley.

In January the City Council passed a motion that said in part, "The U.S. Marine Recruiting Station on Shattuck Avenue is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders." They also referred to the Marines as "the President's own gangsters." Obviously these pinkos don't know what kind of hand-to-hand combat training Marines receive. Lucky for them that Marines also receive training in keeping cool in the presence of a fool.

Thankfully, this ignited a firestorm of protests against the Council. Patriots all across America have expressed their indignation. I even saw a lady who lives in Berkeley stand up to the pathetic "leaders" of that city at a televised Council meeting. "It's one thing to oppose the war," said she, "but it's another thing to attack our military men and women! And I'm not going to let you do that any more!" They'll probably make her move out of the city after that.

Most of the people who the Council allowed to speak at their public people (see LINK to the video below) were lesbians and left-over hippies. One of the few people who were allowed one minute each to voice opposing views was Debbie Lee, the mother of Marc Lee, a Navy Seal who died in Iraq last year. "My son gave up his life for this country, for you me and everyone in this room," she said. "I'm appalled at what the City Council has done. You tell us (the Marines) are not welcome in your city, that's appalling. You have offended us deeply. They are not murderers, and you owe them an apology."

The Council ignored the protests of real Americans, but they changed their tune when Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) threatened to block millions of dollars in funding the despised US government gives that little island of Communism every year. "The First Amendment gives the City of Berkeley the right to be idiotic, but from now on they should do it with their own money," DeMint said.

Now they're backing down fast! At a meeting this week they let stand four of the offensive actions taken at the first meeting, including one encouraging "all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station." But they said the Marines could stay, as "uninvited and unwelcome guests." That was real big of them, especially since the Marines had already said there was no way they were leaving.

Then, feeling the pressure from all across the nation, they did issue this weasel "apology": "Given the confusion about the Council's action on January 29th, a strong statement regarding the Marine Recruiting Station is needed." What confusion? Their words, quoted above (and found in the LINKS below) were perfectly clear. They continued, saying that they really don't hate the Marines, but they oppose "the recruitment of our young people into this war." A motion to issue a real apology failed.

The news reports say that the Council has received over 20,000 emails protesting their actions. Hmmm. About 250,000 people read each issue of Conservative Truth. I wonder what would happen if all of us sent a heart-felt message to mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us?

Dr. Tom Barrett
Conservative Truth (Publisher, Editor)

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