Before we hit the Bates Psycho ward, let's take a look at the name of the "paper" that this story comes from. Contra Costa Times. If you look up Contra on Wikipedia one of the definitions involves Nicaragua, and the rebel group there that was fighting against the Sandinistas, that group was called Contras in short for contrarevolucioinario (counter revolutionaries). That being said I guess the fine folks at city hall in Berkeley have taken the Contra moniker in that vein (although I'm sure some of them are taking other things in veins as well, but I digress.)
So, today across the news wires comes this news flash:
Berkeley council tells Marines to leave
I read that, and the blood pressure went up about 20 points. But that's ok, because that ain't nothing compared to how much it went up after I read the entire "article".
Hey-hey, ho-ho, the Marines in Berkeley have got to go.
That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 6-3 Tuesday night to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders."
In addition, the council voted to explore enforcing its law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation against the Marines because of the military's don't ask, don't tell policy. And it officially encouraged the women's peace group Code Pink to impede the work of the Marines in the city by protesting in front of the station.
In a separate item, the council voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a designated parking space in front of the recruiting station once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week from noon to 4 p.m.
Later in the article, the mayor of munchkin city is quoted:
"I believe in the Code Pink cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave," said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates after votes were cast.
Of the two different on-line articles I saw covering this, they both had tons of public comments, the overwhelming majority of which think the council needs some re-education of a non-public school type.
The main theme of the reader comments are; First- the Marines should not be disrespected like this. Second- Ok, you don't want military in your little Bates Hotel Psycho ward, that's cool with us, we'll pull them and every other blessed Federally funded thing out of your little burb. Third- If by chance there happens to be some sort of emergency, terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake, you can count on use to seal the border around your little slice of heaven, AND NOTHING ELSE.
People of Berkeley, if you stand for this you are just as bad as the excrement that occupies your city hall, if you don't stand for it, rally in your town and remove these three ring rejects post haste.
Side note: Whatever day it is that Code Pinko is doing their misinformed road show, that would be a great time for the Marines to do their tear gas mask training, or small arms cleaning and training, or perhaps they could do some community outreach and bring some M-1 Abrams tanks for show. (Parked on top of the car in the code Pinko parking spot.)
In closing a personal note to tom bates, linda maio, max anderson and whomever else on the Berkeley council that supported these measures. If you hate this country that much, if you have no tolerance, when you demand it of us for your lifestyle. If you have no understanding at all of the freedoms that you do have and from whence and what sacrifices said freedoms come from? Pack. Leave. Go Away. You are not welcome in the country, and if you choose to stay, you do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.
