Beverly Congdon poses a con argument to Katy Rossi's editorial entitled "No Military recruiting on campus."

Berkeley is the home of the famously liberal university that was once a center of protests against the Vietnam War.  Today they are taking a step further.  Protesting against the war is not enough anymore.  Nope, now they are actually trying to kick all Marine recruiters out of the city. 

Some protesters held up signs reading, “Join the Marines. Travel to exotic lands, meet exciting unusual people, AND KILL THEM,” while one giant sign read, "No Military Predators in our town."

The leaders of the protest are members of Code Pink Women for Peace.  One member named Sharon Adams justified the protests, saying, “This Marine recruiting station recruits people to go fight and then once they fight and they serve their country, our country doesn’t take care of them.  That’s a shame.”

Okay Sharon, if you’re so worried about the treatment of our veterans, you need to encourage a legislative act you deem suitable for their treatment, instead of calling all the soldiers predators and murders and running them out of your city.  The excuse that you’re doing such protests FOR the soldiers is ridiculous!  How can you say you want better treatment for the Marine veterans while accusing all soldiers of being murderous villains?  Your argument contradicts your actions.  Now either Sharon is just really stupid, or really cruel.    

Can’t everyone see through the excuse that the protests are in the soldier’s name?   I really hope no one reading this is ignorant and hateful enough to even attempt to justify the protestors’ actions.  I am so appalled by such malice that I do not know a word that exists to describe the protesters or their actions.

Needless to say, the U.S. Marines (as well as the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air force and the U.S. National Guard), place themselves in extreme danger everyday to protect and preserve the liberties and rights of all American citizens. They voluntarily leave the comfort of their home to face the possibility of being tortured and killed.  The Berkeley displays would not be possible if it weren’t for their sacrifices.

The Third Amendment to the United States Constitution clearly prohibits, in peacetime, the quartering of military personnel in private homes without the owner's consent.

The Third Amendment clearly does not justify the heinous actions of these loony Berkeley residents. The Marines are not terrorizing residents by demanding to reside in their homes. Instead they legally hold stations at which people can voluntarily go to. No one is forced to meet with a military recruiter. We should trust 18 year olds (as well as older adults) with their own decisions. The military recruiters provide more information, allowing people to make a more informed decision. They provide an opportunity for those brave enough to join. They aren't terrorizing or deceiving adults into thinking the military is a fantasy ride.

Sure, one can justify such lowly actions of the protestors by bringing up our “Freedom of Speech.”  But wait, how do we even have such a right?  Oh yeah, because throughout time the U.S. MILITARY has died for YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK FREELY.  And now you’re going to tell them they aren’t welcome?

While one can attempt to justify their actions’ based on the First Amendment, NO ONE, not any politician, has the legal grounds to exile military recruiters from a city.  It was, after all, the Berkeley City Council that ignited such displays of stupidity and horridness.  It was they that approved a measure last week, pushing for the Marine recruiters to leave their downtown office.

"If recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders," the item says.

It goes on to say the council applauds residents and organizations that "volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley."

These politicians don’t deserve their citizenship.  They deserve to be exiled out of this country to one that will show them how lucky they once were to live under the protection of the Marines.

One protestor by the name of Zanne Joi admitted that, “This is part of a multi-pronged effort to end this war.”

If you’re against the war, then protest against the war.  Don’t protest against the military officials who are there for others who wish to fight in the name of their country.  Don’t protest against the self-sacrificing persons who allow us to remain a free nation.

Now I’m not against those who protest against the war itself.  Although I may try to argue against the foundation of their argument, I have no opposition to such acts of freedom of speech.  But passing measures to kick the Marines out of the city??? No, that is impossible of deserving anyone with half a brain’s support.  

The worst of it all is that the protestors and politicians would probably beg the military to defend their city if it underwent an attack.  If such an attack were to happen, I would be tempted to tell them “Hey, you’re on your own now.  You said you didn’t want the military in this town, didn’t you?  Now suffer the consequences.” But most unfortunately, the military would probably never refuse to defend such hypocrites. 

I don’t know how the Berkeley politicians and protestors can go to bed at night, let alone go throughout the day with this huge weight on their conscience.  Hmm, maybe they don’t have a conscience.  That seems more possible to me than that these idiots are truly responsible for their actions.  But I have to leave La-La Land for now and come to terms with the fact that such people actually do exist. 

In Washington, a group of Republican lawmakers have introduced the Semper Fi Act of 2008 to withdraw more than two million dollars of funds for Berkeley and transfer it to the Marine Corps.  I fully support the act named after the marine motto.

"Like most Americans, I really get disturbed when taxpayer money goes to institutions which proceed to take votes, make policy or make statements that really denigrate the military," said Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, a co-sponsor of the bill.

Don’t you too? The Berkeley protestors and politicians are the real predators.  Don’t let their malicious, atrocious actions continue.  

Support our troops and show the real predators that they can’t get away with it.  Support the Semper Fi Act or support another measure to show these Berkeley politicians and protestors, and any others, that their actions will not go without consequences, and that all military offices deserve the right to recruit. 

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