Berkeley CA protesting Marines?

[Tour]

Wow. I'm kind of shocked that this is national news.

It's freaking Berkeley, people. The town prides itself on being one of the most liberal in the nation, on protests and grass-roots activism, on progressive politics and ex-hippie culture. You can't walk down the street without bumping into someone waving a home-made sign and shouting themselves hoarse about the issue of the day. When I drove by the dorks outside the recruitment office a few a while back, the only thing going through my head was, "oh geeze, what is it this week?"

Protesting and loud political statements are a fact of life around here, like bad parking and an overabundance of panhandlers. You can get riled up if you want, and allow this Slow News Day drivel to upset you, but Berkeley will still be here protesting away at whatever new cause comes its way. Demonstrations are just a part of the town's local culture; like them or not, someone getting pissed off a thousand miles away, or a few opportunists in congress threatening to steal our lunch money won't change that.

[Tyche]

I'm reminded of the South Park episode where Stan moves to San Francisco and they sniff their own farts. This seems absolutely absurd on so many levels by the city. However, isn't their statement (because I think they just told them "you are not welcomed here", as they really didn't pursue any action) protected by first ammendment rights? Which, in turn, makes their punishment equally absurd and a violation of the constitution...

[thestalkmore]

Berkeley needs to get the fuck out of people's business.
If people want to join the military, they should be able to join, no questions asked. This is what bothers me most about it. Lawmakers feel like they know better than everyone else, that they are somehow smarter and can make better decisions than the public. If the public wants to join the military, they better not be fucking impeded in doing so.

In short, fuck hippies, fuck big government, and fuck Berkeley...
Why am I transferring there -.-

I dunno. I'm here and it sucks! ^______________________________^. City is fucking retarded, people are fucking retarded, and I have a 4.0 at "one of the most, if not the most, prestigious public universities in the world." Lawl.

Buts its okay for a City Council to issue a declaration to Marines to GTFO?

They have every right to have a recruitment office anywhere they damn well please in the US.

not really, its same thing as Jehovahs witness' walking around recruiting more members. quite a few communities stop that pretty fast.

i dont like how people umbrella innocence under "theyre just doing their job". if you do something thats wrong, regardless of being ordered youre still just as at fault. if a coorporation tells you that you cant hire black people, and you adhere to it in fear of losing a job youre just as big of a bigot as them.

basically patriotism now a days has shifted meanings from, having a ideal thats worth supporting to sheepish ignorance.

cutting funding for a campus of students who are practicing the same techniques which keep the country in a happy medium is just plain stupid. one of the principle reasons our country works is the extremes who fight for power, the coin always ends up falling in the middle.

the only purpose a recruiter servers is to trick those on the fence into falling into uncle sams lap. i cant even begin to count how many people are lured in by the promise of something only to have it removed or never added to final paperwork. if you really need to resort to car salesman tactics to maintain an army then maybe we should look at the underlying reasons noone wants to join instead of all this surface squabbling.

the government has covered its ass quite well though, playing the instigator "ooo you hear that marines??? the american people said your mommas fat" "oooohhhh american people you gonna take that from a bunch of mindless drone???!!!"

FIGHTFIGHTFIGHTFIGHT

Anyone who uses any variant of the word sheep in a post should be immediately banned from life.

[Beckwin]

Yeah, the only thing Berkeley has done is say "we don't want you to recruit here"- a statement of desire, nothing more. It's obviously an anti-war thing, but not so different in concept with various cities signing Kyoto Protocol (iirc; several cities have agreed to it even though the US will not sign it).

During my junior and senior year in high school, recruiters made the majority of telemarketing calls to the house. It probably didn't help that I took the asvab just to see how high I could score, but yeah. I didn't like the guys who came to my school for recruiting much either. They tried to sound like the military was the only way I could afford college, and I kept laughing to myself because of how easily I got a full tuition+cash scholarship to any in-state university.

[sunb1ind]

Anyone who uses any variant of the word sheep in a post should be immediately banned from life.

Using sheep is fine if its backed up with shit that makes sense. If you think that word is overused then obviously you haven't heard about this war on terror going on.

[Beckwin]

*waits for a catty TSM response where he again alludes to someone not deserving to live*

[Gregorio]

I'm reminded of the South Park episode where Stan moves to San Francisco and they sniff their own farts. This seems absolutely absurd on so many levels by the city. However, isn't their statement (because I think they just told them "you are not welcomed here", as they really didn't pursue any action) protected by first ammendment rights? Which, in turn, makes their punishment equally absurd and a violation of the constitution...

The town isn't constitutinally guaranteed any pet project funds from the fedgov, so they would be able to remove those funds any time and for any reason they think up. Now if they were to criminalize the towns statement that'd be a different story.

[Demosthenes11]

Anyone who uses any variant of the word sheep in a post should be immediately banned from life.

or "war for oil"

[Tyche]

I'm reminded of the South Park episode where Stan moves to San Francisco and they sniff their own farts. This seems absolutely absurd on so many levels by the city. However, isn't their statement (because I think they just told them "you are not welcomed here", as they really didn't pursue any action) protected by first ammendment rights? Which, in turn, makes their punishment equally absurd and a violation of the constitution...

The town isn't constitutinally guaranteed any pet project funds from the fedgov, so they would be able to remove those funds any time and for any reason they think up. Now if they were to criminalize the towns statement that'd be a different story.

Ah, I understand, I didn't know if it was aid they were entitled to in some form...None the less, they are still punishing the town for free speech. With that said, I really don't mind the government doing it at all, was just trying to look at it with a different pair of glasses. I think the town is in the wrong and it's god damned shameful what they are doing.

[fantasticdan]

Berkeley needs to get the fuck out of people's business.
If people want to join the military, they should be able to join, no questions asked. This is what bothers me most about it. Lawmakers feel like they know better than everyone else, that they are somehow smarter and can make better decisions than the public. If the public wants to join the military, they better not be fucking impeded in doing so.

That arguement can both ways. Why do we need recruiters at our high schools and college campuses trying to persuade kids to sign up? Do they think they're smarter and can make better decisions than the public? People can make their own decisions as to whether or not they want to join a military branch, so maybe the recruiters should also get the fuck out of peoples business.

[Demosthenes11]

Berkeley needs to get the fuck out of people's business.
If people want to join the military, they should be able to join, no questions asked. This is what bothers me most about it. Lawmakers feel like they know better than everyone else, that they are somehow smarter and can make better decisions than the public. If the public wants to join the military, they better not be fucking impeded in doing so.

That arguement can both ways. Why do we need recruiters at our high schools and college campuses trying to persuade kids to sign up? Do they think they're smarter and can make better decisions than the public? People can make their own decisions as to whether or not they want to join a military branch, so maybe the recruiters should also get the fuck out of peoples business.

or maybe you suck at drawing parallels? I'm not going to paint you a picture even though you obviously need one, just think hard for once

[archibaldcrane]

I don't think that public education should endorse nor condemn military service.

Allowing recruiters access to high school lunchrooms on a routine basis is, at best, a passive endorsement, and considering how shady the military allows its recruiters to be, it's a practice that should be stopped.

[Intense]

I don't think that public education should endorse nor condemn military service.

Allowing recruiters access to high school lunchrooms on a routine basis is, at best, a passive endorsement, and considering how shady the military allows its recruiters to be, it's a practice that should be stopped.

Ok well looks like lawmakers are trying to further cut school funding. Say goodbye to PE and music programs. Thanks!

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

I don't think that public education should endorse nor condemn military service.

Allowing recruiters access to high school lunchrooms on a routine basis is, at best, a passive endorsement, and considering how shady the military allows its recruiters to be, it's a practice that should be stopped.

If public schools were private sure, but the government owns that property.

[Beckwin]

Would you like the IRS recruiting at your local high school?

[archibaldcrane]

I don't think that public education should endorse nor condemn military service.

Allowing recruiters access to high school lunchrooms on a routine basis is, at best, a passive endorsement, and considering how shady the military allows its recruiters to be, it's a practice that should be stopped.

If public schools were private sure, but the government owns that property.

That's exactly my point. The government (federal, state, local) shouldn't allow military recruiters to be so shady in a place where children are forced to attend. It's one thing trying to mislead adults about the military, but in a place of education of minors it's a shame.

Hell, they don't even allow soda machines in many schools anymore. Also, local schools are generally the property of the municipality, not the federal government.

[aurik]

If they allow military recruiters, shouldn't they give other recruiters similar access?

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

I don't think that public education should endorse nor condemn military service.

Allowing recruiters access to high school lunchrooms on a routine basis is, at best, a passive endorsement, and considering how shady the military allows its recruiters to be, it's a practice that should be stopped.

If public schools were private sure, but the government owns that property.

That's exactly my point. The government (federal, state, local) shouldn't allow military recruiters to be so shady in a place where children are forced to attend. It's one thing trying to mislead adults about the military, but in a place of education of minors it's a shame.

Hell, they don't even allow soda machines in many schools anymore. Also, local schools are generally the property of the municipality, not the federal government.

Yup, and if they tried to do the same thing I bet the government would do the same thing as they did in this instance.

[archibaldcrane]

Swampy, you are ignoring my point. Military recruiters are known for being shady, why should we (as citizens of the United States) let them around our kids?

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Swampy, you are ignoring my point. Military recruiters are known for being shady, why should we (as citizens of the United States) let them around our kids?

Oh my bad. When I was in high school military recruiters were only allowed to talk to seniors. I guess it's assumed they are over 18.

Edit: I don't know if thats universal, that was just how it was in my high school.