I mean have you seen the grade of “men” in that city ? Why are they wasting time trying to find men to join the military in a city filled with cowards – in my opinion.
If they do get one there I don’t think they will be very busy there.
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Hey… you’re a tool!
EDIT/real response: First of all, just because someone doesn’t want to join the military doesn’t make them a coward. I see nothing courageous about being a cog in a wheel that’s currently killing thousands of innocent people a year. However, I do think opposing that is courageous… and Berkeley (and the Bay Area as a whole) was one of the first places in the US to largely oppose the war.
Secondly… “freedom of speech”?! It’s not a matter of freedom of speech. Hell, the military itself restricts “freedom of speech” for its soldiers TONS! Likewise, people in Berkeley are against the Marines (and other military organizations) actively recruiting, ie: preying on kids in high school/just out of high school. So what’s the difference between a pedophile preying on a kid and recruiters preying on teenagers? Both want to put them in dangerous situations where their lives are at risk.
If anyone’s interested in the army, then they can sign-up anywhere… online, even. Actively recruiting is unnecessary and predatory.
And yes… recruitment offices are set up based on population, not amount of recruits.
The US Marines have maintained a recruitment office in Berkeley on Shattuck ave. Please remember that Berkeley is the home of one of the most prestigious universities in this country. The Berkeley office may be the only one that now exists in the East Bay.
The bay area is a big place and there are plenty of people in the region that would join the army and fight for their country. Don’t let a bunch of extremists and loud mouthed protesters give you the wrong impression the rest of the Bay Area is as delusional and close minded as the people in Berkeley.
First, the name of the city is Berkeley.
Second, the Pentagon decides where to fund recruitment efforts based on census figures (not actual rate of recruitment). The San Francisco Bay Area has 7.2 million people, and therefore, it gets more resources than most regions. The local units probably have extra money and offices in the nearby cities already, so why not Berkeley?
Third, the “freedom of speech” argument is particularly bizzare in light of the fact that Congress has severely restricted the right of military officers to meddle in civilian affairs while on active duty. These restrictions include Articles 88 and 134 UCMJ, 18 USC 609, and DODD 1344.10.
Whether you believe the limitations are constitutional or not, they remain in affect until the Supreme Court says otherwise. For military recruiters, the question has nothing to do with “free speech”, it’s simply a matter of doing their duty.
Fourth, you’re entitled to your opinion, but I would not doubt that Americans will respond to any real threat with courage and determination. The reason why there’s public opposition is because folks don’t think the threat is genuine. They just don’t see Iraq as our problem. Period.
I don’t understand why they want an office there. They don’t get a huge amount of recruits, and would seem to be a waste of time and money.
Statistics show that in fiscal 2001, which ended three weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, 22 Berkeley residents joined the armed forces, according to Department of Defense enlistment data.
By 2006, with the Iraq war in full swing, 15 signed on.
I doubt everyone in that city is a coward, you would be surprised at the way some Marines look like, you cant judge a person by the way they look, ive seen many people who dont look like they can be but are Marines
“it’s about Berserkley’s bigoted approach to Freedom of Speech. You don’t need to agree with the recruiters. Don’t like ‘em? Don’t go inside.”
free speech has nothing to do with the city deciding what kinds of stores are allowed. a porn store is not allowed to open next to an elementary school, a factory can’t open in a residential neighborhood. cities make zoning laws all the time.
marine recruiters are known to lie to young people to fool them into signing a contract. berkeley doesn’t want the marines lying to its citizens like that. it has nothing to do with supporting people who are already marines, it’s about protecting those who are not yet marines from the lies and the death.
if someone really wants to join, it’s still easy to join. the marines still exist.
it’s just like you’re allowed to have a church, but you can’t recruit for that church in a public school. same thing.
and to the questioner, if you don’t like berkeley, stay away. simple as that. you couldn’t make it at the university anyway.
Berkeley is a very diverse community. So in addition to the knee-jerk commies there, you’ve got regular folks, too. And the recruiters kinda look for high-school kids who haven’t yet been brainwashed by Angela Davis and her “progressive” ideas.
Besides, even if they get zero recruits, it’s not about the recruiter’s success, it’s about Berserkley’s bigoted approach to Freedom of Speech. You don’t need to agree with the recruiters. Don’t like ‘em? Don’t go inside. But they have every right to keep an office there. And the butt-headed dorky mayor said on TV that they didn’t really mean it, however, they won’t apologize.
Sorry, I try to remain objective here in YA. Sometimes that’s very difficult.