The mask is off *UPDATED*
Bookworm on Feb 12 2008 at 4:25 pm | Filed under: Anti-war, Military
Since the Iraq War began, the Left has attempted to disassociate itself from the ugliness of 1960s anti-War protests by repeating, over and over, “We love the troops. It’s just the War we hate.” That line always had a stilted quality, especial since we have a volunteer army, and our troops are willing to serve in this war. This little charade may well be over now, since the hoo-ha in Berkeley has peeled away any attempts amongst the radical Leftists to praise the troops while criticizing the war.
The charade’s end first became apparent when the Berkeley City Council voted to send a letter to the Marines telling them they are unwelcome, a statement coupled with a permanent parking permit for Code Pink, right in front of the Marine Recruiting Center in Berkeley. Because of the outcry, the City Council is reconsidering that move tonight, so it’s defenders have . . . well, they’ve rushed it its defense. The newspapers have been eavesdropping on what they have to say and, aside from the peaceniks’ physical aggression, what they have to say is even worse than the Council’s comparatively innocuous “we don’t want you here.”
But around noon, things heated up as more than three dozen police with batons and riot gear formed a line to separate the two sides. The police intervention occurred after several dozen demonstrators who want the recruiting center to leave town crossed the street and engaged in a 15-minute shouting match with a group supporting the Marines. There were no arrests.
Protesters on both sides of the police line amplified their messages: Recruiting opponents, using megaphones, chanted: “Murder, rape, torture, war. That’s what the Marines are for,” while military backers played the Marines’ Hymn over loudspeakers. (Emphasis mine.)
[snip]
“I’m here to thank the city council for dis-inviting the Marines,” said Berkeley resident Tim Modok, who was attending with his schnauzer, Susie. “I’d rather have a porn (outlet) two blocks from an elementary school and a high school than I would a Marines recruiter; they’re telling kids lies to get them into this war. These are very dangerous people. They’re lying to their children, talking them into becoming killers.” (Emphasis mine.)
Linci Comy of Oakland said she was there for future generations.
“I don’t want my kids and grandkids to go to another war of occupation,” she said. “We have to set a standard, we have to tell the world that military recruitment is no longer acceptable. (Emphasis mine.)
These sentiments have absolutely nothing to do with the War in Iraq. It is a wholesale rejection of the military on the grounds that it is inherently brutal and debased and, as such, should be offensive to all who do support the military in America, irrespective of their views about the wisdom of this War.
I found that last emphasized statement especially interesting: “military recruitment is no longer acceptable.” Aside from disliking the military, these people would very much like to leave America without any military at all. They espouse what might be called the Blanche duBois school of national security, because they’d like America to be dependent on the kindness of strangers — strangers such as Osama bin Laden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (who came up with the idea of 9/11, and boasts, not only about 9/11, but about having personally beheaded Daniel Pearl), Mahmoud Ahmadinijad, Hafez al-Assad, Kim Jong-il, Vladimir Putin, and many other of the worlds’ most powerful, devious or dangerous (or all of the above) psychopaths.
By the way, what do you bet that these same anti-military people have no problems with warriors if they are Palestinians, or Cuban soldiers, or Chavez’s troops or qualify in some other way as oppressed or anti-capitalist? The really dirty truth here is that, while these speakers insult American troops in the most vile terms, what they really hate is American power. And since they recognize that the troops are an inevitable and necessary part of that power, they see destroying the military, not just as an anti-War move, but as the first grand move in the total destruction of the United States.
As for me, I’m with George Orwell: “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” To all you rough men (and women), my eternal thanks.
UPDATE: I haven’t figured out yet how to upload videos at this new site, but I think this gloriously harmonized Abba song (and, yes, I like Abba) is a great tribute to our troops, since it’s a reminder that soldiers do what they have to do, moving forward in battle serving as an inspiration to the rest of us in good times and bad.
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[...] Bookworm Room wrote an interesting post today on The mask is offHere’s a quick excerptSince the Iraq War began, the Left has attempted to disassociate itself from the ugliness of 1960s anti-War protests by repeating, over and over, “W e love the troops. It’s just the War we hate….These sentiments have absolutely nothing to do with the War in Iraq…. [...]
Well put. They surely have tipped their hand. The question is, how much of the country will actually know about this, aside from those of us who read and listen outside the box of the “mainstream” media?
I was there in the morning (pictures at http://www.protestshooter.com/2008BerkeleyMarinesMorning/ ) and just got back from another hour there in the evening (pictures once I’ve had dinner) and the anti-Marine crowd was really disgusting – and I mean both in the sense of cursing/spitting/smelling bad and in the sense of their crazy beliefs. There was no way to have discourse – they were shouting on and on about how they had no free speech as they freely protested with at least a dozen news vans and several helicopters covering them.
I also got shoved by a cop – they were clearly on the side of the protesters. Just disgusting.
Every adult knows that actions have consequences…..let’s not treat the good (or even the not-so-good) people of Berkeley like children in this situation.
You don’t want the U.S. Military in Berkeley — fine……but then we don’t send any U.S. taxpayer money, either. And make it stick.
The first thought that occurred to me after reading about this little incident is, how smart does one need to be to advertise that one’s city is devoid of American soldiers when there are terrorists here who are trying to mount attacks against American citizens? It just doesn’t smack of a very high level of awareness.
I am very pleased to hear that there are some counter-protesters there supporting our marines. I think that these code pink folks relegated themselves to a comic relief role quite a while ago. But, I live in Texas, so I can afford to laugh at the west coast antics. My deepest sympathies to all who have been humiliated by the city of Berkeley.
Best regards,
Gail
[...] Yesterday morning, in Berkeley, they were saying this: “Murder, rape, torture, war. That’s what the Marines are for.” [...]
Bookworm said,
and, yes, I like Abba
I can relate to that. or that “attitude”
It is not so much that I like ABBA as the fact I love 3 or 4 of their songs.
And also the fact that I too feel some guillt or maybe not some guilt but I kind of worry some people might lift their noses on me for admitting to liking a pop band.
When someone laughs at me for liking a few ABBA song I remind them that when they were very popular ABBA was one the biggest money making industry of Sweden
( Or whatever north-west European country they are from )
in fact if I remember correctly from a Time Magazine article I read more than 20 years ago, ABBA was as big as Volvo.
People who think pop music is stupid have no idea what they are talking about.