To the Berkeley City Council:

No one is forced to join the Marines by having a Marine Recruiting Office in their city, so what is the problem?

As an American citizen, I am horrified at the action you have taken against the Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley. These are the very kind of people who make it possible for you to even exist. Where is your backbone? Have you no knowledge of history? What cowards you are! Without the military, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines under civilian control, how long do you think the United States of America would continue to exist? There are no freedoms without a strong military. Freedom is never free!

By your actions, you are saying to anyone with an idea of infiltrating or conquering this country, come on, take over, we don't want anyone to defend us, we just threw them out of town. If that ever happens, what rights do you think you will retain? Wake up, look around!

If you don't like the United States of America, maybe you are the ones that should get out of the town! Freedom of speech or freedom to assemble and all of our other freedoms are only guaranteed with our strong military under civilian control. The same is true about gun control. If government takes away the right, for qualified people, to own firearms, then only the criminal element of society will have the guns. Just look at England and Australia. Crime has greatly increased since the guns are no longer available for civilians in those countries.

Leona M. Butts lives in Clearlake Oaks.

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Raphael - these latest tactics Author | 02-11-2008 07:50:15 of Code Pink and of the Berkeley City Council might prove to be totally inappropriate for the simple and obvious reason that they fail to convey the real message, which is actually not against the military or the marines but specifically against Bush's failed military policies and endless occupation in Iraq, a country that never attacked or threatened us, by the way. It would have been more appropriate and effective to concentrate on Afghanistan, the terrorist leader might even have been caught. That Code Pink and Berkeley would create such a controversy and arouse such hateful feelings does not work to their advantage, and causes their original message to be totally inaudible in the emotional storm and noise. Of course anyone doing some research would find out Code Pink's real message, but most people love to claim being offended, particularly when they feel righteous. There is nothing more empowering to some of us than righteous anger, it gives us a jolt and makes the blood pump harder. Well, the City of Berkeley made a mistake, in my opinion...they muddied their message and caused it to be completely lost. It is not the military that is at fault, but the commander-in-chief. They should have stuck to this simple fact.

smurf - starve the beast IP:66.81.72.xxx | 02-11-2008 11:26:33 here's the prob: name the last time ANY of your freedoms were protected by the US military, think hard because it's been a VERY long time. Did you feel threatened by Korea, Veitnam, Grenada, Iraq, Somolia or Cuba? We didn't even need to go to Quagmire east (afghanistan), could have dealed our way out of that one, but no, we had to start an occupation that has NO end in sight. The taliban wanted to get rid of Bin Laden, and only asked for some evidence to show he was involved with 911 so they could keep the rabble quiet about coughing him up-a damn good deal we passed on. So our military isn't getting used to protect us, it's getting used to project American economic power/domainance, a subversion of it that REAL patriots should be howling about. Think of how the constitution has been violated time and time again by congress sending the military around the globe to keep thugs and crooks in power, the only decent thing the military has done since Korea was going to the balkens, everything else has been a royal bust. The volunteer military is not working, we need to go back to a draft so we don't get our kids killed so Exxon or General Electric shareholders can take a longer vacation.

Donna Christopher - Thank You Leona Author | 02-11-2008 12:08:42 for your great letter to the Berkeley City Council.

Raphael - Right on smurf Author | 02-12-2008 04:35:38 and I know I will get a lot of flack from icsage for using that 60's expression... More to the point: Here is a 1934 quote from General Smedley Butler, one of the most celebrated Marine leaders of the time: "I spent 33 years and 4 months in active military service...and during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. Thus, I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba decent places for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1902 and 1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927, I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Our boys were sent off to die with beautiful ideals painted in front of them. NO ONE TOLD THEM THAT DOLLARS AND CENTS WERE THE REAL REASON WHY THEY WERE MARCHING OFF TO KILL AND DIE." This from a real American patriot, a Marine general and celebrated leader who went into actual combat, not a "Berkeley wacko", not a "60's freak", not a pacifist, not an anti-war or anti-military "kook", not a "coward", not a "traitor" or an "anti-American foreigner" not a "commie" or "socialist" or "anti-capitalist flake". Icsage-Donna, put this in your pipes and smoke it!

James - smurf Registered | 02-11-2008 19:17:21 In truth you are right. When the people of our government use the military for their ends and invalve us in wars, with our armys all around the world.I have always said lets give butter and dread, not bombs and bullets. That said our military is not the problem you need to lay that blame at others feet. We served for the pleasure of our government, did what we were told and at times had doubts but took a oath, did what I was told. So as we deploy and use troops to satisfy the whims of politicans and to ask personnal to die without a noble cause is the greater evil. I truly hope if the time is ever nigh they will show up.To end I had both partys send me to places I cared not to be.

jcarney - war IP:66.81.72.xxx | 02-11-2008 19:30:27 First let me state an irrefutable fact.War is mans greatest obscenity. As one columnist wrote "we spend billions of dollar figuring better ways to kill each other".It is evident that in all the centuries we still haven't learned to be civilised.. Do we need a Military ? Yes, to aid our citizens ala New Orleans. Do we need a Military that sucks up 65% of our nationa budget ? Maybe when the Iraqui Navy appears off New York ,I'll change my mind. Ask your self, what war in any century accomplished anything ? Johnny Carney

James - jcarney Registered | 02-11-2008 21:12:44 As one who knows, your words shook me to my core. This system were politicans are in bed and take money for favors is not free speech but graft. Dwight D. Eisenhower gave us a warning in 1961,January 17th about the military industrial complex and he gave a strong warning. We didnot heed and we have prostitutes for politicans.

Dante - Military Tool Author | 02-14-2008 07:21:06 I am not aware of any training in the military in even identifying freedoms let alone defending them. The military is a tool pure and simple. It can be used for any purpose those in authority desire. One freedom I cherish is the rule of law and the sanctity of contract. The tool wielders have decided that the rule of law does not apply to the military and a contract with a recruit is only binding on him and not the military. I feel that this practice is a fraud and unAmerican. I,m sure recruiters will be welcome when they are no longer an amoral tool for criminal activity.

lcsage - anti establishment tools Registered | 02-14-2008 09:44:15 and code virile-heros deserve each other. It it wasn't for the military, they would be speaking a foreign language right now. Freedom is not free. Like it or leave it.

lcsage - virile heros Registered | 02-14-2008 09:45:21 read code p_inkos and their ilk.

lcsage - berkeley word censors Registered | 02-14-2008 09:46:33 crack me up.

James - lcsage Registered | 02-14-2008 10:36:13 As I have said to you the enemy of my enemy is my friend. But when our military is used as pawns for the desires of the political corrupted, thats not insuring freedom, just our destruction by the dishonest that lead.

lcsage - James Registered | 02-14-2008 10:49:07 Agreed. I do have a hard time with the draft dodgers and those that have never served tearing our country, the military and esp the Marines down. The politicians for their own gain are equally guilty. I guess that's why in order to be a politician you must be a shyster, bottom feeding scumbag atty. Did I leave out BOS member.....Like you, I make no apology for my proud service. Semper Fi Brother

James - Tolerance Registered | 02-18-2008 16:10:29 For those that exercise that right of free speach, to be tolerant for most are unaware the words that come from their mouths. That tolerance comes from the fact those I knew are here no longer.That cost for them was noble so I am total with my view they can say anything I even allow the burning of our flag to stay in my throat and those that would take my rights away and are aware now we have a problem.So hope to do some flushing.Semper Fi. Hope your demons are few and good friends are in your life.

LisaCLK - Thank You Registered | 02-16-2008 14:08:57 Thank You Leona Butts for saying what most Americans think

James - lcsage Registered | 02-17-2008 17:39:54 Last thought before this goes away.I truly believe most are good people as they enter politics. Its the longevity with a corrupt system that taints them. The ends justifys the means. Becoming prostitutes for money to run for reelection and the two party system that needs the power so to pay off all the pimps.We are lured by their rhetofic time and time again. We are the true fools.Semper fi

lcsage - cake for breakfast? Registered | 02-18-2008 09:27:02 I notice Mike pouring wine with one hand and groping in back pockets with the other. As previously stated, the pre requisite for most politicians is that they are shyster lawyers. Need I say more. Ice cream with that cake?

James - lcsage Registered | 02-18-2008 16:07:20 No way you must be dreaming or you have gone insane, must thing you are one of the quicker, brighter,or smarter ones. Ice cream is for those we are a fools over.The ones we Give the big bucks and nice perks to. So don't forget your place.Semper Fi 1584914

lcsage - Duly Noted Registered | 02-19-2008 10:46:18 James. I stand corrected. All those weasels need is the double flush. Semper Fi 5879600

James - lcsage Registered | 02-19-2008 15:36:26 Probably three times with those reprobates, their so full of it. Just shows you can life with anything if exposed long enough. The frog in hot water. Later Semper Fi M.F.P.

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