Feb 8, 2008

Letters

Reactions to recruiting office furor

Dear Editor: [An open letter to the men and women in the military and to the citizens of Berkeley]

On several occasions since the war began in 2003, the Berkeley City Council has publicly and passionately stated its opposition to the war in Iraq. On Jan. 29, the city council approved a series of recommendations intended to impede the recruiting activities of the downtown Berkeley Marine Corps office, which for many people in Berkeley has become a symbol of that war.

Specifically, the recommendation to inform the Marine Corps recruiting office that they are not welcome in our city, was insulting, hurtful and wrong. We failed to make it clear that while we continue to oppose what we consider an unethical and illegal war in Iraq, at the same time we respect and honor all the brave men and women who are serving, or have served, in the military.

In our passionate opposition to this war, and in our horror and frustration over the thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have died in it, we have erred by not adequately differentiating between the war and the warriors. It is understandable that the unnecessarily inflammatory language included in the council's action offended and insulted many Marines and their families. We apologize to all those in the military and their families, who took personal offense. This was not our intention.

In a completely separate action, the Berkeley City Council granted fee waivers for permits to an organization actively protesting the Marine Corps office. To grant a privilege to one group while actively seeking to eliminate the legal presence of another is discriminatory and contrary to our long-standing support of free speech. In retrospect, the city council should have considered the impact such an action would have on the rights of free speech and expression for all citizens. These rights must be paramount and must be preserved and protected for all of us.

If Berkeley is truly to remain the home of free speech, then our priority should be to preserve it for all citizens, so that personal and governmental decisions can be made through informed debate.

Berkeley City

Council Member

Betty Olds, District 6,

Berkeley City

Council Member

Laurie Capitelli, District 5



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Dear Editor: So, the city of Berkeley has told the Marine recruiting station it is unwelcome in the city, labeling Marines "intruders." Silly me. I thought the lefties were all about freedom of choice. But I guess if you're a kid in Berkeley, you only get to choose what the wise politicians of that city deem as "socially responsible."

Scott Abramson,

San Mateo



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Dear Editor: [An open letter to the Berkeley City Council] All but one of you apparently lack backbone, are deranged and/or are traitors who should be immediately deported from the United States. How do you sleep at night knowing the sacrifices made by the members of the armed forces and treating them the way you have? You should be ashamed of yourselves. I am so filled with disgust and sadness that a city in my state would do such a thing. Berkeley should be precluded from any federal funding until you retract this ridiculous, misguided policy.

If it makes you feel any better, those same Marines you are saying are unwelcome have fought for your freedom to make stupid decisions.

The best part is those very Marines are fighting Islamic radicalism and the first people the Islamo-fascists would line up and decapitate are left-wing liberals like yourself.

I will never visit your town, frequent any business there or relate with anyone who does.

It's one more reason to move to Montana.

J. Frazier,

San Diego



Rich get richer

Dear Editor: Once again, the news reported that Exxon has "earned" record-breaking profits. Once again, its profits are higher than ever before, just as the profits last year, and the years before that broke those previous records. People are losing their homes and having to decide between food and fuel, while the richest of the rich are getting richer.

Our senators and members of the House Representatives can reverse this malicious distribution of wealth - this ongoing theft - that is ripping our society apart. They can end the tax breaks for oil companies and the very, very rich. They can enact laws against oil- and gas-price gouging. They can stop money from being siphoned to offshore hiding places like Dubai.

Our prosperous democracy is being broken up into a third-world oil plutocracy so long as Congress fails to act.

Bruce Joffe,

Piedmont