Hundreds of protestors at Berkeley, none at White House?

“The passed ordinances are far beyond the realm of civil politics," said David B. Norris of the group Veterans of Foreign Wars.
"It is one thing to oppose military operations in Iraq, but it is completely different to declare war on the men and women who faithfully serve the elected officials of this city. Our troops deserve our unwavering support for their dedication and commitment to our country."

Berkeley Mayor To Marines: 'Don't Expect An Apology'
Protesters Face Off At Berkeley City Hall Over Marine Flap

POSTED: 5:58 am PST February 12, 2008


BERKELEY, Calif. -- As hundreds of protesters on both sides of the Iraq War debate demonstrated in Berkeley Tuesday, the city's mayor told officials with the Marine recruiting office in town they should not expect an apology.



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"I think it's unwanted," said Berkeley mayor Tom Bates. "I think it stands (that) we didn't want them here and they came here. And (they are) unwelcome, you know we'd like them to leave voluntarily. So I don't think an apology is in order."

At first glance the statement appears to be a "flip flop" from the statement Bates made last week, when he issued an apology to family members of those serving in Iraq.


"We apologize for any offense to any families of anyone who may serve in Iraq. We want them to come home and be safe at home," Bates, a retired U.S. Army captain, said last week.

Last week's apology apparently had not been directed at officials at the Marine recruiting station.

Scores of activists have been pouring into the city over the last several days as the Berkley City Council prepared to consider rescinding a letter it drafted last month to the recruiting center telling Marines they were not welcome in the city. NBC11's Jodi Hernandez said Tuesday night's meeting was expected to be heated, with crowds growing by the hour.
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Hundreds of people both against the occupation of Iraq and the pro-war people spending hours standing in line, holding signs, screaming at each other, accusing each other of not supporting the troops, all because the City of Berkley doesn't want Marine recruiters there. I find it fascinating that all this talk about who supports the troops finds so much time to protest for or against the occupation of Iraq but they fail to find the time to do the same to protest the appalling treatment and lack of action the wounded have to endure.

Where are the protests when wounded veterans are pulled out of the hospital to be sent back to Iraq? Where are the protestors when they are being sent back with medication after they have already been diagnosed as wounded and unable to even work a peaceful job? Where are they when the disabled veterans claims sit in a pile over 650,000 deep on in an appeal mountain of over 140,000 deep? Where are they when families are losing their homes because a member of their family was deployed as a member of the National Guard so many times they lost their jobs and businesses? Where are they when the President dares to have his lawyer state in court the government does not owe the veterans mental health care of even timely care?

All of these people on both sides can show up and fight about if a city has a right to have recruiters there or not but they can't seem to be bothered to write a letter when the wounded already back home need their help. They can march down the streets of cities and towns protesting the occupation of Iraq or stand on the side walk shouting about how the others are against the troops all they want, but when you get right down to it, none of them are really there when it matters to the wounded that keep getting wounded while they fight over how to end it and who is the most patriotic among them. The real patriots are the men and women who put on the uniform and took an oath to serve this nation under the Constitution, not under a particular president. It is their lives being risked and if God's grace keeps them alive to return wounded, you'd think it would be of more meaning to them to know their wounds would be treated without delay, their bills would be paid as compensation for their wound and they would not have to fight for every tiny thing this nation truly owes them.

Until the occupation of Iraq ends and until the occupation of Afghanistan ends, there will be more wounded for many more years to come. We are already behind taking care of them. How do they expect the wounded veterans to survive between now and the time they get around to paying attention to them? Why can't both sides for once come together and prove where their hearts are and protest at the White House for them to be taken care of?

"It is one thing to oppose military operations in Iraq, but it is completely different to declare war on the men and women who faithfully serve the elected officials of this city. Our troops deserve our unwavering support for their dedication and commitment to our country." How does this sound to you now?