As Berkeley Goes, So Goes California?: Kudos to the Contra Costa Times
In its October 18 story on Code Pink v. Move America Forward, the Contra Costa Times, a rare example of quality journalism, at least reported on the real issue: the military recruiting crisis facing our nation.The Times included in its article Department of Defense statistics that 22 Berkeley residents joined the military in FY-2001, compared with 15 in FY-2006. [Note: It is highly unlikely that such stats have anything to do with the mission of the USMC Officer Selection Office at 64 Shattuck Square.]
Similarly, 23,503 Californians enlisted in FY-2001 - the highest in the nation. In FY-2006, 2,400 fewer Californians did so and California slipped to second place behind Texas. Does that mean that Code Pink, and the Counter-Recruitment Movement, are winning, at least in California?
OYE Comment:
At least one media company is paying attention to the overall Mission. We thank the Contra Costa Times for original reporting directly related to our topic.
Photo tip to Oakland Tribune.
posted by OYE @ 10/24/2007 07:00:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Some Berkeley people go too F-ing far in their anti-war protests. These people are the types that would spit in the faces of soldiers returning from Vietnam and call them "baby killers."
I actually stumbled into this protest while on business that day. The police had to separate the two parties when they began to get nose-nose with each other.
The pro-war, Move America Forward faction was mostly older leather wearing, harley riders. Most defiantly beyond the 41 year age limit to enlist.
anonymous (27 October, 2007 10:16)-
Thanks very much for your on-topic, eyewitness report.
A significant proportion of older leather wearing, harley riders in America are veterans, who deserve respect for their service to our country.
Veterans over 41 can choose to re-enlist if their current age is less than 42+how long they served. In other words, previous military service doesn't count in determining maximum chronological age: Just subtract it from current age and if that number is 41-or-under (i.e., less than 42), then they're eligible to serve again, if they volunteer and are otherwise qualified.
Operation Yellow Elephant has made a conscious decision not to Ask The Question of veterans, even if they are technically eligible as described above.
Why?
They've already done their part.
In a country of c. 300 million, isn't it someone else's turn?
I think recently, a 39-yr old Army Private was KIA.
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