Journal Entry XVI

Journal Entry 16: Berkeley Article

The New York Times recently ran an article detailing the ongoing protests over at the Marine recruiting center at the Berkeley campus. Code Pink, a feminist anti-war group, has been blocking access to the center and calling for the Marines to be ejected from Berkeley. Things came to a head when the City Council made a resolution calling for the Marines to leave, which coincided with an upsurge in protesting.

The resolution was eventually rescinded and apologized for, but news of the event went all over the country. Personally, I was very frustrated by the actions of the Code Pink group, which I see as being counter-productive to the peace movement as a whole. Though this gets more into public relations than hard journalism, I’d like to outline my problems with their campaign.

1. Protest to the people who are actually capable of effecting change. The street recruiter and his civilian secretary aren't capable of changing DOD policy or bringing the troops home. Go talk to a Congressional representative or senator if you want to advocate change; find a corporate sponsor to fund a lobbyist. There are thousands of better people to protest to than a campus NCO recruiter.

2. Actually get involved with politics, meaning run / support someone running for state office. Far too many people seem willing to spend a few hours yelling about government fascists or whatever, but balk at actually going into politics. Don't just talk. Act.

3. Seek public support in realistic ways. Find common ground with people in order to show them that you are attempting to achieve similar goals that are both good and achievable. The only difference between the anti-war movement and the military is perspective and responsibility, neither really wants to be in Iraq and neither has the ability to stop it by themselves.

4. Recognize the full implications of the policy changes you advocate. If you want to disband the military, then how is the state supposed to defend itself against natural disasters, domestic unrest or foreign invasion? If you want an isolationist policy, what should the state do when the next Kuwait / Rwanda / Somalia / Darfur occurs? How will the economy be affected, and how will the poor be affected? What are the full risks and potential benefits of these decisions, and how likely are they to occur?

5. Find a way to communicate your opinions in ways that are neither insulting nor sloganistic. The left is filled with far too many people who love to throw down these ridiculous back-handed superior comments instead of a real message. They don't even attempt any real dialogue, because they are too busy pigeonholing their target into an imaginary corner where any disagreement implies they support fascism or racism, and usually both.