The Berkeley College Republicans organized Support the Troops Week, held the week of April 14, to show U.S. soldiers that their service and sacrifice is appreciated by those on the home front.
Bake Sale and BBQ
The week opened with a fundraiser to support the families of troops. On Monday, BCR members sold all kinds of baked goods, including brownies, cupcakes, Rice Krispies treats, and various cookies from their table on Sproul Plaza. The goods for sale had been baked by club members and donated for the cause. Some members of the club grilled hamburgers and hot dogs with all of the fixings, which were also sold to raise funds.
Starting at the bake sale, but available all week, was a large poster. People who supported the military wrote messages of thanks and encouragement to the troops. After the week concluded, the poster, with pictures of the week’s events added, was sent to the A-Million-Thanks Foundation. That organization sent it to the troops serving overseas.
Rally against Code Pink at Marine recruiting center
A few months ago, the Berkeley City Council declared military recruiters uninvited and unwelcome guests in Berkeley. The City Council also gave the anti-military group Code Pink a parking space in front of the Shattuck Marine recruiting center and waived the fee for a sound permit. Since these rulings a few months ago, the Berkeley College Republicans have led Wednesday counter-demonstrations against Code Pink and in support of the Marines and all the military branches. As part of Support the Troops Week, BCR continued this weekly activity.
A Code Pink woman said that protesters on her side support the military and the veterans. However, they have a big sign that reads, “No military predators in Berkeley.” When questioned about it, a spokesperson said the predators they were referring to were the military recruiters and not members of the military in general. BCR protesters said they did not believe this, as they had been to many Code Pink protests and never before heard Code Pink members explain that their attacks against the military were only directed toward the recruiters. Members of Code Pink also would sing their own versions of patriotic songs. They changed God Bless America to “God Save America.”
One of the more creative comments came from an old woman who said she was with Berkeley Fruits Against the War. Sporting her tie-dye shirt, she came over to talk to the pro-troop side. She explained the title of her group comes from some of its positions, including “lime-against the war” and “im-peach now.” The only common ground she could establish with BCR members was that the ’60s were over.
Colonel John Reitzell’s talk
On Thursday evening, the week’s events concluded with a speech by Colonel John Reitzell. His talk was titled, “Sacrifice. What makes them do it. America’s Armed Forces at war.” Reitzell’s appearance was made possible with support from the Young America’s Foundation.
The talk recounted some of the jihads that people subscribing to radical strains of Islam have waged throughout history. This framed the current struggle against radical Islam and the importance of finishing the job of eradicating it.
Reitzell spoke about the relationship between support for the war in Iraq and its effect on the morale of soldiers. He said that supporting the troops but opposing the war is like punching a soldier in the stomach and telling him that the punch is for his boss.
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