An apology is only necessary if the people the council represent call for one.
I like the idea of circulating a petition locally, it may prove whether the council's actions reflect the voters desires or not.

I don't think they even need to apologize. Things like this are always taken out of context. They were saying that the recruiting centers were uninvited and unwelcome, not the entire Marine Corps.

People need to seriously lighten up and stop injecting their own bitterness into everything they read or hear.

I think that they should apologize! It is extremley disrespectful to harass our military they have done nothing wrong but to d their jobs. I have alot of family in the military and family overseas and it annoys me that they are being so rude when half of my family is in Afghanistan fighting and risking their lives.

Why should they apologise?? If the people wanted it then they were within their bounds of representing the people so the military can suck it up!

they should apoliize becasue they are being rude. you can get things done with out disrespecting people when they are not doing anything wrong.

Most of the people of the city think the ad is ridiculous, so the city was probably doing what it's citizens wanted. Therefore no apology is needed. And really I feel like those kind of apologies are worthless anyway

"I feel like those kind of apologies are worthless anyway"

I think that says it all. I feel like an apology from Berkeley would be so only to appeal to the media, not because it is heartfelt, so they can keep it.

I don't think an apology would be sincere.

they need to apologize, their actions were so disrespectful, and clearly only reflected a SMALL minority of their constituents. why bother having a democratic process when the council's only going to reflect a small majority of voters whose views they agree with?

I don't think they need to apologize. Their issue was with the recruiters (and their practices, presumably), not the Marines themselves. Provided the council spoke for the city at large, they were just doing what they were elected to do.

at this point, their apology would be worthless because of their stubborn refusal, and it would just be insincere if they followed up. UGH so upsetting how disrespectful they were, as MMM said, "they can keep it" for all I care.

Citizen it was MORE then just a letter. They granted the pink whatever they want to call themselves parking spots in front of the recruiting office, and gave them permission to protest during the hours of 12-4 pm. And this DID NOT represent most of the residents. In fact many of the residents, especially the ones with stores in the area resented the fact that they did this, sighting freedom of speech for the military.

I would love all of your answers if the shoe was on the other foot. If some military group got in the faces of women who had abortions, and screamed in their faces and called them murderers. And they got special permission from the town to do it. You all would FREAK out!

To be clear, they were not harassing our military they just didn't want a recruitment center in their city. There is nothing wrong with that. I don't want my friends,family and neighbors enlisting either. It had nothing to do with not supporting the troops, it had everything to do with not wanting their citizens being recruited for a war (and subsequently dying for a war) they do not believe in. It is their right to act as a city and they voted for this to pass. You don't like it, then don't move there.

I lvie in the Bay Area and it blows my mind that people think it is okay to take away the citizens of Berkeley's voice because it isn't what some of you believe? This country is about freedom, if I remember correctly, and to take away Berkeley's right to speak their mind as a community seems extremely hypocritical to me.

I have friends who were at the protest, and there have been people on this site who went to the protest, I have been told my multiple sources that people with the pinks were coming across the street and screaming in the faces of vets and parents of the military and calling them baby killer a couple of people told me that the protesters spit on the vets. Speak all you want, protest all you want, but don't impede on other peoples freedom. It is peoples right to enlist if they want to. Who are you to block their entrance to join our military? And maybe they should remember who enables their freedom of speech.

, "it had everything to do with not wanting their citizens being recruited for a war (and subsequently dying for a war) they do not believe in."
Key word you used is THEY. Just because THEY don't believe in the war or fighting for their country does not mean that others feel the same way. If your community wants respect that reciprocate.

"This country is about freedom, if I remember correctly, and to take away Berkeley's right to speak their mind as a community seems extremely hypocritical to me."

I don't know. Seems to me the protesters seemed to be the hypocrites.

I do not care that they do not agree with the war what bothers me is that they are being disrespectful to the military. I have alot of family over sees my fiance is in Afghanistan and 2 of my brothers are in Iraq. so it annoys me that they are being so rude.

I am from a military family and the Bay Area -- having taken part in several demonstrations with Code Pink members, I have never, not one time ever, witnessed someone spit or use the term baby killer or otherwise attack service members. The reason being, many of those involved in protesting, Code Pink or not, are related to people who are serving or served at one time.

If your friends witnessed such a thing and recorded it or have some other form of proof to their story, there's an interest in the material.

chakra, I was watching the news when the story hit, and there was a Vet on their who almost broke down into tears, because she stated that people were infact calling him and his son baby killers. In all honesty I don't know if the people who went across the street to confront the other people protesting agains code pink were in fact code pink affliated, they could have been independent. I was not there, so I cannot state fact. I can state what I have seen on the news and what others have told me, like I said, not only from my friends but from people on this site.

I am all for protests, but peaceful protests and I don't find what they were doing peaceful as they were taking away others freedom.

The Council of Beserkly are ignorant. Sorry but in my mind that's a fact. And if I were a citizen of Beserkly I would be pretty ticked that my council would waste time on an issue like this. Are there no homeless people in Beserkly? are there not more pressing issue that the council of Beserkly could have addressed?

As for the military, I believe that this country's future depends on the strength of out military. So God Bless all of those who serve!

Thanks for clarifying, Cine.

@ Bella- What??? There is absolutely something wrong with their actions. Do you, in the Bay Area, want our military's protection? I'm willing to bet that you all do. Therefore, I can't see how you can possibly rationalize asking the military to leave the very land it protects. That's insane.
I was stationed in Monterey for a long time, and I traveled to many parts of California. To say I was treated disrespectfully by the locals would be an understatement.
As for this campaign, I appreciate that it brings to light the stupidity of this group, however I think the vast majority of people already know that this group is a bunch of insane, doped-up, morons. There's no need for the ad or an apology. Stupids will be stupids.

The council acted on behalf of the community. 'Nuff said.

"I would love all of your answers if the shoe was on the other foot. If some military group got in the faces of women who had abortions, and screamed in their faces and called them murderers. And they got special permission from the town to do it. You all would FREAK out!"

Wrong. I've said it repeatedly whenever people are making pleas for apologies, regardless. If someone is apologizing because of a request/backlash, then it's meaningless. I suppose it's possible someone might have said something without thinking, then in retrospect, truly changed her mind. But more often, it's the result of pressure, or appears to be anyway.

Why bother? Are you (you = anyone wanting the apology) suddenly going to love Berkeley if they give one? Probably not. It just seems like a pathetic attempt to try to control others.

And people do get in front of women who have abortions and scream in their faces and do it with the permission of the town.

Remedios, I actually think an apology is pointless. It would not be heartfelt, so the town can take one if they wanted to give it and shove it up their you know whats.

I bet if anything ever happened to that town they would all cry for the military to come and help, and then b*tch and complain that they took to long or something of the nature.

"And people do get in front of women who have abortions and scream in their faces and do it with the permission of the town."

And how many people find it wrong? Especially on this site. If there was an article about that topic, you can bet that the same people who are standing up for the rights of Berkley would not be standing up for the rights of the anti-abortion protesters.

I am simply making a point that people can be very one sided on this argument when it suites their politics.

I say pull the Marines out, and the Army, Navy, Air Force, and police, firemen and all other civil servants and then when the big one hits... SORRY!

I don't understand how anyone can say that this represents a minority of people in that area... these are elected officials are they not? So then wouldn't their views be supported by the majority?

Whatever. If it were up to me I'd just let it cede from the union and cave in on itself.

An apology is worthless though. The truth is that everyone knows what that town is famous for, so this wasn't surprising in the least.

What I would encourage though, is that if you're pissed about this, don't buy anything from there, don't travel there, don't support them in any sense.

And I do realize there are some very nice people who are rational who live there... for now.

"Whatever. If it were up to me I'd just let it cede from the union and cave in on itself."

Cabaker I want them to secede so badly. I would have a big party and you can come. The state is already bankrupt from their socialism. And I agree. If you don't want the military there then fine, but don't try to use them when you deem them necessary.

Oh and cabaker, Where the heck were you all day?

I was SHOPPING!

And it was FANATASTIC! Putting the Bush tax cuts to use.

oops, fantastic... sorry...

tax cuts = more money in my pocket = more money spent at sephora

that would be the transitive postulate

I have never bought anything from Sephora, but I love to look in the store! And you can never leave me alone all day again!

hahah! You have to buy from Sephora, its like eating chocolate cake... you know its bad, but its sooo good and by golly, you deserve it!

And you held your own really well! I'm very proud!

Mmmmm...Chocolate cake....

Thanks Cabaker! I was trying to make you proud!

"Whatever. If it were up to me I'd just let it cede from the union and cave in on itself."

Man, I've been saying that about Texas for years.

I was at the protest, and really disgusted with the behavior of the "peace protesters". My father had just returned from Iraq and was wearing an Operation Iraqi Freedom t-shirt and was called a baby killer and jumped and wrapped in a banner by a group of those toe-chewing morons, including one of the founders, Medea something or other.

I'm with cabaker, pull out the military and all federal funding. If they want their own republic to run into the ground they can have it.

And if anyone is interested in hearing exactly what the city council said, take a look at this video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dCXqYvJ0DaA

It's a little far from "just representing their voters" or not wanting recruiters there (which in and of itself is borderline retarded and SO anti-choice).

I want Texas to secede too! (I'd be on a plane first thing in the morning.)

Additionally, I believe if Texas seceded, you'd find more states in the South pulling out? (What's with all these people pulling out lately?)

Then you'd have a succession, one the North would not be able to stop this time.

Remedios we agree again! I would love it if Texas seceded! I be with 3M on that plane.

And 3M like always I agree, more southern states would follow suite. Then I think people should break in and steal the Constitution since the USA is not using it anymore!

Very awesome!

I'm in!

I don't believe the council was representing their constituency.
They should apologize, but it would be worthless.

Anyone who is opposed to recruiters is de facto opposed to the military. That's like loving cake and hating bakers.

I suggest we give Al Quaeda tickets directly into San Francisco airport. Then let them decide they're anti-Marine.

Can you let Northern California secede separately from Southern California? I think they're even crazier than us down here in L.A.