Asking for trouble

I knew the folks in Berkeley, Calif., have a reputation as liberals, but this strikes me as going, like, way, way, way, too far:

City of Berkeley, Marine Corps facing off

The city council told U.S. Marine Corps recuiters they're not welcome.

Excuse me?

It does not speak well of our democracy when people who clamor for freedom when it concerns their own rights are so ready to crush those of others.

I don't care what your position is on the war, or whether you want your kid to sign up for the military. The armed forces have just as much right—I would go so far as to say more of a right—to open an office as anyone else.

I found out about this when Rep. Tom Feeney's office issued a press release about it.

This afternoon, Feeney and Representatives Louie Gohmert and Sam Johnson of Texas will introduce the Military Freedom Act, which would "deny Federal funds for any state, city, county, or other political subdivision of a state that prohibits or unduly restricts the establishment or operation of a military recruiting office."

Feeney says, "I was shocked and outraged to hear of Berkeley's decision to label the Marine Corps Recruiting Station as 'uninvited and unwelcome intruders.' This defamation is unacceptable and will not go without consequence."

The release concludes with this: "Feeney is also a sponsor of the Semper Fi Act (H.R. 5222) to rescind funding for the City of Berkeley, CA and transfer those funds to the Marines. He has also signed a letter to the President asking for the immediate rescission of funds appropriated for the City of Berkeley in the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008."

Go, Tom.

As for you, Dear Reader, go to the House Web site, click on "Write your Representative," and let your Representative know where you stand on this issue.

As for me, I think the dudes in Berkeley need to remember these words from George Orwell, which Sherlock has thoughtfully put on a T-shirt:

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."