Anti-military bigotry/End of JROTC in San Fran

[Loadsmasher]

Boston Globe story that gives me another great reason to NEVER move to San Francisco.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/edi...itary_bigotry/

(The Mark Twain quote at the beginning is priceless.)

Text follows:


JEFF JACOBY
Antimilitary bigotry
By Jeff Jacoby, Globe Columnist | November 19, 2006

"IN THE FIRST place God made idiots," observed Mark Twain. "This was for practice. Then he made school boards." The San Francisco Board of Education's 4-2 vote last week to abolish the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, which has been active in the city's high schools for 90 years, tends to support his view.

Why is JROTC being done away with? It isn't for lack of interest. More than 1,600 San Francisco students currently take part in its voluntary activities. "Kids love this program as if it's family," notes the San Francisco Chronicle. It is "a program that students and their parents wholeheartedly support."

Finances aren't the problem either. Operating JROTC costs the city less than $1 million out of an annual school budget of $356 million.

Nor is the problem bad management. The Chronicle reports that "no one has offered an alternative as coherent and well-run as JROTC."

Safety? Also not a problem. Though cadets have uniforms, they carry no weapons; the nonviolent programs emphasize leadership, self-discipline, citizenship, and teamwork. "This is where the kids feel safe," says one JROTC instructor, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Powell.

And the problem certainly isn't an absence of diversity. In a story on JROTC cadets at Galileo High School, Chronicle reporter Jill Tucker writes: "These students are 4-foot-10 to 6-foot-4. Athletic and disabled. College-bound and barely graduating. Gay and straight. White, black, and brown. Some leave school for large homes with ocean views. Others board buses for Bayview-Hunters Point." Several of the students come from immigrant families. At least one is autistic.

So what is the problem with JROTC? There isn't one. The problem is with the anti military bigotry of the school board majority and the "peace" activists who lobbied against the program on the grounds that San Francisco's schools should not be sullied by an association with the US armed forces.

"We don't want the military ruining our civilian institutions," said Sandra Schwartz of the American Friends Service Committee, a far-left pacifist organization that routinely condemns American foreign policy and opposes JROTC nationwide. "In a healthy democracy . . . you contain the military." Board member Dan Kelly, who voted with the majority, called JROTC "basically a branding program or a recruiting program for the military." In fact, it is nothing of the kind: The great majority of cadets do not end up serving in the military.

But then, facts tend not to matter to smug ideologues like Schwartz and Kelly, who are free to parade their contempt for the military because they live in a nation that affords such freedom even to idiots and ingrates. It never seems to occur to them that the liberties and security they take for granted would vanish in a heartbeat if it weren't for the young men and women who do choose to wear the uniform, willingly risking life and limb in service to their country.

According to The Chronicle, scores of JROTC students were on hand when the school board met last week; many of them burst into tears after the vote. Sad to say, they should probably have seen this coming. For in its trendy anti military animus, the school board was hardly breaking new ground.

In 1995, San Francisco's board of supervisors wiped the city's famous Army Street from the map, renaming it Cesar Chavez Street. Last year, city supervisors refused to allow the retired USS Iowa, a historic World War II battleship, to be docked in the Port of San Francisco. Like the school board vote, the spurning of the Iowa was intended as a slap at the US military and the foreign policy it supports. Supervisor Chris Daly explained his vote against accepting the battleship by announcing: "I am not proud of the history of the United States of America since the 1940s."

In 2005, San Francisco voters handily approved Measure I, a nonbinding ballot question dubbed "College Not Combat," which called for the exclusion of military recruiters from public high schools and colleges. The prevailing political attitude was summed up in a Weekly Standard headline: "San Francisco to Army: Drop Dead."

Not everyone feels that way. To his credit, Mayor Gavin Newsom excoriated the school board last week for "disrespecting the sacrifice of men and women in uniform" and warned that killing JROTC would only accelerate the flight of city residents from the public schools. "You think this is going to help keep families in San Francisco?" he asked. "No. It's going to hurt."

Going to? For 1,600 kids now faced with the death of a program that infused their lives with purpose, camaraderie, and self-respect, the hurt has already begun.

Jeff Jacoby's e-mail address is jacoby@globe.com.

[x SF med]

Holy Shit! The left-wing commie pinko, lets hand the country over to phrance contingent seems to be winning in San Francisco.

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Loadsmasher

"We don't want the military ruining our civilian institutions," said Sandra Schwartz of the American Friends Service Committee, a far-left pacifist organization that routinely condemns American foreign policy and opposes JROTC nationwide.

Oh you mean the same Military that protects those civilian institutions and our entire Country and her interests?

[Monsoon65]

Originally Posted by Gypsy

Oh you mean the same Military that protects those civilian institutions and our entire Country and her interests?

It's no use. You can talk to these people until you're blue in the face and they aren't going to listen. They have their own ideas about the military and government, not knowing they'll be the first put up against the wall after an invasion.

[Gypsy]

True that. It's like hitting your head against the garage door over and over and over...all you get is a headache.

[hoot72]

Originally Posted by Loadsmasher

"We don't want the military ruining our civilian institutions," said Sandra Schwartz of the American Friends Service Committee, a far-left pacifist organization that routinely condemns American foreign policy and opposes JROTC nationwide. "In a healthy democracy . . . you contain the military." Board member Dan Kelly, who voted with the majority, called JROTC "basically a branding program or a recruiting program for the military." In fact, it is nothing of the kind: The great majority of cadets do not end up serving in the military.

I think Sandra Schwartz is in the minority.

If she is of the opinion that the military "ruins" civilian institutions, why not also ban gay and lesbian associations on campus in high schools and universities. I am of the opinion these sorts of associations ruins civilian institutions and encourages many unacceptable practices, if we are to base our moral values on the bible and quran.

If the JROTC is a "branding" of sorts for the military to recruit young men and women, couldnt you say the same about some frat houses on campus? Dont some frat houses also encourage immoral activities and immoral development of characters and personal development?

[incommin]

Could we stop sending tax dollars there, move all military related activities away, and then give it (CA) back to Mexico?

Jim

[dennisw]

then give it (CA) back to Mexico

Let's make that Northern California. Up North is beautiful, but the people are from another planet. I'm convinced part of it's due to all the dot com and high tech money. They believe the old rules don't apply anymore.

Anyway, give me a heads up before you give the entire state back. I need time to pack my dogs.

[Simple Simon]

My cousin currently resides in San Fran and he confirms the blantant anti- military sentiments of the majority of the city. Sad really, but I've come to expect nothing less from that city. Bunch of heathens and hippies left over from the 60's run the place.

[Mack]

Makes me sad to think I was born and raised in San Francisco. In high school, I'd listen to the drill teams/marching squads practice outside during Math class and thought it would be cool to be out there with them.

Both my parents worked for the San Francisco Unified School District, my old man for 40+ years, and it makes me sick to know the depth of hatred the School Board has toward the military. I guess all I can say is, "Fuck 'Em all, if that's how they feel." I'm on my way to the Q anyway...

[soldierdoc_2005]

The PRC (Peoples Republic of California)!

We gotta get better with our socio-political-militaristic coup attempts.

[JGarcia]

Those of you suggesting we give California back to Mexico can shove up your you know what. Many times on the board people will criticise others for running off at the mouth without checking facts.

Here is something you Non-Californians can chew on, if you had a state of the length of California on the East Coast, it would strech from Jacksonville, Florida all the way to New Jersey. You gonna tell me that the people in Jacksonville, Florida are the same as the people in New Jersey? Its the same in California.

Please go to the USA today map of Red/Blue States by county, take a look at California. How many red counties vs. blue counties are there? Is it possible that if you had a state on the East Coast the same size as ours you would be held hostage to your liberal masters in the big cities just as we are, we could call your state "Maryland." We could then say, "Oh, those liberal Marylanders!" lumping those of you in North Carolina and Georgia with those in Boston as being one and the same.

And as far as those people in "Northern California." What exactly is Northern California to you? Is it San Fransicko? A city about 336 miles from the Northern border? California is about 770 miles long and 250 miles wide. Its not all beaches and freeways and dope smoking hippies. Its 14K foot high mountain ranges covered in snow, its huge cattle ranches and vast uninhabited lands too. Or are you so simple that you believe everything you see on TV and hear in the news? After all the media does such a good job of telling it like it is in the war on terror, certainly they can accurately depict California?

Most of these liberals we have, especially the more notorious ones, are not Californians by birth, they're from your neck of the woods. Pelosi is a product of some political family back east. Over the last 30 years we've been inundated with New York Liberals, and illegal aliens the Gov't is unwilling to do anything about. If there was a way we could send them back, God hasn't allowed us to yet.

Please take a look at the red state by counties map! Those of us Northern Californians really take offence to being lumped into the same group of people as those in San Franfreako and Bezerkly - which are far south of us. Learn some California geography before you go lumping us all in the same pot.

My take on California is this. Those Men of yesteryear with enough balls, fortitude and guts to try and leave the confines of an established civilized country out east, gathered up their families and crossed a country full of indians, hard weather and rough ground. Many perished along the way, those hearty souls who actually made it here, built California while your ancestors stayed in their comfortable abodes in the cities and bergs out east, earning dividens speculating about the success or failure of the hearty adventurous agrarian souls that would build California. Now that we are the 7th largest economy in the WORLD, where would you be without us? You backwards effeminate easterners can put that in your pipe and smoke it. We Californians don't go on blustering about our greatness, we don't boast of our accomplishments, our wealth, etc. Perhaps there is a futile secret hope among whats left of us natives that if we remain quiet, no more of your rejects will inhabit our cities or teach at our universities.

San Francisco was once a great city. My Grandfather grew up there, the stories he told us, the way he loved that city, my great grandparents are buried there. It was always an exciting place, especially watching the 4th of July fireworks over the bay - freezing my butt off in July, or growing up watching the Niners playing at the 'Stick eventually stacking up superbowl trophies. Warm October days. Its too bad that its become what it is today. A great shame. This mold, or pox on the city wasn't born here. You've got us all wrong. California Republic. http://www.bearflagleague.com/ http://www.californiaconservative.org/ http://www.californiaconservative.or...the-rotc-vote/

"As California goes, So goes the nation."
If you think you can look at us and say that we've got problems, be ready because our problems will soon be your problems, it happens in California first and the rest of you soon follow suit. Here are some things to think about:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1722561/posts
http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=222

[x SF med]

NG-
Whoa, buddy. The majority of the news/ press coming out of California reinforces the views of those of us who do not live in the State. As a rebuttal - NY State for the most part is less densely populated than NC... but what do you hear about? NYC and its immediate environs - another bit of odd news, it's closer to drive to Montreal from NYC than it is to drive to Buffalo. The same thing you say about CA is true of NY - by area it's not much smaller than CA, but most of the news comes out of the NYC area...

Have you been personally attacked by any members of the board? I don't think so. Have the policies of the ruling minority of the densely packed urban areas of your state been attacked, yes, for good reason. CA has some of the most restrictive laws on businesses, some of the highest taxes, and some of the most vocal liberals in the nation. ther has been no adhominem attack, but an attack on the policies of the goernment of the state, and inane, psycobabbling politicians putting absurd policies into place.

You accuse us of shipping you our liberal noisemakers, our rejects (I think that's your term). I believe your vocal liberals from further south in the state attract them, as does the promise of the balmy weather from San Francisco south. the notoriously liberal communities in the state attract those who are looking for the 'good life', the promise of beautiful women, welfare, and the ability to espouse non-traditional ideologies. The hollywood hype has attracted them, the Bezerkley crowd, the San Francisco free love ideas of the 60's still attract the crazies.

The fact that there is a strong economy is going to attract those greedy and morally weak individuals you blame on the East Coast. The political climate in CA attracts them, the ability to influence other weak people attracts them - it happens in NY too, we got Shrillary didn't we? NJ got Menendez, right? CT has Lieberman.

We on this board attack the idiocy of these people and states - suck it up, get over it, grow a pair. If the liberal policies bother you, do something to change them - don't blame them on states 2000 miles away.

A silent majority allowed the Nazis to take power, allowed the soviets to take power, allowed the Spanish and Italian Fascists to take power. Oh, yeah - in all of those cases, part of the ruling minority were imported from other places, shot off their big mouths and convinced people to follow them.

I live in a politically screwed up state too, I laugh at the idiots, and cry into my beer over their policies too. But I vote to change things.

[soldierdoc_2005]

I don't wish to pile onont you NG, especially since x_sf_med did a pretty good job replying, but the effects of NoCal DO reach beyond the Limo-liberals and the small are known as San Francisco.

There is a little thing called the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (Federal Court) that is located in San Francisco. The 9th Circuit has the dubious honor of being the most overturned Circuit Court by the Supreme Court of any in the Nation.

See the results here:

http://www.centerforindividualfreedo...ary_of_9th.htm

The 9th covers the following States:

CA, AZ, NV, OR, ID, WA, and MT.

Map here:

http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/

In land mass alone, that looks to be about 33% of the lower 48. So, the effect of the not-so-isolated San Francisco mentality is felt over quite a huge area via the 9th. Remember too, that vastly more cases are settled at the appelate court level than the Supreme Court, as the Supreme Court chooses the cases it takes on.

As a resident of AZ, I shudder everytime the 9th hands down another of its "let's take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance" rulings.

[lksteve]

big state...lotta weird laws...but NG is right...i've spent quite a bit of time in the Northern part of the state surveying of late...turning a big cattle ranch in Alturas into a not-so big cattle ranch (it's not being subdivided, but the majority of it is being sold with the owner keeping a small 200 acre piece for himself...)

i spend a good deal of time working around Susanville, go to SFA Chapter meetings in Redding and work with my company's Chico office a good deal...that part of the state seems okay...i'd say anything half an hour north of I80 is part of the US...anything south of I80 but east of the Sierra Crest that doesn't have a nearby ski resort is okay...anything near Lake Tahoe is bizarre and i avoid the rest of the state like the plague...

and time spent in Stockton is not counted against your life if you leave immediately...

don't get me started on Lodi...