[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               SEMPER FI!

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, it's no big surprise to me that the peaceniks 
out in Berkeley, California don't know the first thing about peace, but 
their latest attack on the real proprietors of peace has stirred up a 
firestorm. Just in case you haven't heard, the city of Berkeley passed 
a resolution telling the local U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station 
that is was ``not welcome in the city and if recruiters choose to stay, 
they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.'' Mayor Tom Bates 
said, ``The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here 
and they should leave.'' The city of Berkeley has even issued a permit 
for the radical anti-military group ``Code Pink'' to use the parking 
spot once reserved for the Marine Recruiting Station. Code Pink has 
parked a panel truck displaying ``peace at any price'' type statements 
in front of the recruiting office.
  Well, let me remind Mr. Bates that he enjoys the rights and freedoms 
known only to Americans because the Marines are here. And as for me and 
the rest of the freedom loving Americans, we hope they never leave. 
These defenders of democracy deserve better than Berkeley's arrogant 
disapproval. Berkeley's deplorable anti-Marine city leaders must still 
have a 60's peacenik hippie mentality that world peace can occur by 
sitting around smoking dope and banging on the tambourine.
  Life in la-la land is all daisy chains and braids, but it's just not 
reality. Reality is that freedom doesn't come free. Twenty-four of 
America's finest from my 2nd Congressional District area in Texas have 
given their lives defending freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Seven of 
them were Marines. Their bravery, dedication, and patriotism will not 
be tarnished by the foolish words of a few. Their sacrifice will never 
be forgotten by their friends, their family and freedom-loving peoples 
throughout the world.
  Berkeley's latest onslaught of the Marines is just another attack in 
a long history on our country. It is against Federal law to willfully 
obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States. 
American taxpayer money should not be used to support those cities that 
break our laws. Berkeley should lose all Federal funding for their smug 
denouncement of the Marine Corps. Patriotic Americans should not 
subsidize cities that tell the Marines to ``get out of town.''
  Now, I am a fierce proponent of the First Amendment protecting 
freedom of speech. The city of Berkeley can bash the Marines in their 
resolutions, but freedom of speech is not free of consequences. And the 
consequences should be loss of Federal funds appropriated to the city.
  I believe that we must respect those that afforded us those rights 
and hold them in the highest esteem for their sacrifices. And like it 
or not, it is the U.S. military that has always been on the front lines 
to defend the liberties of all Americans, even the hippies in Berkeley.
  February 19th marks the 63rd anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. 
The month long battle against Imperial Japan resulted in 26,000 U.S. 
casualties, mostly young Marines. The quiet riverbank of the Potomac is 
home to the Iwo Jima Memorial. It is a solemn reminder that the Marines 
are ``always faithful'' to the United States of America. Joe Rosenthal 
took his famous photograph of five Marines and a Navy Corpsman hosting 
Old Glory above Mount Suribachi. Of the six flag-raisers in the 
Memorial, three were killed after the stars and stripes were raised 
above the volcano. One was Harlan Block from South Texas.
  The Marines go where others fear to tread, and the timid are not 
found. They fight for all American values, including the rights of 
people in Berkeley to say what they want. But the few--the noble few--
the proud--the Marines deserve the honor, respect, and thanks of a 
grateful Nation.
  Ronald Reagan best summed it up when he said, ``Some people spend an 
entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't 
have that problem.'' And as for the unwelcome Marines out in Berkeley: 
send 'em all to Texas! We'll have a parade, fly the flag and the high 
school band will play the Marine Hymn. Oooh Rah! Semper Fi!
  And that's just the way it is.