Kowabunga

Every now and again, I traipse over to the SF Gate to see what is happening in my former stomping grounds. I was astounded by an opinion piece headlined "San Francisco Declares Itself a Military-Free Zone." The piece itself is fairly neutral, maybe even right leaning, merely pointing out the leftist agenda of the anti-war league in removing all things military from San Francisco.

The current endeavor is in the form of Proposition I, entitled College Not Combat, and seeks to ban all military recruiting at schools within San Francisco, despite that many of these schools are required to allow such recruiting in order to receive Federal money.

The proposition uses code terms like "economic draft" to explain why people of low and middle income choose to enlist, in order to gain job skills. I fell into this category when I chose to serve my country. Was I looking develop job skills so as to improve my life? Yes, however, I also wanted to serve (and always did want to serve), so, what is wrong with choosing the military as a means to develop job skills? There are many fields where the best training for success comes from the military, specifically, anything relating to aviation. The military is also a great place to develop many other skills, be it computers, or law enforcement, not to mention a strong focus on leadership.

The anti-military zealots are pushing this proposition hate the military and all it stands for and want to keep people who are poor from being able to pursue options that will help lift them out of poverty, thus denying them opportunities.

The ban is not likely to succeed, even if the propostion carries, as there is too much Federal money involved, and a school choosing to ban military recruiting will need to find other means to make up for the lost revenue. In the case of public schools, raising property taxes would be necessary to make up the shortfall; colleges and universities will need to raise tuition. Either way, the poor and middle class will continue to be shut out of receiving the education they need, acerbating the myth of an "economic draft."

The entire piece itself goes on to other anti-military posturing taking place in SF, and the writer is surprisingly fair in her analysis. Okay, surprising as it is someone in SF writing the piece. However, Cinnamon Stillwell gets it right.

Also touched on is the refusal to dock the U.S.S. Iowa as a monument; it is now in Stockton. Changing the name of Army Street to Caesar Chavez. Okay, I still refer to it as Army Street. Attempting to get the Summer Jam to end Navy sponsorship. And ending the age-old celebration of Fleet Week, which generates millions of dollars in revenues in San Francisco.

A great piece and well worth the read.