It’s no secret that San Francisco has a tumultuous relationship with the military. The notoriously left leaning city is no friend of the military since so many of the citizenry is anti-war and against all military engagement in general. I for one have no problem with that. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and different parts of our country lean more one way politically than an another. It’s when city officials impede on people’s first amendment rights that I carry an issue with.
This anti-military sentiment has not always been the case for the City by the Bay. One of America’s oldest and greatest port cities, San Francisco has exported and imported many a precious cargo throughout the years. None more valuable than American servicemen and women deployed to the Pacific Theater during the Second World War.
In fact, as you can see in the video below, San Francisco erupted as Japan surrendered and all hostilities came to an end. They even had a ticker-tape parade honoring all branches of the military, including Marines.
Since then attitudes have changed of course. I don’t expect cities like modern San Francisco to embrace organizations like the Marine Corp but it’s outright refusal to allow them to set-up recruitment stations and film on the streets is beyond me.
On September 11th, 2007, The United States Marine Corp was denied the right to film a commercial by city officials.
Again, I understand being against something. I also understand your right to protest the things that certain organization’s believe in. But don’t stop them from conducting business that is in their legal right. Even left leaning comedy shows understand that is going too far.
I am against abortion. I believe that one day abortion will be outlawed in our country. However, until that time, the federal government has ruled that states have the right to decide what is and isn’t legal as so far as abortion is concerned. That is why I am also against people who harass and try to impede abortion clinics. If you don’t like something, change the laws. Don’t press your opionion onto someone. You wouldn’t want them to do it to you.
At the end of the day, every time I see that U.S.M.C. commercial it brings a smile to my face. If it wasn’t for Marines, we wouldn’t live in a world where you can dissent against Marines. And because of that, no matter the outcome, the Marines have reached the same resolution on this issue like they have in countless battles.
They won.
Tony Hernandez 