That article is from today! I don't always read the Times-Standard in the morning. I was contacted about Wesley's event well before today. Like I said, I wish someone had contacted me about the other event. I certainly would have attended that one instead.
So... from now on, Hank, I'm putting you in charge of these things. The district doesn't provide me with a secretary, so you can help me out instead. Please contact me every time there is an event that you think I need to know about. Thanks.
Unfortunately I didn't get around to reading your Chesbro post until today (believe it or not, I don't usually read this blog - I only read it yesterday because Monica mentioned that you wrote something about me).
Had I known about the summit, I certainly would have chosen to go to that instead. I never saw anything in the local papers about it, I never got any emails about it, and nobody from the school district ever told me anything about it. Maybe they sent a letter and I just missed it, but it seems like someone should have called or emailed me. It's unfortunate, because I agree with you that it was a lot more important than what I went to.
I wish you wouldn't make assumptions about my priorities. I know you like to sensationalize everything, but sometimes you don't have the entire story. By the way, the sign says "protecting public safety."
The Peace Corps doesn't send people to die. If protecting MINORS is "Orwellian," then we should allow cigarette companies to advertise near schools. And we should let the porn industry recruit for employees on our campuses.
Banning all recruiters would create first amendment problems. Banning recruitment activities directed at young people makes sense and, in a way, there is already a precedent since our society protects minors in many other ways.
I'm supporting it.
Hank - thanks for making the correction. And I'm sorry if I seemed to come down a little hard on you for the mistake, but I think it's important for people to consider this issue apart from whatever they think about Dave Meserve. There are valid reasons for this kind of proposal. It should be seriously considered.
The difference between banning all recruitment and banning the recruitment of minors is a big one. I would not support a ban on all recruitment. If that's what this was, I would reject it. I-m not anti-military (I have even considered joining the Coast Guard), but I am against targeting minors.
Like I said, I'm going to need to consider this a little more. However, I will tell you that I am inclined to support it. Not only do recruiters target young people, they target young people from poor backgrounds who are looking for money to go to college. It's not right.
The military is not just like any other job. It is a service to our country that involves great risks. If adults want to enlist, that's their choice. High school students should be able to focus on their studies without being bothered by such things.
For now, that's all the insight that I can offer.
Hello? You're paging me? Why? To correct you? You're in luck, I'd be happy to. You wrote...
Former Arcata City Councilmember Dave Meserve has written up a citizen’s initiative that would completely ban all military recruiting within the Arcata city limits.
This statement is not true. Anybody who has actually read the proposal knows that it only bans the recruitment of people under the age of 18. Right or wrong, that's what it does. To characterize it the way you have is misleading.
I got the press release email from Dave last night. It went out to a lot of people. I'm assuming you got the same email and just didn't read it carefully because you were more interested in attacking Dave than understanding what he's trying to do.
I'm not taking a public position on this yet, because I want to take some time to consider all of the pros and cons. That being said, I do think it's important to understand what the proposed ordinance will actually do.
According to the email I got "Its main premise is that military recruiting is a threat to youth, and that those who are considered too young to vote are also too young to be urged to enlist in the military."
Say what you will about that, but it's entirely different than your characterization. This ordinance does not ban all military recruitment. It only bans recruitment activities directed toward minors.
Re: “No, Really, Adams”
As someone on the Norman Solomon campaign staff, I generally don't engage in these kinds of online discussions. However, in this case I feel it is necessary to set the record straight. First, Norman Solomon has been endorsed by AFSCME California. This is a fact. You may want to check with local delegates who attended the AFSCME California PEOPLE Conference last month. Additionally, the Solomon campaign just had its best fundraising quarter yet. Again, this is a fact. Details will be posted on the Federal Election Commission website in mid-April.