Nov. 17 Recuiter Center Counter Protest, Silver Spring, MD AFTER ACTION REPORT

Trooprally | Nov. 24,2005 | [Mr] Trooprally

[trooprally]

Down in Silver Spring, MD, in front of the local Recruiters Center, Protest Warriors and FReepers joined forces against Student and Youth Coalition and The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance. Our numbers matched theirs, 27 to 27. Our side included 8 D.C. FReepers, the rest were local Protest Warriors and out-of-towners from all over the country. I believe the out-of-towners were attending a conference at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. where VP Cheney spoke the night before. They arrived by Metro train from NO. Virginia and walked 4 blocks to help support us. Thursday was the coldest night so far this fall (wind chill close to freezing) but we prevailed.

There was "some" shoving and name calling with bull horns. It's a shame that the D.C. FReepers can't use them on Fridays, but being in front of WR, it is impossible. The Protest Warriors out sang, out shouted and just out did the protestors. Nothing they tried was not unanswered by us, but better. The lefties were throughly stymied!! Every thing started at 5 PM and was to end a 7 PM, but the lefties left at 6:45 PM, after taking the American flags from their cardboard coffins, balling them up and throwing them in the back of their cars in disgust because we rained on their parade. (We have it on tape!!. We'll try to get it up on this thread). I have never seen such a disgrace to our Troops and our country.

It was Great when a recruiter came out running and gave Takoma the Army Flag. Takoma gave the flag to the Protest Warriors and they began running all around the lefties with it. Dustin10thmountian took recruitment flyers, given to him by the recuiters, and placed them on some of the antiwar's cars. Too funny. All in all we beat them down. Luke or "Wuke", was talking into a recorder and Takoma made fun of his speech. She talked like Barbara Wawa. He stopped and walked away. Then it was time for the protestors to leave. We followed the protestors when they were leaving, taunting them for about half a block, singing "NA NA NA NA, HA HA HA, Gooood Bye" (Hope you get the song). They left with their tails between their legs. It was LOL funny to watch.

And don't forget the Protest Warrior's 7 foot, bright yellow chicken!!!! He had a sign taped to him saying "Chickens for Peace".

Takoma was her gracious self and brought Coffee and Hot Chocolate. Boy, everyone was grateful for that. It was a good night even with all the wind and cold ripping right through you.

Takoma also found the lefties web site. It is funny to read their version of our harassment, for a minute. <->http://peacecenter.blogspot.com<->

D.C. Freepers in attendance: [Mr & Mrs] Trooprally, tgslTakoma, son of tgalTakoma, iraqikurd, dustin10thmountain, Oscar from Walter Reed, and a WR FReeper with an Army shirt, hope she indentifies herself.

The D.C. FReepers want to Thank Thunder90 and the Protest Warriors for alerting us of their counter protest and providing us with a good time. You are definitely a bunch of take no prisoners, confrontational group. Our hats are off to you all!

Here are some of the Pictures below:

TgslTakoma took this Pictures: <->http://community.webshots.com/album/508903389xTCedd<->

Mr Trooprally took these Pictures: <->http://community.webshots.com/user/kingsly13<->

[trooprally]

D**M, my links didn't come through. Sorry

[trooprally]

ping

[trooprally]

Try this post.

<->http://peacecenter.blogspot.com<->

TgslTakoma took this Pictures:
<->http://community.webshots.com/album/508903389xTCedd<->

Mr Trooprally took these Pictures:
<->http://community.webshots.com/user/kingsly13<->

[Minnesocold]

GREAT WORK! Loved the chicken costume.

[Hoodlum91]

Great Job again guys!

I can't wait to be back in the field with everyone!

[Alexander Rubin]

Great work! ;) Keep us posted on further exploits!

[Landry Fan]

Wish I could have been there.

[PleaDeal]

Excellent report and pics!

Who had the "Nuke the Moon" sign? Musta been an IMAO fan!

[teeman8r]

>wpcawards@yahoo.com<

the washington peace center is looking for nominations for the person who has done the most to bring peace to the world this past year... i think GWBush has done a tremendous job in bringing world peace to the middle east...

i wonder if they will even read the nominations.

teeman

[Just A Nobody]

Wish I could have been there.

Me too!!! Great job all!

[trooprally]

Your right about nominating GWB, but like the U.N., nothing to help the real peacekeepers.

[trooprally]

You know both of you were there in spirit!! Just like this Friday when we're not at WR.

For Friday, someone needs to make a sign "403 to 3 voted to stay in Iraq". That should piss off the Code Pink people.

Forgot to mention, HAPPY THANKSGIVING all FReepers and troop supporters from [Mr & Mrs] T (gotta love this moniker).

[Just A Nobody]

Great sign idea!!

Whaddaya mean you won't be there Friday? You'll have a house full of people to add to the ranks.

[trooprally]

It was one of the Protest Warriors. The picture is post protest, after the antiwar group left. Wish you all could have seen when they left. Our group chanting after them for half a block in Victory, making them feel like cr*p. Made that cold evening even more worth while.

[trooprally]

What are you doing up??? Our excuse is that we are getting ready to leave. In fact we are behind schedule. We'll be down at Camp Lejeune/Cherry Point visiting family. Talk to you later today.

[Mr] T

[Just A Nobody]

I'm always up!

I must have remembered wrong - I thought you were doing Thanksgiving at home with the whole gang.

Have a safe trip and a Happy Thanksgiving!

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Thanks for the report. Nothing worse than ruining someone's protest on a cold night. Well done to the three groups

[BufordP]

I looked through all the pics but I didn't see the "How about rooting for us for a change..." sign. Where's it at?

[tgslTakoma]

Thanks for writing the report, (Mr.) Trooprally. The lively group of clean, well-dressed young men and women who participated in the counterprotest on Thursday evening were from the Leadership Institute. The kids (I call 'em kids, but they are really young adults) were in town from all over the country to attend training seminars at the Leadership Institute; and Freeper bstein80 had alerted them to the sad-sack leftist protest. Thank you, bstein80!

They were great - full of energy, good humor and some hard-hitting commentary and chants that often left the hate-America group speechless. I had to think, as I watched the kids on our side at work, that some of these guys and gals will be running our country in not too many years; and we'll be in good hands, when they are leaders.

My son took some fantastic video footage; I just have to figure out how to edit it down to clip-size and find a way to host it somewhere. Some of what he filmed will outrage those of us who love our country.

I'll add more thoughts later... on the road today...

[tgslTakoma]

(Mrs.) trooprally - I just took a look at your photos... This is the guy who came swishing up to me as I was silently videotaping their little demonstration, and he shoved me and kept hitting me with his sign - all on tape.

That's why we say they aren't peaceful at all. Thanks for catching his face on film. Now I can identify my gender-conflicted attacker.

[tgslTakoma]

We'll save a spot for you.

[tgslTakoma]

Your place is also saved...

[Jet Jaguar]

Article Published: Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Opinion

Columnist biased

Nov. 13, 2005

To the editor:

I don't often write, but sometimes some folks need to be challenged. In this instance it is Ms. Koponen and her article this Sunday (Nov. 13) about military access to schools. Her article was reasonable, up until the end. While I agree that any visits to school, be they military, college or business recruiters, need to be structured and not take away from the education process, we cannot allow administrators to exclude the military. Her comment " ... many other, more positive, opportunities to serve one's country and fellow man" strikes a raw nerve.

For her information, there is no higher calling than serving one's country in uniform. In case she missed it, Friday was Veterans Day. It's the day we set aside to honor all who wore the uniform, and the many who died, to defend her right to trivialize their service.

So, thank you, Ms. Koponen, for your article. I will make every effort to attend the school board policy meetings, assuming they are announced to the general public, to make sure opinions like yours are not the only ones heard.

Cliff Seibel

North Pole

Koponen column

Nov. 13, 2005

To the editor:

Among other things, Heather Koponen writes in her Sunday column that "there are many other, more positive, opportunities to serve one's country and fellow man."

I'm curious what is more positive than serving in our armed forces. It teaches our youth how to be honorable men and women. It teaches responsibility, faith and self-reliance. The military does not "lie" or offer untruths to recruit "naive" kids. Calling them "naive" is astounding in a society where these same students are not considered too uninformed for premarital sex, abortions or how to place a condom on a banana. Why is it that students wishing to join our armed forces suddenly are "misinformed"?

As for the military offering games ("Army") that "desensitize" our youth to killing, I ask what media this lady is exposed to on a daily basis. From what I see on the television, in stores, in books, music and video games, and yes, even in some of our school curriculum, our students are "desensitized" almost to the point where I as a parent am terrified as they are exposed to drug use, sex in all forms (thank you Bill Clinton), alcohol use, murder, rape and any number of activities that I find more reprehensible than defending our great country.

Disagreement with a war does not in any way cast a shadow on our military, those who are serving or those that recruit. I ask all of these questions as the wife of a sergeant currently serving in Iraq. I am well aware of the opportunities, benefits and yes, drawbacks of life in the military, and I am only a wife. I wasn't recruited. My children and I miss my husband every day, but we know what he is doing is absolutely honorable, just like it was when he knowingly and with full consent joined the armed forces.

Allow the recruiters in our school. I would rather have them there than a bunch of anti-war activists that spout about "more positive" activities to serve our nation, while at the same time being unable to name those activities.

Dana VanDam

Fairbanks

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7253~3131969,00.html

[tgslTakoma]

That was a young guy from LI who I saw holding it. The Montgomery County cops who were on scene were greatly entertained by our counterprotest to the sad-sack, hate America, blood dancers on the other side. We got a lot of "Thank yous" and "Attaboys" from the cops and several men and women in military uniforms who were in the area.

[Jet Jaguar]

Thank a recruiter

Nov. 18, 2005

To the editor:

Thanks to the military going into schools, we have voluntary enlistments as opposed to a draft. Also, as you say about the "free education and money that these kids may never see" if it's in writing, they'll see it.

I've never experienced the military messing with people, as far as promising sign up bonuses/education benefits and not following through. More than likely you are just misinformed and basing your opinion on false rumors. My husband was a recruiter three years ago and I saw him save many kids from lives working in unsatisfactory jobs, dropping out of high school, living their lives out on drugs, among others. One soldier he recruited had the opportunity and smarts to go to college, but unlike many Americans, he joined the military only to support and defend our rights.

Recruiters are offering alternative choices to high schoolers, not holding a gun to their heads. I advise you to thank a recruiter. Without them, many people wouldn't learn about the military and join. Without a military, who's going to defend us and our rights, which even allow anti-military people to continue to voice their ridiculous opinions?

Desiree Olsen

Fort Wainwright

Reply to Heather

Nov. 18, 2005

To the editor:

When reading the Sunday (Nov. 13) paper and seeing the column regarding "Recruiters unfettered access to students deplorable" it was like getting kicked in the chest. I couldn't believe in my state, and my town, someone would post such drivel in the local paper. But of course, because of the military, this is a free country.

Ms. Koponen states, "I keep meeting people who are shocked and dismayed to learn that the military recruiters routinely recruit in our high schools." I haven't met one. I have, however, met people who are appalled that their children must attend a school where the influence of the teachers is mostly liberal socialism. It is a very good possibility that if your acquaintances have been raised in an environment where feeding at the government trough was the status quo and you know the government will take care of you, there is no need to take care of yourself. You don't expect our children to serve in the military, that's for someone's child that can't afford to send them to college.

Should we recruit at the correctional center? Or maybe we should just abolish the military and we all can defend ourselves with the sticks from your peace signs. Just as Ho Chi Min clapped with glee when the peaceniks protested the Vietnam War, you can be sure Osama bin Laden and his followers see perspectives like Ms. Koponen's as evidence that if they hold out a little longer the wimps in America will collapse and the infidels can be disposed of.

The allegation that the recruiters spread false promises about education benefits, skills-training and sign up bonuses is ludicrous. If all the military-trained technicians in Fairbanks stay home tomorrow, you will have a hard time making a phone call, turning on a light or getting an airplane off the ground.

I do however agree with Ms. Koponen's suggestion that people should attend the policy meetings of the school board. Her newspaper article of Nov. 13, 2005, clearly proves that.

Charles R. Deer

Master chief USN, retired

Fairbanks

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7253~3138656,00.html

[Jet Jaguar]

Article Published: Sunday, November 20, 2005

Ill-informed claims about recruiters harm military, students

By Jeremy Fernandes

I am responding to the recent column, "Recruiters' unfettered access to students deplorable," written by Heather Koponen (News-Miner, Oct. 13). I was the Navy recruiter here in Fairbanks from 2000 to 2003, and I would like to politely say that Heather Koponen has absolutely no idea what she is talking about. However, it is because of the service members she is attacking that she has the right to "free speech."

I know from experience that recruiters are not in schools on a daily basis. There are too many objective personalities to combat in the school system. When I first started in recruiting, we conducted Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery testing at all the high schools and had a very large turnout. At the end of my tenure in recruiting, we were lucky to get 10 students per test. And considering that one in four students can't even pass this test, it didn't help recruiting. It's people like Heather who caused the decline in testing--testing that not only helped recruiters but also helped students know where they stood academically.

As for Heather's statement "misrepresentations too often used to enlist naïve youths," first of all, she shouldn't use these "kids" as her gain. Please tell me, how many naïve youths do you know? The intellect these young adults have is far superior to what the prior generations had. They are quite aware of their surroundings and know when they are being suckered. I will admit there have been some dishonest recruiters in this town, but I can say that every current recruiter in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps is an honest person. Trust is all you have in recruiting. If a student finds out you lied to him or her, you're done. Soon the entire school knows you're a liar.

As for Heather's statement about "free education and skills-training and a big sign-up bonuses they may never see," again I can tell you from experience: I just completed 16 credits at the University of Alaska Fairbanks that I didn't pay for. The Montgomery GI bill pays $1,034 per month for 36 months and is increased every year.

I received my training in the medical field and can safely say that the training I received was the best you can get. I was paid to go to medical school. I was paid to go on to advance medical schools and study things such as pharmacology, audiometrics and advanced trauma.

I can go on and on about the guaranteed training I received. As for the bonuses, they can reach up to $20,000. All of these are on contract. If your job classification, college fund and bonus are in writing, they can't be altered unless the applicant violates the contract, which can happen, for example, if the applicant is caught driving under the influence, using drugs or does not graduate from high school.

Finally, as for "informed consent," we use this term in the medical community. In recruiting we have parental consent, and by federal law we must have it if a student is younger than 18 years of age. I won't go on about this issue, as this is pretty much common sense. If you have any questions and need reliable information on recruiting, don't call the above named person. Call your local recruiter instead.

Jeremy Fernandes lives in Fairbanks.

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7252~3137712,00.html

[tgslTakoma]

We missed having everybody from the WRAMC group there, but you guys have to travel so far, and it was sooooo cold. It is always a pleasure to see you; and thank you for driving so far every Friday night to join our merry band at WRAMC.

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks.

[tgslTakoma]

For Friday, someone needs to make a sign "403 to 3 voted to stay in Iraq".

Great sign idea for Friday at WRAMC, (Mr.? Mrs.?) trooprally. PinkOs will HATE to have that vote rubbed in their faces. All their DemocRAT "leaders" let them down. hahahahahohohohoho!

And I'll second that "Happy Thanksgiving!" message...

[tgslTakoma]

Very good letters you posted! Thanks!

[Jet Jaguar]

My pleasure.

[W04Man]

Bump! and Bravo!

[tgslTakoma]

Another great letter, from a former recruiter. The thing that struck me in his letter is that anyone under 18 years old needs parental consent to join the US military. In many places, and under 18 girl doesn't need parental consent to get an abortion...

[tgslTakoma]

Will we be able to get those shirts soon? Is that what you mean by "coming soon"? I'm ready with my checkbook...

[Doctor Raoul]

Great job as always. bstein80 please thank all the LI participants. They made a difference. The left can't stand criticism and they got a big helping on Georgia Ave.

[Jet Jaguar]

But they need parental permission to get rinoplasty or a tattoo.

[tgslTakoma]

What a screwed-up state of affairs...

[Doctor Raoul]

This is the guy who came swishing up to me as I was silently videotaping their little demonstration, and he shoved me and kept hitting me with his sign - all on tape.

I'm sure Peace-Action, being committed to peace, will identify the guy so you can swear out a complaint with MCPD.

Of course, should they fail to assist, I believe you have grounds for a civil lawsuit against Peace Action.

[pearlz]

The media reporting that the effort to keep recruiters out of schools is a grass roots effort from the school community is another media distortion. The following email was sent to all PTA groups in Northern VA.


-----Original Message-----
From: Moya Atkinson [mailto:moyaatk@att.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005
To: us-va-nova-peace; WILPFDC; Mona Hamoui;
Cc: BeverlyAnn; Steve Spitz
Subject: Counter Recruitment Planning Meeting Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005, 7:15 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street


DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2005
TIME: 7:15PM
PLACE: ARLINGTON CENTRAL LIBRARY (upstairs meeting room) 1015 North Quincy Street walking distance from Virginia Square Metro (Orange line) -

Pat Elder will share with us the great progress that is being made in Montgomery County and other locales in Maryland. We will plan our own strategies for Northern Virginia.

Please spread the word! Post to any listserve, announce to bulletins of churches, synagogues, mosques etc. and to community forums and family and friends. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Malachy Kilbride so he knows how many will be attending. malachykilbride@yahoo.com

(Many on this email list are Fairfax County school PTSA members. Please distribute to Arlington County, Alexandria, Falls Church, Prince William, Loudoun County and the many Fairfax County school emails that I've omitted. Thank you. Moya Atkinson).

For information on what's going on in the Metro DC area, go to www.counter-recruitment.org

Welcome To DC Anti-War Network's Counter-Recruiter HQ
This website is being conceived by the DC Anti-War Network's working group for "Anti-Draft/Counter-Recruitment" to facilitate our local counter-recruiting efforts in the Washington D.C. metro area. This site will also serve as a networking tool for students, parents, teachers, veterans and other activists who want to speak out against the continued deceptive recruiting techniques the U.S. Military uses in order to continually fill their recruiting quotas. We will feature information on Counter-Recruiting, Anti-Draft, Conscientious Objectors, and anything else that is relevant.

Center-Recruitment Basics

from the American Friends Service Committee - http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/counter-recruitment/default.htm

---

What is Counter Recruitment?
Counter-recruitment is what community members and activists call their efforts to dispel myths about the realities of military service and refute false information provided by military recruiters or advertising. Sometimes counter-recruiters are able to work in schools - alongside military recruiters - but most work in community groups or in public spaces due to lack of access to schools.

---

How to Get Started
Equal Access - Legal Precedents for Providing Alternative Information About the Military

I've heard that public school districts have been sued for allowing military recruiters access to schools while denying such access to persons who hold different views about war and military service. What have been the outcomes of these lawsuits? More >
Getting a Voice at Your Public School

Ten things that worked at my rural New York State school. Tips on how to make your voice heard about military recruitment on school campuses. More >
Find People Countering Military Recruitment in Your State

A state by state list of counter-recruitment organizations. More >
Trainings and Workshops

In our training workshops, we aim to build the capacity of young people and those who work with young people to address military enlistment issues within their own communities. More >

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Links
Counter Recruitment Lesson Plans for Teachers

This site is designed as a lesson plan to be used, primarily, by high school teachers in their classrooms. It can also be used by individual recruitment-age young people and their parents.

---

Other Resources
Say What?: High School Student Rights
A Guide to Working with School Boards
Make Our Schools Military-Free Zones (PDF)
Options for Controlling Military Recruiter Access to Secondary Schools and Students (PDF)

[tgslTakoma]

The video is very clear, wouldn't be any doubt at all. I also have another (unwanted) clip of two other lefties shoving me and shoving their signs into my camera; with good, clear shots of their faces. I guess now all I need is a hungry lawyer...

[tgslTakoma]

If you're in VA and are going to take up this issue with the Arlington governing body, maybe you'd like a copy of the video? It clearly shows members of the DC Anti-War Network (aka DAWN), who are the group behind the efforts in Arlington. It may help to discredit them, as they are not in the least bit a peacful group.

[tgslTakoma]

Placemarker. I REALLY have to get on the road...

[Landry Fan]

What a great shirt! Does it come in hot pink? hehheh.

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[trooprally]

We are down in Marine Corps Country (Camp Lejeune/Cherry Point, NC) for Turkey Day. It was a rough trip, even at 4 AM., rain, bad wind and a 20 minute back up around Petersburg, VA.

We'll be back too late Friday nite to FReep at WR. Stay warm.

Christmas is the big dinner, around 27 family members. Our Marine son is going to deep fry one of our two turkeys.

[trooprally]

We have it at home - Since picking it up from Takoma's, we're not used to bringing it and forgot. Thanks for the reminder. We'll start bringing it again.

[trooprally]

Thanks for the correction. After Action Reports are always hard to get everything right.

Thanks also for being the 2nd AAR keyboard and keeping everyone apprised of details (which you knew more of than I, since I stayed primarily on the southernly flank) while we traveled.

[trooprally]

Great posts. Thanks. Lot of info for us to use.

[Just A Nobody]

You're on the road? Is daughter coming home for the holidays? Have a safe trip and a Happy Thanksgiving!