Try puttin' flowers in them guns!
Posted on 08/29/2005 8:22:51 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Portside Assault On The USS Iowa
By Lisa Fabrizio
August 30, 2005
For years, those on the far left have repeatedly maintained that they support the U.S. military while, in reality, they oppose nearly every incidence of its deployment. Now it seems their animosity is not just reserved for our most recent forays, but apparently the Iraq War has soured them retrospectively on earlier battles for freedom.
No greater proof of this is there than the recent debacle involving the Board of Governors of liberal bastion San Francisco and its rejection (web site) of the retired WWII battleship, USS Iowa. Though some seek to frame this as a military gay-rights (web site) issue, the primary objections are clear.
After their congressional delegation--led by Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi--succeeded in 1999 in securing a three million dollar grant from Congress to transport her from Rhode Island to Suisan Bay in California, it seemed the Iowa was well on its way to a permanent berth in the city by the bay.
Led by the Historic Ship Memorial at Pacific Square group, the city had, since 1993 lobbied to gain the ship, known as the 'Big Stick', whose history spans fifty years of valiant service. After winning nine battle stars during the Second World War and two during the Korean War, a controversial accident on one of her gun turrets killed 47 crewmen in 1989 and she was decommissioned a year later.
For the record, (web site) the Iowa was commissioned in February, 1943 and participated in many WWII battles including Guam, Okinawa, Leyte Gulf and Wake Island. She also returned President Roosevelt from the 1943 Teheran Conference of allied powers and was Admiral Halsey's flagship for the surrender ceremony of Japan in September, 1945.
But the sacrifices of the thousands who served aboard the Iowa and the millions who defended this country before and after her final voyage have been damned by association with a U.S. military who, in the minds of the far left, stands for cruel repression and conquest.
Without waiting for the bones of the 'greatest generation' to grow cold, some liberals are already showing their gratitude. As one leftist writes in a letter (web site) in reference to Frisco's attempts to gain the Iowa, "The days of military glorification and addiction are over. We need hopeful symbols, not more war toys. We didn't want the Mighty Mo (USS Missouri) home-ported here way back when, and we don't want it now, even as a relic."
San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly, who voted against the resolution to acquire the Iowa, also spoke out; (web site) "I am sad to say I am not proud of the history of the United States of America since the 1940s.'' Which is strange to hear from the lips of a liberal, considering that their stranglehold on the culture of America began its ascendancy around that time, sprouting inward from the east and west coasts.
But we know what Mr. Daly really means. He means he's not proud of the U.S. military's history during and after the Cold War when, thanks to the indomitable spirit of her fighting men and women and the determination of a few Commanders in Chief, millions of human beings were delivered from the bondage of Communism and totalitarianism.
Eight of Mr. Daly's eleven colleagues concurred with his opinion. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said quizzically, "If I was going to commit any kind of money in recognition of war, then it should be toward peace, given what our war is in Iraq right now."
Sadly, Mr. Mirkarimi, like most leftists, fails to realize that with tyrants and terrorists, peace is often only the result of victorious war. This lesson should have been obvious to students of WWII in particular, and ships like the USS Iowa should be venerated as illustrations of that fact.
Only six years (web site) ago, the city seemed ready to accept the Iowa as a tribute to its long national service and as a floating tourist attraction. Even anti-war (web site) congresswoman Lynn Woolsey was ready to welcome the 'Big Stick': "Unless there is some unforeseen circumstance...San Francisco will soon have a new museum dedicated to those who served in our Navy."
So what caused the shift in opinion? Could it be that the "unforeseen circumstance" that's driven a wedge between troop-loving liberals and the supposed object of that affection is that the military has actually been called by its Congress and commander to the purpose for which it exists?
It is an absurdity to say that you can support our soldiers but not the military they make up; that you can support the troops if you don't support the mission. Soldiers fight wars and battles, that's what they now volunteer to do. And they do it for all of us, without regard to political affiliation.
In a city celebrated for its tolerance, you'd think that a portion of that compassion might be summoned up for those who love and respect the heritage of this country and most importantly, for those who defended it.
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Lisa Fabrizio is a columnist who hails from Connecticut. You may write her at mailbox@lisafab.com.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.
It's a big lie!
...of everything perverse, immoral and anti-American only.
Leftists only pay lip service to "diversity" and "tolerance." Anyone who doesn't share their warped views is immediately demonized.
"San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly, who voted against the resolution to acquire the Iowa, also spoke out; (web site) "I am sad to say I am not proud of the history of the United States of America since the 1940s.''
There are many hellholes around the world that this punk could move to.
Sudan, North Korea, etc....
Why don't they just pack up and go?
Awesome pic!
bump
Too bad it's not shelling San Francisco.
"There are many hellholes around the world that this punk could move to.
Sudan, North Korea, etc.... "
That's it! This anti-American disgrace of a man could pick up and move to a remaining communist utopia like Cuba or North Korea. Yet he chooses to stay and dump on the country where he's found success as a government official. Let's call it like it is--the Iowa is too damn good for San Francisco, and it's a blessing that it probably won't wind up in the town known as much for leftist, sodomite militancy as cable cars.
I had the unforgettable experience of seeing the USS New Jersey in action in the South China Sea in the late 60's.
I remember being told at the time that those big guns could fire a projectile the size of a VW beetle 26 miles inland and have it impact within 100 ft.of it's target.
I'm glad the Frisco limp-wrists aren't getting the Iowa,it deserves a better home.
It would be difficult to visit the Iowa without thinking of this sad incident and the fact that the Navy apologized to the family of a sailor who was falsely accused of responsibility. Kind of depressing to be a tourist attraction.
Apparently San Francisco had a lot of Navy activity during WWII including the base on Treasure Island and shipbuilding at Hunter's Point but most of that is gone now.
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http://www.glaad.org/media/archive_detail.php?id=304
GLAAD Asks Navy Apology for USS Iowa SlurIn May 1989, "unnamed sources" within the Naval Investigative Services (NIS) leaked to NBC correspondent Fred Francis claims that there was evidence of a murder/ suicide involving a "homosexual relationship" between Gunner's Mate Clayton Hartwig (who was killed in the blast) and Gunner's Mate Kendall Truitt (who survived). In June, Francis reported that Navy investigators were "convinced" that Hartwig was a "troubled homosexual" who was suicidal because other sailors had rejected his advances. In both cases the national media picked up the story, with attribution to NBC. In October 1989, the Navy claimed that the blast was "most probably" intentionally caused by Hartwig.
I quoted this same fact once and was corrected by some people who told me that the projectile was the same weight as a VW beetle.
The lefties of America truly are the scum of the earth. They have absolutely no respect decency or morals. They should all be forced to rot in the communist hells around the world that they so desperately want the US to be. Pathetic!
You left out the part about how overzealous Navy investigators concocted "evidence" to fit this theory, but that it eventually fell apart and the Navy issued a public apology to Hartwig's family.
Rule Number 1: Be armed.
Think of it as a compacted VW beetle.
You know how it is,some people just like to pick nits! ;)
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