Arlington West...Again!

Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega said... What I am looking for in a council candidate is one who will work to shut down the embarrassing and counter productive “Arlington West.” I think it’s a shame that our Mayor and Council have taken a position against the war, and I feel sorry everyday for those Santa Barbara men and women who come back from the front and see this disgrace.

I spent a little time one day reading and thinking about the website for Veterans for Peace, and noted that they stand for blocking ports, trains, military bases, and making pleas to soldiers to violate their oaths of service. VFP is also happy to promote occupying congressional offices with the purpose of intimidating elected officials in order to stop military funding, and we all know well their intense and active anti-military recruitment program. They also advocate the impeachment of the Commander in Chief-- all these positions in a time of war. I am sure this isn’t news to you. Some of you will think this is great stuff. I don’t. But it’s my beach too and I am part of the public.

I could only think of Tokyo Rose and Hanoi Jane as I read the recommended books, the newsy reviews, and the assorted matter available on their site for the reader to ponder. I would say they have a very active and edgy program that goes right up to the line on the legal limits of political expression. But I note that so far, I see no acts of sabotage or the commitment of treasonable acts. But they seem very willing to commit misdemeanors to serve their cause.

I saw associated activities with Code Pink, which in my mind hinders the ability of Congressional oversight committees to do their work on matters that concern the security of the United States.

Their support in developing the “Peace Academy” and helping to end JROTC at Santa Barbara High School is a good example of their work. They say on their web site that JROTC wasn’t interesting or valuable to the students. I think that’s a lie. I read the student’s letters in the paper.

I believe “Arlington West” is a fraudulent activity, that it is used to support the above purposes, and that its principal use is as an anti-war message--because VFP moves it around from campus to campus in order to hinder military recruitment and support military resistance. It’s also an anti-war political statement, and as well a money machine that uses the names of the fallen, each of whom gave the last measure of their devotion, trapped into doing anti-war fund raising when their name used without their permission. It’s as if the fallen soldiers are signing on for the above mentioned activities. I remember Sergeant Peter Scott’s heartbreaking letter to the paper who felt so bad about “Arlington West” that he felt the need to write a letter to the paper just before he left to return for his second tour in Iraq, to say: “Not in his name: “Arlington West.”” Think of it! He had to take time out from that anxious departure to say that he needed to be assured that his name could not be used at “Arlington West.”

How all this must feel to the mother’s and fathers of Santa Barbara’s soldier's families or worse those tragic parents of fallen soldiers who find their kid’s name on one of those anti-war crosses without the family’s permission. There it is representing what they don’t believe in. I remember how Debbie Argel in Lompoc felt. Even the name “Arlington” co-opts a sacred place of honor and redefines its meaning.

The fraud comes when VFP tries to convince us that their political speech is just to support soldiers in the field and that they are just soliciting donations on their behalf. I would ask those of you in the community to ask VFP to open their financial records, so we can see to what their fraudulently obtained donations are used for. I bet some families would be very unhappy to learn how they have been duped. I know they used donated funds to open an anti-war office in Los Angeles. I was at the Board meeting when it was discussed. I heard other things at that meeting that disgusted me.

The Veterans for Peace name is only partially true because they are only partially Veterans. Some of them are just old time anti-war UCSB professors living it up for the good ol’ days of protest. Perhaps civilian heros from another time and another war, but horribly misguided today.

VFP spends very little time talking about our real enemies and their efforts undercut our nation’s war against those who would do us harm. The only soldiers they really want to help are war resisters. They are not interested in helping the loyal soldier or the families of the fallen. They are just interested in stopping this war by any means necessary.

As the father of wounded soldier who has his purple heart and bronze star, who has served abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am pissed. Maybe all this is just part of the political ‘Friction’ that Clausewitz wrote about, --what happens in a time of war. I am so sad to say, I don’t think Santa Barbara is helping the effort of our soldiers. Give me a new council member to fight this fight and change this situation.

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This is from a blog from Santa Barbara California. I have been trying for over two years to get some assistance for our families, Gold Star, to put an end to this awful scene on the beach in Santa Barbara. The cancer has spread to other cities. This soldier's father, and many soldiers do NOT want thier name or image displayed on these mock "Arlington" gravesites. These people are making money off of the names of men who would NEVER stand for this cowerdly cause. Wake up America! Is there any brave attorney that will take on a class action suit for the families who have given everything? Is there cause for an Appeal For Redress to allow soldiers to state on their will...."My name and image belong to my family, should I die in the WOT" Anybody out there?

Deb Argel Bastian Proud mom of Capt. Derek Argel www.firstgiving.com/DebbieArgel

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