On Feb 15, 2008, at 8:22 PM, bdennard wrote:
Mr. Garret,
I would beg to differ with your opinion that you are “the only group opposing the city counsels actions”.
You might want to start by reviewing the multitude of addresses CC’d in this email in re-assessing that stance. Next if you would like I could forward some of the 13,000 emails I have received from Americans all across the nation, Iraq and Afghanistan who have asked me to continue on with my/our boycott until Berkeley understands clearly that we will not stand for them calling the USMC (or any other branch of the armed services) “war criminals”, “murderers”, “assassins”, etc.
YOUR high schools supplied (let them take off from school if they wanted to demosntrate against the Military) the foul mouthed children who I witnessed verbally assault elderly women by screaming “you Nazi c***t, get out of Berkeley”, I watched two of their radical, hate filled teachers, whom your city pays to teach these kids, direct these indoctrinated charges to surround and verbally assault elderly veterans screaming the most vile profanities. Where were you while this abomination was going on. Where exactly were you voicing you opposition to the City Counsels position, from underneath your desk? You most certainly were not anywhere near the City Hall.
If you do believe that the City of Berkeley owes the military an apology then write a letter to them clearly stating that position on Chamber of Commerce stationary and cc everyone on this list, otherwise I am afraid that I and most of these other patriots, will come to the conclusion that you have simply written this wimpy, undecipherable gobbledygook in the hopes that we would feel sorry for the poor people of Berkeley and go away.
You have sorely misjudged your opponents. We stand in defense of our warriors, those men and women who are willing to die for us and our way of life. We owe them no less than to stand up to any and all who mistreat and besmersh their good name, and include in that group those who stand on the sideline rather than firmly, tall and proudly in their name with us.
No, Mr. Garret ( I see that you finally had the courage to add your name to the message below, in that when you first contacted me, you simply went by the name “assistant”), this is far from over.
In fact an appropriate way of phrasing this email should have been:
Now that we have your attention...
I have been contacted by Fortune 500 & 400 companies that wish to join in the boycott, in that they too are disgusted with the un-American antics of YOUR elected officials. They are two of the newest additions which already include three vintners, a Fortune 500 Head Hunter recruiter, restaurant suppliers, clothing manufacturers,
and a day labor provider. The list is growing as I recieve an additional 100-150 calls a day and an additional 500 emails. Further I am being interviewed on numerous prominent radio programs wherein I will ask for more companies to join us in the boycott.
YOUR city seems to be hell bent in repeating the sins of the past when you spit on and cursed those returning from Vietnam. WE are hell bent on teaching you that you and your city will never again be allowed mistreat and besmirch the heroes of the United States Armed Forces.
Good People Sleep Peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Cordially,
Brian Dennard
PS If in fact you learned that “Berkeley is the birthplace of free speech” in school somehwere, I would suggest that you ask for a full refund of your tuition
Another excellent letter Brian.
As we all know, economic boycotts are extraordinarily difficult and seldom work. The left tries them and so does the right. Southern Baptist tried a boycott of Disney ‘cause of their pro homosexual stance. Didn’t work.
However, Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow Coalition has been shaking down industry for years and has lined his pocket with a lot of loot disguised as contributions. So it is possible to achieve corporate change.
Let’s take Bayer for example. Their diabetes meters CONTOUR® and BREEZE®2 are wildly sold and likely an excellent money maker for them. It would take a massive effort to get the word out to boycott those diabetes meters and impact sales. Just massive. Still, as you suggest, it only takes one or two CEO to take pride in his military and disgust at Berkeley to pull his firm out. And the local small business people can also move in disgust of the City Council.
It’s now a domestic battle and a culture war. We must win however long it takes. EAGLES UP.
BRAVO!