[clamper1797]

A dungaree liberty may be in order

[gondramB]

It might not be anti-war. Maybe the bar is run by ex-navy guys who are afraid of marines. :)

[Leatherneck_MT]

“Do you think this is a reasonable policy for a bar to adopt?”

No, but then my policy is simple in response. I would do my dead level best to insure that everyone of my buddies knew about this policy and didn’t frequent that bar under any circumstances.

Especially when our boys are overseas fighting and dying so that twit can own a bar.

[2banana]

Meagher said that the policy was first put in place in the 1990s, around the time of the Gulf War, due to a series of incidents inside the bar involving destruction of property at the hands of marines from the nearby Barracks.

Do you think this is a reasonable policy for a bar to adopt?

Yes - it is also private property. Drunk Marines without dates = fights and a trashing of your bar.

[theDentist]

"If they behave responsibly, they are welcome," Meagher said.

But how can they behave resposibly when you don't welcome them in the first place?

[bajabaja]

This is DC. I lived there five years and kept my politics to myself (mostly). What was experienced is not particularly unique. Start a list on the net and have a boycott. Ask the beer companies if they approve of this. Continue the publicity. Have some fun with it.

[CholeraJoe]

I was in Belize on vacation and entered a bar with a big sign that said "No RAF allowed." I was with a group of 10 Americans of whom six were active duty USAF. I called for the manager and politely said,"We're USAF. We were going to spend a bunch of money in here tonight, but if you won't serve our British comrades, we're going elsewhere."

As we walked out he followed us and was begging us to reconsider. We told every American we saw not to go to his bar. Take your business elsewhere, Marine. They'll regret their policy.

[Mark was here]

Take your business elsewhere. I believe no one has the right to trespass on someone else's property, if they don’t want you there. It is their God given right to be asshats. Others knowing the rude response you got are free to also take their biasness elsewhere.

[CindyDawg]

It doesn’t read like he has anything against the Marines. I understand why he made the rules but he needs to enforce them for everyone. A business owner ought to be able to do what he wants, but I don’t know if couples only, with an exception for people in military dress is legal. It sounds reasonable to me though.

[Badeye]

Its not a coincidence that during the late 1990’s, until the end of its run on tv, the ‘Hawk and Dove’ was also featured numerous times on West Wing.

[Syncro]

There is going to be about 15 to 30,000 American Patriots in Washington, DC for about a week around the 15th of Sept this year.(Many of them Vets and active duty)

How about a list? I am sure these people could spend money at some of the other bars around town.

Not that these people imbibe all that much, but I am sure a few of them would like a drink now and again.

[HamiltonJay]

The reason for the limitation, at least given by the manager, seems just, as a person who lived in Jacksonville, NC, I can tell you a large number of young marines out for a night on the town together, unfortunately can fall victim to boys will be boys and end up causing issues.

I respect and commend our men in uniform, but I also know first hand what a pack of them in an intoxicated state can do... especially ones fresh out of bootcamp with more testosterone than good sense after a bit of alcohol.

[Mike Darancette]

As we go in, we were informed by the gentleman checking IDs that "house rules" states that "no marines without dates are allowed in." Apparently, since our group had only two females, only two of the guys were going to be allowed in.

If you really wanted conflict the prick manager four of the Marines could have said they were two couples leaving the author and her marine as another couple with one spare woman remaining. Let's see them discriminate on the basis of sexual preference.

[absolootezer0]

if i see somone come in with their underwear showing or their hat on crooked, i’ll kick them out because i don’t want trouble in my bar.

is this different?

[lolhelp]

She better realize that one is better off not letting little things upset her so much and forget it. If she isn’t mature enough to do that, I feel sorry for the guy she is marrying.

[naturalman1975]

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

[CatoRenasci]

Should my fiancee invest in a wig to hide the crew cut so he can have a beer three blocks from the capital?

During the Vietnam War a whole lot of young soldiers owned wigs so that they wouldn't be taken for soldiers when they were on furlough or a pass. Usually junior enlisted, but I even knew some junior officers who wore wigs off post.

[untrained skeptic]

It doesn't sound like the best way of dealing with the apparent problem, but I think it within their rights. I also don't think it would be unreasonable for Marines to not patronize that establishment because of that policy.

I suspect that it is dive bars that have more such problems than nicer establishments, so it isn't surprising that it is a dive that has this policy.

It might be a good idea for these establishments to contact the Marine base for advice on how to discourage such problems in the future. I suspect that the Marines will police their own well enough if made aware of the problem.

[ladyjane]

The best event in D.C., hands down, is the Friday evening parade held at the Marine Barracks at 8th and I. I’ve gone to it a couple of times and have taken friends there.

[PsyOp]

They should change the name of the bar from “Hawks N’ Doves” to “Dove Only”. They obviously do not like real hawks.