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San Francisco | Anti-War

Make Fleet Week and Blue Angels Recruitment Unwelcome in San Francisco
by Ann Garrison
Tuesday Mar 11th, 2008 12:04 PM
I just filed paper with the San Francisco Department of Elections, so as to begin collecting signatures to put an initiative on the November ballot, in San Francisco, that would make Fleet Week and the Blue Angels Air Show, etc., which are an all forces military recruitment drive, unwelcome in and around the City and County of San Francisco. A signature gathering drive will begin tonight at the Cindy Sheehan for Congress campaign headquarters, 1260 Mission, between 7th and 8th, at 7:00 P.M.
Declaration of Policy: The voters of San Francisco declare the Blue Angels Air Shows and all other military demonstration shows, including the Canadian SnowBirds and the U.S. Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team, unwelcome in and around the City and County of San Francisco. These military demonstration teams come here every year to recruit our struggling immigrant and inner city youth, and anyone else whom these displays of enormous lethal force might inspire to military enthusiasm, into the U.S. Armed Services, to fight imperial wars for the natural resources of poor nations mischaracterized as "rogue states" because they have abundant natural resources, including uranium, but no nuclear weapons. These resource wars that the military demonstration shows recruit for are currently mischaracterized as th e "Global War on Terrorism." The voters of San Francisco declare that our hard-earned federal and municipal taxes, and the energies of all our young people, shall be devoted, instead, to sane and constructive activity like education, environmental remediation, and other positive forms of collective self-care. The voters of San Francisco also declare that our taxes and the energies of our youth should circumvent the need for these annual military recruitment demonstrations of enormously lethal force by building a truly renewable energy infrastructure---solar, tidal, and wind. Truly renewable clean energy infrastructure will end the current horrid round of wars for dirty energy fuels, and circumvent the next resource war, for water, which will surely come the dirty energy wars, which so damage and deplete the world's water resources, continue. ----Ann Garrison

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From California Capitol Airshow Press Releases:

Dec 07
We are honored to welcome back the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in the Sacramento region only two years after the appearance at the inaugural California Capital Airshow," said G. Hardy Acree, California Capital Airshow Board Chair. "The team's desire to return is a credit to the Sacramento region and their support for aviation as well as the men and women who serve our country."

Air shows generally spend several years establishing their brand before attracting military precision jet teams. The California Capital Airshow has achieved a rare feat by attracting a jet team each of its first three years.

The California Capital Airshow is a 501c3 non-profit corporation organized to promote and showcase the role aviation plays as an economic engine in the greater Sacramento region. The mission of the California Capital Airshow is, in part, be accomplished by giving back to the community through the awarding of scholarships to individuals interested in pursuing careers in aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace.

Jan 08
The 2008 California Capital Airshow - held at Mather Airport March 15-16 - is the first civilian show on the 2008 schedule for the United States Navy Blue Angels. This year's show includes a kid's zone and the opportunity to see civilian and military aircraft - including one of the most meticulously restored warbirds, the "Heavenly Body" B-25J up close.



by annoyed by cry babies
Friday Mar 14th, 2008 1:30 AM
ok i hate bloggers, i never read them i never wanted to until i saw this online. but this is so dumb that i had to say something.
one thing is true that the war is a horrible thing. i agree that yes many have died for nothing, but the blue angels and other military teams stand for something much more. the grace and beauty that they display is an amazing sight that i have witnessed since i was a toddler. so please stop blaming the men and woman who decide to risk their lives so you can have the freedom to go downtown and waste your time and money on a ridiculous idea and have your voice heard. our leader is a moron and thats a fact but don't blame others for his religion induced insanity. getting rid of fleet week is one of the dumbest ideas ever brought up. just the very tourist traffic is enough to see why it would be a mistake every one makes money that week. hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, mom and pop shops, boat tours, parking etc. and in this failing economy i think that would be a step in the wrong direction. the mayor and the council, and everyone who is able to pull their heads out of their asses will just laugh at the very thought of getting rid of fleet week. so unless youu have the money to replace the cash flow we would lose, which i doubt. GET OVER IT! and no one is forcing you to like it. you don't have to. so when you post your next pathetic blog think about the right you have as an American to say what ever the hell is on your sad lonely mind.
by No Whiners!!
Friday Mar 21st, 2008 11:54 AM
Ms. Garrison –

Your entire filing is a mischaracterization of tax monies and energies. The individuals who have joined our military forces should be applauded for their service, not demonized for their efforts. Do you honestly think that America is exempt from another horrible incident such as 9/11?? And if such an incident were to occur, who would you look to for protection – Cindy Sheehan & the folks at Code Pink???

If you are against the war – protest against the people responsible for initiating it. The Men & Women of our military are carrying out orders received from the elected officials you voted into office. Did you know that the Federal government earmarks $16-33K per person annually just in case some our “struggling immigrant & inner city youth” winds up in jail??? Perhaps your efforts would be better spent trying to divert those funds for a truly renewable energy infrastructure. Banning Fleet Week and performances from military demonstration teams is a completely misguided endeavor.

To all of our current and veteran military personnel - Thank you & I am looking forward to enjoying your performance this October!!
by Gary Eaton
Thursday Mar 27th, 2008 7:26 AM
Maybe the Blue Angels should fly real low over your cave....