To the Marines of 1/24 in Detroit: Semper Fi.

I've made my feelings clear on this elsewhere, but let me restate:

"Simple. I will never buy a UAW-built car again. Ever.

And somehow, in a market where the American car manufacturer's share is getting smaller and smaller, it is this kind of short-sighted stupidity on the part of unions that serves NO other purpose except to hurt American manufacturing even more.

Did those Marines "deserve" special parking privleges? As a veteran, I find that reasoning debatable. We do, or we did, what we do or did, for service to country... not for free parking.

But one thing they absolutely without exception deserve is the respect for their diversity of opinion that ultra-leftist organizations such as the UAW demand when the issue is union related. As pointed out, restricting parking is their "privlege." But in this day and age, exercising the variety of "reasoning" behind this decision and thus, exercising that "privlege," gained those in that organization nothing but contempt on the part of millions now aware of this idiocy, for their union and everything they stand for.

For yes, what does it profit a union, if they shall gain the whole of a few parking spaces but lose the good will of millions?

Denny Crane."

Recognizing how much of a train wreck these people achieved via their public relations disaster, cooler union heads (if such a thing actually exists) have prevailed, and that idiotic, absolutely indefensible decision has been rescinded.

Too late.

Now, the Marines wouldn't be caught dead in that parking lot. And I STILL have no intention of EVER buying a UAW built car.


Marine Tony Camilleri of Dearborn Heights covered up the Chevrolet logo on his Silverado with a Toyota sign as a tribute to the Marines. The UAW has a longstanding policy prohibiting foreign makes from its parking lots.

Marines snub UAW olive branch: Reservists will park elsewhere, although union admits mistake banning nonunion cars, Bush stickers.

By Eric Mayne / The Detroit News
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DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers union waved a white flag Monday in its parking skirmish with neighboring reservists, but the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines are not accepting surrender.

Facing intense criticism, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger reversed his decision to ban Marine Corps reservists driving foreign cars or displaying pro-President Bush bumper stickers from parking at the union's Solidarity House headquarters in Detroit.

"I made the wrong call on the parking issue, and I have notified the Marine Corps that all reservists are welcome to park at Solidarity House as they have for the past 10 years," Gettelfinger said in a statement.

Wounded by what they consider an unpatriotic ambush, the Marines rejected the union's olive branch and secured an alternative parking lot.

"I talked to Ron; I let him know that I understand he has rescinded his decision," said Lt. Col. Joe Rutledge, a top-ranking officer at the reserve infantry rifle battalion. "However, I've made my decision -- either you support the Marines or you don't."

The Detroit News reported the controversy Sunday.

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