No Troops in San Francisco - a letter to the editor...

Marc Benioff, founder of Salesforce, issued a statement that he would welcome federal troops being deployed in San Francisco, if it would reduce crime.

Letter to the Editor, San Francisco Chronicle. October 12, 2025

Dear Editor,

Oh No!! Marc Benioff has drunk the Trump Kool-Aid! He mistakenly thinks that Trump sends troops to US Cities to fight crime! No, these deployments are theater, intended to generate TV footage for Fox News and to make Trump look strong and manly. What personal insecurity is he compensating for?

If it is theater that he wants, let’s give it to him! If National Guard or Marines show up here, wear your best Bay-to-Breakers costume. Come in Drag, or nothing at all. If they want TV footage, we can give them more than they bargained for. Wear flowers in your hair and bring extra flowers to give to the troops.

During the Vietnam War Pete Seeger recorded a song that should be updated for the current situation. The original song included the lines:

If you love this land of free,
Bring all troops home from overseas.
Bring ‘em home. Bring ‘em home.

If you love your Uncle Sam,
Support our boys in Vietnam.
Bring ‘em home. Bring ‘em home.

Someone with better song writing skills than I might try something like this:

If you love this land of the free,
Keep the troops out of our city.
Send ‘em home! Send ‘em home!

If you love your Uncle Sam,
Get the troops out of Portlan’
Send ‘em home! Send ‘em home!

Thank you, 

Benjamin Kenobi

(aka Obi-Wan Kenobi)