Comments on: Don't Demean This Flag!

Andy Rooney On Why He Thinks People Shouldn't Wear The Flag

[mrcodpiece]

Rooney
How dare you insult Americans that want to display their patriotism on their lapel.
Many of them did far more to protect their country than dodging the front lines to write cornpone simplistic garbage like you did in wartime.
CBS needs to retire this out-of-touch hack.
Now.

[coantrim]

While you are talking about respect for our flag where was CBS when in Maywood California, the hispanic protestors tore our flag down spit on it and stomped it into the ground. This flag was flying above a united states post office. They then hoisted the Mexican flag up over the post office. And then they kept informing people that this is there country and they would be taking it over. How come CBS never shows us that these protests are taking place?

[sandycat2]

What a stupid article! Millions of Americans wear the flag in some form in pins, designs on T-shirts and display flags in designs on yard and house decorations. 9/11 made many people display the flag often. Americans like their flag and their country. What is wrong with that? Nothing! There is something wrong with Rooney!

[trueprogress]

I object to the American Flag being used as a backdrop to your CBS promos for election coverage !
Esp. on election night ! How disrespectful !
Could you walk into Mr. Paley's old office ( there was a guy who loved this country ! ) and tell the current MR. BIG your "revelation" and ask them (politely) to remove all such flags from election promos and on election night TV and on the Web. Whew, that was a close one. Thanks Andy for pointing it out to us .

Sam Spade
SF Ca

[redgrandboy]

It seems to be empowering for Americans to display the flag upon themselves. Once it is on, many bearers believe that they somehow understand America better or love it more than the rest of us. Unfortunately, you dont have to pass any test or serve the country before you are allowed to wear it. Anyone can. All too often, it becomes a shield for the bearers opinion; a means to deflect any criticism. When this happens, the flag is no longer a symbol of our 13 original colonies and 50 states, but rather a symbol of authority over all non-bearers. I am somewhat of a historian, and I know how our flag started with a great tree in the place of the stars. I can see how it has evolved to represent our 50 states and will undoubtedly continue to evolve as our country does. If you do not understand where the flag came from and who was there beside George Washington when the flag was truly being fought for, do not pretend that you are a real American. You are just a sleazy opportunist desecrating what millions of real Americans has suffered for.

[ecmcrew]

My flag will only be displayed on Veterans Day. That day was called Armistice Day, a day when World War I officially ended. Since then we have been engaged in many wars of which the only two that were rational were World War II and Korean Conflict. The Viet Nam war and Iraq War II were based upon outright lies. Iraq War I was to save Kuwait's feudal system. There were several minor ones including the one related to the Iran-Contra affair. Reagan either had early signs of Alzheimer's disease or ouright lied like LB Johnson and George W Bush did.

[soldiers_kis]

Why do little boys join the army?

[dan4z]

Mr. Roney,

Please retire soon. Dan Rather was smart. Please follow in his foot steps.

Thanks

[lebushaw]

Mr Rooney,

Can you tell me where the country of "America" is? I always here the expression "American Flag". I fly a United States flag at home every day since 9/11. I hear people say they are "Americans" but then aren't Canadians and Mexicans "Americans" also? We all live on the North American Continent! I'm just trying to figure out where this country of "America" is!

Larry Bushaw
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

[rasandoval1]

Thank you Andy for your comments, the flag is not a marketing campaign.I just moved from Va. to Ca, and drove across our beautiful country. There is another marketing campaign you should check out Andy... have you seen all the religion billboards on our freeways...since when is "Jesus" a marketing campaign?

[James Mathers]

Andy,
Your comments on the wearing of the flag pins was right on. Keep up the good work.
Jim Mathers
Livermore, CA

[itchybrain]

IDIOTS! Read what he wrote. He's not talking about you, he's talking about the biggest evil our country faces today, conniving politicians! I'm a vereran and I flew the flag after Sept. 11, 2001 until it rotted off the flag poll, and I agree with everything Andy said. I mean it when I fly the flag... these politicians are posers. That's why they name laws that gut out the rights we fought for things like the "Patriot Act"... and then condone torture like it's an American virtue. Those are the things we fought against!!! Get a grip you guys! Think with your heads and not your emotions. You act like a bunch of little girls in flowery dresses. Reach down and find your balls and act like an American and throw these bums out!

[marcelde]

THE PROBLEM WITH WEARING THE FLAG IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD SYMBOLIZE BUT WHAT IT HAS COME TO SYMBOLIZE: SUPPORTING A POLICY OF WAR ON A SOVERIGN COUNTRY.

IF I WEAR THE FLAG I FEAR OTHERS WILL THINK I THEN SUPPORT THIS MISADMINISTRATION'S POLICY AND THAT, I MOST DEFINITELY DO *NOT*!

WHEN WE ARE NOT LETTING OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS DIE IN IRAQ FOR A LYING CAUSE, THEN I WILL AGAIN WEAR AND FLY THE FLAG PROUDLY, BUT NOT NOW AS IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE.

I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS BUT NOT BUSH!

[marcelde]

Mr. Rooney, you wrote, in part: "The American flag may be the best symbol ever designed. It's perfect. It represents our current 50 States and the 13 original colonies. It's both attractive and meaningful and it stands for who we are. That's a lot to ask of a piece of cloth and the American flag does it magnificently.

It should not be used as a bumper sticker."

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOUR REMARKS ARE VERY RESPECTFUL. I BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO TAKE ISSUE WITH YOUR POSITION ARE STILL UNHAPPY THAT YOU ASKED A LEGITIMATE QUESTION ABOUT OUR PURPOSE IN IRAQ; A QUESTION THAT MOST AMERICANS HAVE BEEN WAITING YEARS FOR BUSH AND RUSH TO ANSWER:

YOU'RE DOING JUST FINE WITH ME! HOWEVER,

B USH AND R USH
BOTH LOVE TO G USH ==

THEIR NAMES THE SAME
WE SPELL THEM %u2026LAME ==

THEY PREACH AND SCOLD,
THEIR LIES ARE OLD.
WE DON'T BELIEVE
ONE THING THEY'VE TOLD. ==

ITS UP TO USH
TO MAKE THEM SHUSH ==

CAUSE WHAT THEY GUSH
MAKES FOLEY BLUSH ! ==

BUT LETS NOT HUSH
THAT ONE'S A LUSH ==

THEY MAKE A FUSH
AND TALK PURE MUSH ==

SO KISH MY TUSH =======
PILL POPPIN' RUSH!

[kickertdk]

The following is taken from "The Flag Code" Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1 Section 8 Respect for Flag subsection (d)

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

Though I wear the flag on my uniforms as well It is worn on the left side above the heart. Using the flag as a DECORATION IS demeaning to it as a symbol. Using this symbol as a piece of clothing (t-shirts, underwear, or a patch to cover a hole in the jeans) is, to me, a showing of disrespect. Could it be that Mr. Rooney has a point that the lapel flag is being used as a political statement rather then showing respect.

[soldiers_kis]

Wearing a flag pin means nothing, except that you are wearing a pin with a flag on it. If I want to wear one, I will. If I don't want to wear one, I won't. It's not like I am wearing a flag bikinni.

I know what it means to fight for freedom. And until you know what I know...I'm wearing whatever the heck I want. After all, I fought for that right.

[smills661]

November 5, 2006

Dear Mr. Rooney,

I just watched tonight%u2019s edition of 60 Minutes and I am very disappointed in you. Like you, I am a veteran. I fly my flag at home every day with an understanding of the respect it deserves.
I won%u2019t claim to wear my little metal flag every day on my lapel because I don%u2019t normally have a lapel anymore. I am enjoying retirement. However, in my former life when I used to dress, I was proud to wear my little metal flag for all to see. I don%u2019t remember ever being challenged by those from the political right or left for its display. Now, when I travel or am otherwise fairly well dressed, I continue to wear my little flag. My wife bought me a shirt from Lands End with a nice flag embroidered on it. I wear it often.
I am dumbfounded by your use of 60 Minutes time to berate the display of our flag . I would think you could find issues more deserving of your acerbic criticism.

Steve Mills
Palm Coast, FL

[smills661]

November 5, 2006

Dear Mr. Rooney,

I just watched tonight%u2019s edition of 60 Minutes and I am very disappointed in you. Like you, I am a veteran. I fly my flag at home every day with an understanding of the respect it deserves.
I won%u2019t claim to wear my little metal flag every day on my lapel because I don%u2019t normally have a lapel anymore. I am enjoying retirement. However, in my former life when I used to dress, I was proud to wear my little metal flag for all to see. I don%u2019t remember ever being challenged by those from the political right or left for its display. Now, when I travel or am otherwise fairly well dressed, I continue to wear my little flag. My wife bought me a shirt from Lands End with a nice flag embroidered on it. I wear it often.
I am dumbfounded by your use of 60 Minutes time to berate the display of our flag . I would think you could find issues more deserving of your acerbic criticism.

Steve Mills
Palm Coast, FL

[smills661]

November 5, 2006

Dear Mr. Rooney,

I just watched tonight%u2019s edition of 60 Minutes and I am very disappointed in you. Like you, I am a veteran. I fly my flag at home every day with an understanding of the respect it deserves.
I won%u2019t claim to wear my little metal flag every day on my lapel because I don%u2019t normally have a lapel anymore. I am enjoying retirement. However, in my former life when I used to dress, I was proud to wear my little metal flag for all to see. I don%u2019t remember ever being challenged by those from the political right or left for its display. Now, when I travel or am otherwise fairly well dressed, I continue to wear my little flag. My wife bought me a shirt from Lands End with a nice flag embroidered on it. I wear it often.
I am dumbfounded by your use of 60 Minutes time to berate the display of our flag . I would think you could find issues more deserving of your acerbic criticism.

Steve Mills
Palm Coast, FL

[ihintx]

Mr. Rooney,
I wear the American flag as a proud American.
I have the greatest respect for our flag.
To me it's not a piece of jewerly, it's a symbol
of freedom. The freedom that my father, like many
others have gone to war to defend.
You should be critizing those Americans that
burn the American flag in protests. I believe
that burning or stomping on the American flag
should be a crime. When a person wears a flag
in support of our Nation and our troops thats
being Patriotic.
God Bless America. God Bless our Troops.
God Bless you.