Comments on: Don't Demean This Flag!

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

[marcpcbs]

We have an old Rock Star living in our town and I remember seeing him perform when I was younger and during his performance he occationally burned an American flag.

Now he's running for local public office and his campaign photos show him standing in front of a waving American flag. Because I'm a VET, if this weren't so sick it would be funny. Sounds like a typical politician to me.

Non-Vets have a hard time understanding what Flag Waving is all about.

[piratestork]

What concerns me is all these US flags, lapel pins, tshirts, etc are being made overseas!!!!! I have just started noticing that the past few years. Keep an eye out for it...VERY DISAPPOINTING!!!!

[airforcepara]

Mr. Rooney,

As a military officer having served two tours in Iraq, another in Central Asia, and 3 tours in the Balkans, I have PROUDLY worn the US flag on my uniform. I'm sure my brothers and sisters in arms, both past and present, would feel the same sense of pride.

[mikewat3]

Mr. Rooney, your comments on the wearing of symbols of the American flag by citizens and patriots are astounding and scary.
Sounds like if you had your way,those of us that proudly display a representation of our flag would be subject to citizizm or maybe arrest by the Rooney Bahavior Police. It is amazing to me that you use your forum to reach the American people in such a negative and narrow minded way.
You used to be funny, what happend?????

[pups1231]

The wearing of the flag is nothing new. I've been wearing one for 45 years, you just now noticed it. Whatever possessed you to view such negative, narrowminded. and unpatriotic comments on tonights show?

Many of us wear and display the flag as a symbol of our patriotism, love and gratitude for the many opportunities and freedom this country offers us. No matter whether it is a bumper sticker or lapel pin worn by a politian it should be encouraged not discouraged. Buy yourself a pin,Andy,your %u201Clapel%u201D looks vacant.

[motschj]

Mr. Rooney,

I for one disgree with you on the wearing of the flag pin. Since 9-11-01 I have see a return of patriotism in America and am glad to see the symbol (our flag) displayed. I wore the flag on my Air Force flight suit while serving my country and I wear a flag pin on my business suit. I am proud to display it. I believe you have right to you opinion. I listened to it and can not restrain myself from commenting on it for your comment sickens me!

John H. Motsch
Edgewood, NM

[gullo74]

And just to boot:
for many years (pre-9/11), it was a patriotic "no-no" to wear a flag un less part of a military uniform. Simply put, it is a desecration.

Do you want to support your country?
Vote.
Volunteer.
Help your neighbors.
Do your best to help America become more energy independent.
And stop driving those god-forsaken-gas-guzzling Saudi/AlQueada-mobile Hummers.
Don't support fascism.

God Help America.

[omachuca]

Mr. Rooney,
This is what I%u2019ve been telling friends since 9/11! I think that too much flag waving is kind of third-worldish. I also noticed the spike after September 11th. It's just something we%u2019ve got to get used to until this whole patriotic thing dies down. I consider myself fashionably conservative and to see all the flags used for something more than what I was used to before 9/11, especially when used for profit, makes me mad!

[omachuca]

Mr. Rooney,
This is what I%u2019ve been telling friends since 9/11! I think that too much flag waving is kind of third-worldish. I also noticed the spike after September 11th. It's just something we%u2019ve got to get used to until this whole patriotic thing dies down. I consider myself fashionably conservative and to see all the flags used for something more than what I was used to before 9/11, especially when used for profit, makes me mad!

[omachuca]

Mr. Rooney,
This is what I%u2019ve been telling friends since 9/11! I think that too much flag waving is kind of third-worldish. I also noticed the spike after September 11th. It's just something we%u2019ve got to get used to until this whole patriotic thing dies down. I consider myself fashionably conservative and to see all the flags used for something more than what I was used to before 9/11, especially when used for profit, makes me mad!

[donata707]

Dear Andy,
Did you fall on your head? If not than perhaps, maybe you should. Almost every member of our family has served in the military, men and women alike. Those of us who didn't, stayed home and flew our flags, wore our flags, and desplayed our flags in every way possible, and will continue to do so in honor of every one who died for, worked for, and continues to work and die for our right to do so. Unfortunately that gives you the same rights so you can go on displaying your ungratful attitude. Our flags are painted on our barns, the bottom of our pools, the roof of our corn cribs , the tailgates of our pick up trucks, the gas tanks on our motercycles, the fenders of our chidrens bikes, and on and on and on. If it wasn't for people like us, who do things like that, every ones children would grow up as unpatriotic as you have just presented yourself to be, and there would be no one interested in fighting to preserve your right to display your ignorance in such a blatent fashion. I used to be a big fan inspite of the fact once in a while you would stick you foot in it. Well now I think you have stuck both feet in it just about up to your chin.
Donata
and about 200 million other people

[tom12003]

Please let me take exception to your comments about flag lapels. Every politician I have ever known has been proud to year a flag lapel reghardless of any political afflicialtion--this includes several Secreatries/Assistant Secreatires of major Federal Departments in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. Your analongy with the flag lapel is equivalent to your supposed opinion that you are only a woman if you wear a dress. Please get into the current century!

[tom12003]

Please let me take exception to your comments about flag lapels. Every politician I have ever known has been proud to year a flag lapel reghardless of any political afflicialtion--this includes several Secreatries/Assistant Secreatires of major Federal Departments in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. Your analongy with the flag lapel is equivalent to your supposed opinion that you are only a woman if you wear a dress. Please get into the current century!

[tom12003]

Please let me take exception to your comments about flag lapels. Every politician I have ever known has been proud to year a flag lapel reghardless of any political afflicialtion--this includes several Secreatries/Assistant Secreatires of major Federal Departments in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. Your analongy with the flag lapel is equivalent to an opinion that you are only a woman if you wear a dress. Please get into the current century!

[gullo74]

Mr. Rooney,
Thank you for so frankly stating what I've noticed since September 12, 2001. This is a classic example of "fear=control", using our great symbol of freedom against our own people.
In the months following the terrorist attacks on our soil, almost everyone began wearing and plastering the flag on anything and everything for fear that not doing so would be "un-patiotic". Arab-owned gas stations and party stores were giving away free flag stickers like they were going out of style - and they did it out of fear. Fear that their neighbors might suspect them of being sympathetic to terrorist causes. It became the norm. TV stations had the flag embedded into their logos while the newscasters placed them on their lapels. This is not an act of patriotism, it is an act of fear.
Define the good with symbolism - cram it down their throats.
Define the evil with a face - keep it on the loose.
For to capture the face would bring an end to fear, and a man without fear is a man uncontrolled.

Thank you Mr. Rooney.

[gullo74]

Mr. Rooney,
Thank you for so frankly stating what I've noticed since September 12, 2001. This is a classic example of "fear=control", using our great symbol of freedom against our own people.
In the months following the terrorist attacks on our soil, almost everyone began wearing and plastering the flag on anything and everything for fear that not doing so would be "un-patiotic". Arab-owned gas stations and party stores were giving away free flag stickers like they were going out of style - and they did it out of fear. Fear that their neighbors might suspect them of being sympathetic to terrorist causes. It became the norm. TV stations had the flag embedded into their logos while the newscasters placed them on their lapels. This is not an act of patriotism, it is an act of fear.
Define the good with symbolism - cram it down their throats.
Define the evil with a face - keep it on the loose.
For to capture the face would bring an end to fear, and a man without fear is a man uncontrolled.

Thank you Mr. Rooney.

[crew9908]

ANDY, I AGREE WITH YOU MOST OF THE TIME, BUT THIS EVENING YOU ARE SO WRONG. I WEAR THE FLAG BECAUSE I AM PROUD TO HAVE SPENT 3 YEARS IN THE ARMY AIR CORE AND VERY PROUD OF THIS COUNTRY WHICH I LOVE. YOU ABOVE ALL PEOPLE MUST WEAR THE FLAG EVERY DAY. I READ EVERY THING YOU WROTE WHEN I WAS IN SERVICE WW 11 THANK YOU AND KEEP GOING ANDY GEIST

[gullo74]

Mr. Rooney,
Thank you for so frankly stating what I've noticed since September 12, 2001. This is a classic example of "fear=control", using our great symbol of freedom against our own people.
In the months following the terrorist attacks on our soil, almost everyone began wearing and plastering the flag on anything and everything for fear that not doing so would be "un-patiotic". Arab-owned gas stations and party stores were giving away free flag stickers like they were going out of style - and they did it out of fear. Fear that their neighbors might suspect them of being sympathetic to terrorist causes. It became the norm. TV stations had the flag embedded into their logos while the newscasters placed them on their lapels. This is not an act of patriotism, it is an act of fear.
Define the good with symbolism - cram it down their throats.
Define the evil with a face - keep it on the loose.
For to capture the face would bring an end to fear, and a man without fear is a man uncontrolled.

Thank you Mr. Rooney.

[gullo74]

Mr. Rooney,
Thank you for so frankly stating what I've noticed since September 12, 2001. This is a classic example of "fear=control", using our great symbol of freedom against our own people.
In the months following the terrorist attacks on our soil, almost everyone began wearing and plastering the flag on anything and everything for fear that not doing so would be "un-patiotic". Arab-owned gas stations and party stores were giving away free flag stickers like they were going out of style - and they did it out of fear. Fear that their neighbors might suspect them of being sympathetic to terrorist causes. It became the norm. TV stations had the flag embedded into their logos while the newscasters placed them on their lapels. This is not an act of patriotism, it is an act of fear.
Define the good with symbolism - cram it down their throats.
Define the evil with a face - keep it on the loose.
For to capture the face would bring an end to fear, and a man without fear is a man uncontrolled.

Thank you Mr. Rooney.

[tpattjr]

I usually agree, or at least do not disagree, with your commentaries. However, I feel that your comments about the wearing of an American Flag pin, or the displaying of an American Flag sticker, are completely off base. I am a veteran who served seven years in the Army, two of which were tours in Vietnam, and I have a step-son in the Marines who has already served two tours in Iraq. I am proud to wear an American Flag pin and display an American Flag bumper sticker. I receive no benefit from these displays other that a feeling of personal satisfaction that, in these times of "America bashing" so prevalent throughout the world, I am proud to be an American. Even though I may not agree with all our foreign policies, I still choke up when I hear our National Anthem and "America the Beautiful". I find it sad that you have become so distanced from the average American that you see all acts of national pride as cynical, self-serving displays. Maybe you need to get back in touch with grass-roots America.

Proud to be an American in Dallas.