Comments on: Don't Demean This Flag!

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

[bmace2]

Andy, you are way off. I started wearing a flag pin after 9/11. I fly a lot in my job and it was a statement that I am an American. Terrorist's may have come to my house but they will not win and will not take my Country from me. That flag represents my heritage and my freedom. I will fight and maybe die to keep this counrty free, plese do not make light of that.

[genemc06]

Mr Rooney,
I think your comments on the flag is all off base. I think you truley insulted alot of brave men who wear the flag today as a symbol pride and honor. I really like the way you showed Opra and Clinton when you talked about people who dont wear flag, you are showing the truth in the story, why didnt you just have a campain button with Clinton for president on?

[pdtodd1]

Mr Rooney,
I find your editorial on the use of flag pins etc. to be troubling at best. This type of display for our flag might have begun with Nixon,however it took on a greater meaning and greater following after 9/11. As a man who walked out of the dust with my coworkers that day and lost 12 friends in the rubble, I think you are missing the point. I believe you are a man from the generation that Tom Browkaw wrote about,a man that, like my father fought in WWII and a man that loves this country, all things that would suggest a different opinion on the subject of flag display. You also happen to be my neighbor, a man that discourages requests to help local causes, a man who dosen't open his door to children on Halloween and a man who answers a greeting of "Hey Andy" at the train station with " I don't know you and I don't think I want to"......enough said. I think it is time you got with the program and tried to understand the people that are wearing these American Flags. They, like you, believe in its history and its sanctity and are proud to wear it at all times just as our troops wear it at all times.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Todd
Rowayton, CT

[nyny3a]

Re: Andy and the flag on a bumper sticker.

I have a flag bumper sticker with what I think is a very worth while message: "These Colors Don't Run . . . The World". So I have to disagree with Andy on this.

I'd like to also say Andy was getting to look a little down in the mouth a while back. Now it looks like something has erected his looks and even his spirits. Good for you Andy old boy!

[cabb09]

Give me a break...if you think wearing the American flag is demeaning do you also think wearing a holly cross is demeaning? We see a lot on bumper stickers, I wish only half would reach the level of the American flag!

[viewer60]

Another issue to consider is how there are people who choose the biggest possible flag as to implying that they are more patriotic than someone with a smaller one. I've noticed that there is an inverse realtion between intelligence and the size of one's flag!

[johnwcbs]

Thanks Andy, this has been a thorn in my side since Nixon!

Thanks

John

[tdl07178619]

To Mr. Andy Rooney: Congratulations I love every one of your commentary during "60 minutes show". I only request that if you could mention next time that our flag (I'm an immigrant from Argentina now US citizen; our USA flag should not be used in underwears or braziers o short pants...thats is also an insult to our simbol and our great nation.
Thanks
Manuel Marini

[jpitulski]

I am upset by your comments about the American flag. I was waiting for you to mention that the wearing of the American flag lapel pin increased after 911 to demonstrate unity, pride and support for the victims'families.
Displaying the American flag, whether it be a lapel pin, bumper sticker or flying in the breeze,is a beautiful symbol of freedom known worldwide. Isn't it better to display it with pride rather than seeing it burned?

[dartsmarkala]

I think your piece on Flag wearing was so off mark. Wearing a flag out in public and maybe not on you days off doesn't make you any less patriotic that makeup makes a woman less or more of a woman depending on her day off. Since the 911 tragedy, all Americans have a newfound patriotism not meant to say anything but I am proud to be an American when they choose to wear the flag. Is an Ohio State Fan less of a fan because they choose not to wear team apparel on one day or another. I am not a Bush supporter but I think you picked on the wrong guy this time.

[lkenyon-2009]

Mr. Rooney,
I often agree with your commentary but tonight I was slightly offended. You claim that the flag is being displayed as a "bumper sticker" when worn in public. I whole heartly disagree. I wear this pin on ocassion when I feel intense pride and support for our country's underlying fundamentals. I do not see this as a "jump on the band waggon" type of support but would encourage each and every citizen to do the same when they reflect on the prividlege of living in this great nation. Maybe if every citizen took some time to consider the privledge we have been given we would be better translators of the fundamentals we try to co convince others to adopt.

[mbhomes]

the reason those earlier presidents did'nt wear the the flag pins is because we we not doing business with the chinese. think about it!
mbhomes

[d8667]

Dear Mr. Rooney,

I enjoy your segment very much, while I don't always agree, I do much of the time.

Just a opinion on the comments about our flag,I do agree with most of what you said but I do wish that every one in America would wear something that says boldly that I believe in the USA, what better way than with a symbol as great as the American flag? We cannot carry around the real thing so this seems to be second best, and, I wouldn't belittle the flag by wearing it at home while mowing the lawn buit would be proud to wear it as a bage of honor anywhere else.

Thank you sir,

*** Sanders
Georgetown, Texas 78628

[mbhomes]

the reason those earlier presidents did'nt wear the the flag pins is because we we not doing business with the chinese. think about it!
mbhomes

[cbpoole1]

Andy,

your piece on the flag pin was well timed. They frequently remind me of Samuel Johnson's quotation about an appeal to patriotism being the last refuge of the scoundrel.

At a local political debate last week, my assemblyman's opponent chided him for not wearing a flag pin. My representative apologized and explained that he overslept that morning, and absent mindedly left his pin on his pajamas.

Keep up the good work. It is appreciated.

Regards,
Chuck Poole

[whiteyzin]

Dear, Mr. Rooney,

I wear a U.S.A. Flag lapel pin each day on my collared shirt. I served in Desert Storm in our U.S. Army. I will always remember that over 6,000 Marines in World War Two died on Iwo Jima before and after the Flag was raised on that Island. I'm glad that you have the freedom of the press to express your opinion. God Bless America and I will continue to wear my U.S.A Flag pin with pride and hope all will wear the Flag with Honor for all current service members now serving in our Armed Forces.

In rememberance of all who served.

Please e-mail me your comments.

Life Membership V.F.W.
Honor Degree M.O.C.
Veteran U.S. Army Sergeant
Rob Whitehead

[mcleangirl]

I'll add to what Mr. Rooney said: I don't like it when people are forced to say the pledge of allegiance. Anymore than I like it when people are forced to say the Lord's Prayer. Who is forced to say the pledge? Anybody who's out in public when it's being said. Like students in the classroom, for a big example. What a message we send to them when, if a student doesn't feel like standing and saying the pledge, his classmates and teacher jump on him. Well, maybe his girlfriend just dumped him and he doesn't feel particularly loyal to anybody today. What a student learns is, "I have no choice other than to pledge allegiance to this symbol of the freedom of our country." Actually, in our state, Virginia, a student does have a choice. He can keep his mouth shut. I believe he even doesn't have to stand up. But the teachers don't dare tell him that because if the principal walks by and there are some kids sitting down during the pledge, then the teacher will be harassed. If the flag had a mouth, it would say, "So, you want to be patriotic? Then sit down and do your mathematics and let's figure out a way we can run our country without sucking on the teat of some American flag-burning, foreign oil producing country." Yeah, I'd gladly pledge allegiance to that flag.