Comments on: A Memorial Day Worth Remembering

Andy Rooney On How Memorial Day Should Be Celebrated

[aarrpp]

I really appreciated your wholesome comments on ?A Memorial Day worth remembering?! You are right!, a new religion which will do away with war and follow the bible verse at Isaiah 2:4, a scripture which exist in the very front of the United Nations Building.

That new religion you are hope for has been around for centuries and can be found at
25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483.

[ArtIrvine]

Dear Andy Rooney:
I saw your commentary that aired on Sunday May 24th and Monday morning (Memorial Day) about Memorial Day memorials. I could relate to what you said about war; my wife and I were both in the US Navy during the ?Viet Nam conflict.? When you said we need to find a different religion or something so that we would not go to war (sorry, my paraphrase of what you said), it got me to thinking what religion you might have been referring to? In modern times, it seems, almost all religious groups are talking war, jihad, supremacy or defending itself by force from those who war against it. It reminds me that we live in a world that has departed from the will of the Almighty God and is ?doing its own thing.? Scary as it seems, this world is full of nasty people that want to rule over, control and be above other people or people groups. There are those who are willing to put their lives on the line to defend our country from these types of people and protect us and our way of life including religious freedoms. Without these people making these sacrifices we would be in servitude and not be able to worship God in freedom (including the Jehovah Witnesses).
Even in Christianity, there are those who espouse this doctrine of supremacy and authority. From the beginning of Christianity (as Jesus actually taught), it has not been so. An unbiased perusal through the Christian Bible does not give the notion of supremacy for any earthly person. Jesus is still the head of His Church and speaks to us through His word, the Bible, as seen in Hebrews 1:1-4. The flower child of the 60?s and early 70?s may not have been too far off, although I disagree about their methods of ?give peace a chance.? If we could all just get ?back to the Bible? and the Bible only as the ?Word of God? we would see plenty of difference in this country. Unfortunately, the world wants to forget the Bible because, with the ?love? passages, there are also obedience passages that must compel the reader or listener to repent of their sins including lying, cheating, thievery, murders and all kinds of sexual immorality. (I do not consider defending your country in war being a murderer otherwise the response John the Baptist made to the soldier would have been different).
I don?t want to quote from my Bible at length in this short e-mail. I would like to see this country get ?back to the Bible? and the Bible only. Along with bringing this country closer to God, It would cure many ills of our society. Maybe, then, the world would follow bringing peace.
A concerned listener;
Art Irvine
Check out my simple religious web site,
www.ccccroanoke.org

[jpagano1109]

Dear Mr. Rooney,
It seems to me that the men that gave their lives or, according to you, had their lives were taken from them, did so not just for War, but for the reasons behind the wars we have fought. Perhaps this list of nouns will jog your memory: Japan, Pearl Harbor, Germany, Hitler, Iraq, Sadam, Afghanistan, 911, Taliban. Your generation is not the only one that lost lives in wars and I find it funny that you did not mention the men and women who have died recently in Iraq or Afghanistan. Perhaps it is because you do not agree with those wars or you have a convenient memory. Unlike your generation, the generation that is fighting our wars in the present is doing so voluntarily without having to be drafted. You do a disservice to their memories and their families by leaving them out of your piece since they are the ones that are currently paying the price for your freedom of speech. So yes, they did GIVE their lives for their country. They knew going in to the deal that it was not journalism school that they were signing up for, but the possibility that they may lose their lives or may take lives in service of their country, just like you and I did. I am sure you remember swearing in.
Sincerely,

Jeff Pagano
USMC Veteran
Journalism School Graduate - The American University

[dennisgreen5]

A person can pray to God and remember those who died for us in an instant. From Jesus Christ to those on Utah and Omaha beach or Midway or Guadalcanal, or the men who fought and lost their lives in the Normandy invasion, the Italian canpaign, the battle of the Bulge, Okinawa, Iwo JIma, and countless other firefights with Germans and **** in China and the far east as well as Poland and Chechoslovakia and Germany and Russia and England . We all lost alot of good people because of a racist leader who thoiught that only blond haired, blue eyed nazi's should be in control of the world. We proved him wrong.

[lunita71]

Dear Mr. Rooney,
What an encouraging surprise to hear such a comment from a major newscaster! Thank you so much for stepping up to the plate and saying it as it is! Yes, we need to reconstruct many of our dreadful habits as a nation! I will be listening more closely to what you have to say in the future.

[Alan gasiani]

Andy,

You are the only reason we watch 60 Minutes.
You are the greatest. If only half the politicians in the world were as pure and noble as you are, there would not be any war. And please do not ask for another religion. We already have too many of them in the world.

We love you.
Alan G.

[gdt1010]

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, Mr. Rooney: Your tribute to the men and women of our armed forces was powerful and moving. Thinking of all that has happened in recent memory, one can only wonder - "when will it become unnecessary for our youth to die for 'old men's' quarrels?"

[rebja]

Dear Andy,
The religion you are looking for is not just Christianity in general. The religion you are looking for is Jehovah's Witnesses. They are united in word and deed in all parts of the world. They teach the real will of Jehovah, the true God, just like Jesus did when he was on the earth. Like Jesus, they refuse to take sides during war or peace. They have never killed their brothers just because they happen to be of a different color or race or call another country home. Jehovah's Witnesses are the only religion that stood up to Hitler. They openly exposed his actions and suffered in concentration camps because of it. During the genocide in Africa Jehovah's Witnesses of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes hid one another and took care of each other even though it meant their lives. Jehovah's Witnesses are streaming in from all religions after studying the bible and seeing that the rest of the religions of the world have involved themselves in all parts of the world, commercialism, politics and false religion. Jesus said his true followers would be known by 2 traits. One, they would be no part of the world just like he was no part of the world and Two, they would have love among themselves. No other Christian religion meets that criteria except Jehovah's Witnesses.
Jehovah's Witnesses have been openly critisized for their neutral stand, but it is with certainty that the billions of innocent men, women and children executed in the name of war, many times urged or blessed by Christian religions, were not killed by one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
You can see first hand this type of attitude in action if you visit the world headquarters in Brooklyn, Patterson or Wallkill NY. You are invited to visit anytime you would like. I urge you to listen to Jehovah's Witnesses next time they come to your door. They self sacrificingly volunteer their time and resources to bring the good news of the Kingdom of God to people of all the nations--including you!

[ecmcrew]

Years ago it was called Decoration Day, the day when cemeteries were visited to honor veterans and flags and flowers placed on graves. People who lined the streets to watch parades placed their hands over their hearts as the flag passed by. Volleys were fired over veteran graves by smartly dressed soldiers with polished helmets.
Then it became known as Memorial Day. People still visited cemeteries and watched parades but, less often.
Later still, Memorial Day was made flexible to allow people to have long weekends.
The number of people who visited cemeteries dropped, they were too busy with picnics and long trips.
RIP . . . you earned it.
As for those who fail to honor you, may they enjoy the long weekend.

[ecmcrew]

Years ago it was called Decoration Day, the day when cemeteries were visited to honor veterans and flags and flowers placed on graves. People who lined the streets to watch parades placed their hands over their hearts as the flag passed by. Volleys were fired over veteran graves by smartly dressed soldiers with polished helmets.
Then it became known as Memorial Day. People still visited cemeteries and watched parades but, less often.
Later still, Memorial Day was made flexible to allow people to have long weekends.
The number of people who visited cemeteries dropped, they were too busy with picnics and long trips.
RIP . . . you earned it.
As for those who fail to honor you, may they enjoy the long weekend.

[ProudtoServe]

And I quote, "There's only so much time any of us can spend remembering those we loved who have died, but the men, boys really, who died in our wars deserve at least a few moments of reflection during which we consider what they did for us.?
So the female service members don?t deserve a few moments of reflection? Wow, I think you just offended the family members and friends of the hundreds of female service members who have given their lives since the Civil War. I would have expected better from you. It would have been a great tribute if not for that HUGE oversight.

[BenjaminHudson45]

I usually enjoy most of Andys' ravings, but, in light of mankinds track record in "fixing things" his comments about Memorial Day reveal both an ignorance of basic human nature and the historically proven foolishness of any utopian human solutions... It simply "ain't gonna happen" without help from the Maker...Wake up Mr Rooney.. before your time runs out.....eternity is a pretty long time.. Regards, Ben H

[ProudtoServe]

And I quote, "There's only so much time any of us can spend remembering those we loved who have died, but the men, boys really, who died in our wars deserve at least a few moments of reflection during which we consider what they did for us.?
So the female service members don?t deserve a few moments of reflection? Wow, I think you just offended the family members and friends of the hundreds of female service members who have given their lives since the Civil War. I would have expected better from you. It would have been a great tribute if not for that HUGE oversight.

[gonzo60min]

ANDY.
ER UGH...MR. ROONEY, I HAVE DEPRESSED THE CAP LOCKS TO SPEED MY CONTRIBUTION! WELCOMED OR NOT! TRUTH IS...YOU STRUCK A CHORD ABOUT OUR COMPLACENCY OF BARBEQUEING THE CELEBRATION OF A WORK HOLIDAY AS OPPOSED TO APPRECIATNG THE REASON WHY EMPLOYMENT LAW HAS DEEMED MEMORIAL DAY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.............WE SIT HERE AS PARENTS OF TRIPLET 12 YEAROLD MALES...WE SIT HERE AND APPRECIATE WHAT POPPA SACRIFICED IN WWII...WE SIT HERE WELLING UP WITH TEARS WHEN WE CONTEMPLATE THE THOUGHT...THAT POSSIBLY...ONE DAY...ONE OF OUR ONE THIRD TREASURES IS LOST IN SACRIFICE TO PROTECTING THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. AND OF COURSE, WE NEVER DISCOUNT THIS HOLIDAY, IT IS A FAMILIAL NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING AND RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO CHOSE TO DO MORE THAN THOSE WHO CHOSE TO RELY ON THOSE WHO WOULD DO MORE.!!! WE ARE A FAMILY WHO EMOTES MORE THAN MOST....ONLY BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE LOSS OF A CHILD..PARENT...SIBLING IS THE THE PAIN THAT IS ONLY UNDERSTOOD BY THE PERSONS ENCUBERING THE LOSS. SO ANDY, THIS HOLIDAY IS NOT LOST TO THOSE WHO APPRECIATE AN UNDEFINED DAY OFF......LOVE YOU BROTHER.

[mkurtz77]

Andy great commentary on peace. The religion you are seeking is already in existance. This religion is Christianity. The problem is not the religion but the practicioners of the religion. I defy any christian who supports war or torture to keep us safe free and "American" to justify these actions with the words of Jesus. I have looked long and hard for shock and awe, revenge, water boarding, death to America's enemies and even enhanced interrogation. My Jesus responds with forgiveness, return kindness for injury, blessed are the meek. Right here my mind turns to hatred of evil manipulators(Rove), revenge for how Cheny and Rumsfeld have smeared America's image and payback for the millions of Americans and Iraqi innocents who lost their lives to Bushes lies. My Jesus only allows prayer and forgiving. So I pray that I will no longer hate. That I will be given the courage to forgive. That I will have the wisdom to forget. That the true message of Jesus will be picked up by Bush,Cheny Rumsfeld Rove and many others. I pray that they forgive me. I hope this simple view of the message of Christ be read by all christians so they may become Christian after all. Peace Mark Kurtz

[deanrutz]

I think like many people I find Andy''s commentary frequently tedious and whiney. But I remember when this commentary was first broadcast in 2005, and it''s a big reason why I still tune in to the last five minutes of the program every Sunday night.

It has to be one of Andy''s finest segments. And it doesn''t really matter if I agree with everything he says. It''s brilliantly written, and more pointedly and powerfully delivered than the typical Sunday column. The idea behind it and the thoughtful way it''s presented did more to make me consider the day than any other news story I saw or read this weekend. And that''s what it was designed to do.

That''s the Andy Rooney I want to see more of. I don''t really care what''s in your desk drawer, Andy. I want to know what you think. Now I have something to think about myself. Thank you for that.

[deanrutz]

I think like many people I find Andy''s commentary frequently tedious and whiney. But I remember when this commentary was first broadcast in 2005, and it''s a big reason why I still tune in to the last five minutes of the program every Sunday night.

It has to be one of Andy''s finest segments. And it doesn''t really matter if I agree with everything he says. It''s brilliantly written, and more pointedly and powerfully delivered than the typical Sunday column. The idea behind it and the thoughtful way it''s presented did more to make me consider the day than any other news story I saw or read this weekend. And that''s what it was designed to do.

That''s the Andy Rooney I want to see more of. I don''t really care what''s in your desk drawer, Andy. I want to know what you think. Now I have something to think about myself. Thank you for that.

[deanrutz]

I think like many people I find Andy''s commentary frequently tedious and whiney. But I remember when this commentary was first broadcast in 2005, and it''s a big reason why I still tune in to the last five minutes of the program every Sunday night.

It has to be one of Andy''s finest segments. And it doesn''t really matter if I agree with everything he says. It''s brilliantly written, and more pointedly and powerfully delivered than the typical Sunday column. The idea behind it and the thoughtful way it''s presented did more to make me consider the day than any other news story I saw or read this weekend. And that''s what it was designed to do.

That''s the Andy Rooney I want to see more of. I don''t really care what''s in your desk drawer, Andy. I want to know what you think. Now I have something to think about myself. Thank you for that.

[deanrutz]

I think like many people I find Andy''s commentary frequently tedious and whiney. But I remember when this commentary was first broadcast in 2005, and it''s a big reason why I still tune in to the last five minutes of the program every Sunday night.

It has to be one of Andy''s finest segments. And it doesn''t really matter if I agree with everything he says. It''s brilliantly written, and more pointedly and powerfully delivered than the typical Sunday column. The idea behind it and the thoughtful way it''s presented did more to make me consider the day than any other news story I saw or read this weekend. And that''s what it was designed to do.

That''s the Andy Rooney I want to see more of. I don''t really care what''s in your desk drawer, Andy. I want to know what you think. Now I have something to think about myself. Thank you for that.

[deanrutz]

I think like many people I find Andy''s commentary frequently tedious and whiney. But I remember when this commentary was first broadcast in 2005, and it''s a big reason why I still tune in to the last five minutes of the program every Sunday night.

It has to be one of Andy''s finest segments. And it doesn''t really matter if I agree with everything he says. It''s that it''s brilliantly written, and more pointedly and powerfully delivered than the typical Sunday column. The idea behind it and the thoughtful way it''s presented did more to make me consider the day than any other news story I saw or read this weekend. And that''s what it was designed to do.

That''s the Andy Rooney I want to see more of. I don''t really care what''s in your desk drawer, Andy. I want to know what you think. Now I have something to think about myself. Thank you for that.