Comments on: A Memorial Day Worth Remembering

Andy Rooney On How Memorial Day Should Be Celebrated

[ubrew12]

On the subject of the Peace Corp: you join the military, you get three squares and a cot, and you get the best killing equipment half a trillion dollars a year can buy, and the debate is whether you''ll get a free college education after discharge.

You join the Peace Corp: you pay your OWN way. Not to belittle our brave soldiers and their sacrifice, especially on THIS day. But people have tried to promote peace, and are always marginalized.

An interesting footnote on people who return from the Peace Corp:

They say those who return from Latin America, return with a strong sense of social injustice. Those who return from Asia, return with a strong spirituality, and those who return from Africa, return drunk and laughing. (Some countries are such basket-cases, thats the only healthy response).

[ubrew12]

Rooney: "I wish we could dedicate Memorial Day... to ...saving the lives of the young people who are going to die in the future if we don%u2019t find some new way... that takes war out of our lives."

Maybe. But many have fought, and some have died, to develop such a way. They are called peaceniks, hippies, traitors, and are derided and marginalized. There is no day to commemorate their efforts. Ya wanna be looked down on in this warrior society?

Join the Peace Corp.

[chad55555]

Being a veteran in America don''t mean much anymore,remembering veterans is a all year process,the ones that died can''t see how a person is running for president that wantsto seels out to Iran by meeting them or a women who;s husband protested in another country aginst America in Vietnam. AS WE CAN SEE REMEMBERING VETERANS IS MORE THE A ONE DAY PROCESS. WE CAN THINK THEM FOR ALL THE STUPID THINGS WE ARE ALLOWED TO NOW. THANK GOD(CHRISTIAN)STARTED THIS COUNTRY FOR OUR VETERANS. THIS IS A DAY TO REMEMBER HOW GREAT AMERICA ONCE WAS AND BECAUSE VETERANS GAVE ALL SO WE COULD MAKE MAJOR MISTAKES AND REALIZE THEM AND REPAIR THEM BEFORE AMERICA BECOMES A COUNTRY OF PAST. TREAT VETERANS AS IF YOU APPREICATE THEM ALL YEAR LONG.DON''T WAIT UNTIL THEIR ALL DEAD.

[danrussell26]

I agree with other comments about the disheartening end to your essay. Nonviolence IS an option. It was incredibly successful in freeing Eastern Europe from Soviet control at the end of the Cold War. Poland, Czechoslovakia, E. Germany, Rumania, Hungary, etc., won their freedom without resorting to violence. Mr. Rooney''s comments make it sound as if the options are virtually unimaginable, apart from war. They aren''t, and the history is both recent and relevant. Please think about this and what it means for the people of the world.

[icepik60]

God bless and hold, all those who did not return from the "Nam", and all others ,from all conflicts. Thank you Andy.

[grammawhamma]

I liked this segment that Andy did on Memorial Day except for the following quote:

"Because I was in the Army during World War II, I have more to remember on Memorial Day than most of you. I had good friends who were killed."

Andy should remember that WW II was not the only war...there are many veteran''s from other wars who also had good friends that were killed.

RIP to all our deceased veterans and thank you!

[azjack72]

Great piece until your pacifist statement at the end. Mahmoud of Tehran tells us that we can convert to his religion and live in peace forever. Would you have us do that? Give up all freedoms? Destroy this country?
Certainly that was not your intent, but your pacifism is naive for such an experienced and learned man.

[shadowz422]

Dear Andy:
Unfortunately, I caught only the last few seconds of your comments (26 May), but it was important for me to reply.
Bottom line. You are wrong. Period. Dot.
I honor and treasure your service in WW II. I regard you as a fellow warrior who for some reason has been misguided (I''ve been a fighter pilot since 1958 - taught by Korean War veterans). War is not about indiscriminant slaughter as your sound bit (column??) states. War is waged to COMPEL your enemy to do what you impose.
You dishonor our troops. They have volunteered to be in the military -- every one of them for over the past two decades. In my opinion, to say that they have not ''given'' their lives and that some un-named entity (implied as the US Government) has ''taken'' them is obscene.
My question to you, sir, is, "How do you propose we handle the current world situation, given the fact that we have sworn enemies?" I expect an answer that is solid and not filled with wishes. Additionally, I expect a reply that apologizes to our military forces about them not "giving" their lives, which all of the combat and support troops (includes all services) have done.
In closing, I submit that I am disappointed and troubled by your comments today. Every active duty member of the military and all of its veterans (you included) signed a blank check payable to the United States to the amount of "My Life". Some had to be cashed to preserve our freedoms. That''s what your message should have been. Shame on you.

[mvmitch1]

Matthew 6:7

[mvmitch1]

BJ; Did your finger get stuck on the publish button?

[mvmitch1]

Think of a world with no war. No need for locks on your doors. Fear is a thing of the past as well as hatred. No pollution of anything. No need for doctors or lawyers... no one will be sick ever again and no one will take another to court... there will be no reasons. No grave-yards, as no one will be dieing. Peace instead of war. Love instead of hatred. Winthrop, WA.

[llroth1]

There ARE religions who believe violence and war are counter to the message of peace that Jesus Christ taught. The Quakers, Mennonites and other Anabaptist groups have held these Christian values for up to 4 centuries. Unfortunately it is those values of Christian peace and love that seem to incur violence towards them our Western society.

[mvmitch1]

Mr. Rooney; It is tragic that so many have had their lives cut short due to hatred of other people. However, there is a people that have willingly, world wide, beaten their swords into plowshears as Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:3,4 says. This because we love our God and our fellowman. If no one hated another person, there would be no more war. This has been done by over 6.8 million of Jehovah''s Witnesses. No law can make a person love another. It has to come from the heart.

Thank you for speaking what so many already know.

Our nations military is still behind the times. I was amused when they went all politically correct and decided not to call dependent family members "dependents" any more. If it''s good enough for the IRS....

But I was never comfortable with the "gave their lives" bit. No, they didn''t. When you give something, you don''t fight to hold onto it, you don''t endure years in prison camps hoping to be rescued, you don''t go down fighting when you "give" your life. Yet another politically correct phrase, designed to gloss over the fight and make it seem somehow better. It wasn''t a noble sacrifice, it was dirty and stinky and bloody and sweaty, and they fought with everything they had.

Soldiers don''t give their lives. Soldiers go down fighting. I am proud to remember the soldiers that have passed through my life. They gave nothing away. They went down fighting.

[ebethdaly]

Mr Rooney:
Thank you for your Memorial Day reflection. We should also remember those, like yourself and my father, whose war experiences influenced many generations to come because of their survival of ineffable suffering. Elizabeth

[lewsue19]

Thank you for your segment tonight. I couldn''t agree with you more. You are always my favorite part of the show. Take care of yourself.

[wamacphee]

Dear Andy, thank you for you comments on Memorial Day.

WA MacPhee
101st Airborne, Rangers
Vietnam 1965-66

[harveymfox]

Dear Mr. Rooney, Thank you for your commentary today. Although too young to be in "The War", I remember too well the effects losses had on our little ghetto in Massachusetts. Your comments were very accurate and most appreciated is the wish expressed in the paragraph at the end. Somewhat selfishly, my wife and I think of our grandchildren and pray for an end to the current worldwide madness.

[harveymfox]

Dear Mr. Rooney, Thank you for your commentary today. Although too young to be in "The War", I remember too well the effects losses had on our little ghetto in Massachusetts. Your comments were very accurate and most appreciated is the wish expressed in the paragraph at the end. Somewhat selfishly, my wife and I think of our grandchildren and pray for an end to the current worldwide madness.

[harveymfox]

Dear Mr. Rooney, Thank you for your commentary today. Although too young to be in "The War", I remember too well the effects losses had on our little ghetto in Massachusetts. Your comments were very accurate and most appreciated is the wish expressed in the paragraph at the end. Somewhat selfishly, my wife and I think of our grandchildren and pray for an end to the current worldwide madness.