Comments on: A Memorial Day Worth Remembering

Andy Rooney On How Memorial Day Should Be Celebrated

[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.

[ecmcrew]

Andy, I would appreciate it very much if you would come out with support for restoring national holidays to fixed dates; for example, Decoration Day (Memorial Day) was celebrated on 30 May with parades and visits to the cemetary to decorate the graves of our fallen warriors. BTW, you''re so right: our fallen warriors didn''t sacrifice their lives - they weren''t kamikazi -they died fighting.

[Shut-In]

Dear Mr. Rooney:
Your segment tonight was simply amazing. You actually made your feelings known. I am a fifty-seven year old grandma who''s always felt that the idea of "war" was abhorant. Your comments could actually make a difference. Thank you a hundred times over.

Respectfully,
Sunny Lindsay
Salt Lake City, Utah

[baylout]

You remind me of my father, Andy, who as a marine (never say %u201Cex%u201D), will always speak about a time when there was respect, chivalry, and a reason for why we fought for things we believed in; and I am not talking about war. The ironic thing about your editorial was that it followed %u201CHere Come the Mellennials,%u201D a disturbing look at young Americans today. Who will create a new religion when non sibi has been replaced by sibi primo?

[eddieg729]

Mr. Rooney: There is such a religion, founded by Jesus Christ over 1900 yrs. ago, in which he stated, according to Mat. 22:37-40 that we must "love Jehovah God with all our heart, mind and soul, and our neighbor as yourself." If huanity were to follow this two commandments as the more than 6 million Jehovah''s Witnesses do all over the Earth, there would be no killings, not only to the brothers in the faith, but also to our neighbors. They live their lives by these two commandments, and even though they have suffered persecution by many nations, and also the apathy of the World population as a hold, they will continue trying to teach this same World, that, only God''s Kindom will solve all the problems that humanity faces, specially the "wars." Our love for for their neighbor motivate them to do so Mat. 24:14

[eehawks]

We don''t need a new religion- we just need to practice the one given to us in the bible- no politics, no nationalism, no learning war anymore. See how Jehovah''s Witnesses live without war. Look at JW_Media.org.

[a135s]

their is a religion that has solved the problem of war it is Jehovah''s Witnesses.

[jjzolot]

Okay, Andy, I apologise. I must have missed this one when it was first aired, as it says it is from 2005. These words were worth all their weight and I''m glad I was watching you tonight to hear them. I have no first-hand experience of war, as you have and that makes your opinion very valuable to me. But I have always felt there was a lot of irony (for lack of a better word) in all the sanctimoniousness about soldiers giving their last full measure of devotion (sorry, A. Lincoln). Soldiers are, after all, trying to kill other people, that''s their job. I wish we would not elevate them in the tragic circumstances of their deaths and remember that war is a preventable and treatable malady. I agree that we could save the lives of future would-be soldiers, not to mention the millions of civilian lives they call "collateral damage." Working for peace is the brave thing to do.

Julie Zolot
Chicago, IL

[sheepsnose]

Amen Andy , you''ve out done yourself with your words of Rememberance for those who have served and given their lives for U.S. It''s not about a day off , long weekend , BBQ''s...its about the Vets.

Bill Auburn,NH

[a135s]

their is a religion that has solved the problem of war it is Jehovah''s Witnesses.

[a135s]

their is a religion that has solved the problem of war it is Jehovah''s Witnesses.

[saleiseca]

Many thanks for your comments. It begins with each of us, so may each of us act accordingly.

take care

[dblg1130]

Wow. You nailed it today. Those that don''t understand the "bravery" we display at war haven''t really been there. Your statement "We use the phrase "gave their lives," but they didn%u2019t give their lives. Their lives were taken from them" was spot on.

[tomturnemo]

I agree, Andy, their lives weren''t given, they were taken. Were it not for their sacrifice, intended or not, we wouldn''t enjoy the freedoms that we have today. I am a cold war Air Force veteran. I served in Labrador and Montana. Not many people remember what we did, but we do and we are proud of it. No one shot at us and we didn''t shoot anyone. However, the Cuban missile crisis was close enough for me. Our radar site was in Montana in the middle of a Minute-man Missile wing and we could see the launch lights for 30 days during that time. Any veteran, regardless of his service area or time, deserves to be treated better than some of us are now. Whether it was Chateau-thierry, Iwo Jima, Omaha Beach, Tarawa Atoll or Hamburger Hill, some GI fought to preserve our way of life. All of us need to remember that freedom isn''t free. As Thomas Jefferson said,"From time to time, the tree of liberty needs to be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots."

[annewestbiss]

Your initial comments are inspirational. I think that every member of the military is a hero, but you crossed the line when you suggested that we find a new religion to not have war. I quess you would prefer that we worship Andy Rooney?

[prashantkj96]

After many weeks / months I watched 60 minutes today. I love watching Andy Rooney. He has been in war and one of my favorite reporter. I have always enjoyed Andy''s few words of wisdom at the end of the show!

There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people.

I respectfully disagree with Andy''s initial part of the statement as I believe and see that there is more bravery in peace than at war. The bravery in war is recognized thru media but bravery in peace is not as visible. That does not mean there is more bravery at war than in peace.

Bless your soul Andy!

[prashantkj96]

After many weeks / months I watched 60 minutes today. I love watching Andy Rooney. He has been in war and one of my favorite reporter. I have always enjoyed Andy''s few words of wisdom at the end of the show!

There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people.

I respectfully disagree with Andy''s initial part of the statement as I believe and see that there is more bravery in peace than at war. The bravery in war is recognized thru media but bravery in peace is not as visible. That does not mean there is more bravery at war than in peace.

Bless your soul Andy!

[photogeezer]

Andy,

This is one of your best; very brief, words well chosen. Thank you

Doug
Vietnam, class of ''68

[breatheout]

I don''t think we need a new religion, Andy. We just need to put into practice what we say we believe. Like the ''good book'' says, "do unto others...; pray for your enemies; love one another...