Making Sense Of Holidays

Andy Rooney Takes A Look At America's Holidays

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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CBS has just given all of its employees a memo that lists the ten holidays all of us get off.

New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas and Friday December 26th. They knew no one was going to work December 26th anyway.

Making the days after Christmas and Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King's birthday holidays was a good idea but I don't know what "President's Day" is for. Our president gets enough attention every day without designating a special "day" for him.

No one I know calls the Fourth of July "Independence Day" either. We all call it just "The Fourth". It's a great American holiday.

Labor Day isn't much except the last day of vacation for most of us. "Labor" no longer needs to be given a special day of its own to make it happy. The word "labor" itself is going out of style in America because very few Americans do what we think of as "labor" any more. "Labor" used to be someone working with a pick and shovel and there aren’t many of them left. There are machines that do what "labor" used to do.

I don't even think Labor unions make much of "Labor Day" any more. The end of summer vacation is what Labor Day is.

Thanksgiving is a great all-American holiday but we don't do much about it either except have a big turkey dinner. The trouble with Thanksgiving is we can't decide who to thank and it's too close to Christmas, too. We're really serious about Christmas. There are always people too cheap to buy gifts who say that Christmas is too commercial but I love Christmas. It may be more commercial than religious but it's great.

There's one day I loved when I was a kid more than any other but I've cooled off on that. It was my birthday. How in the world did we ever decide to make a joyous occasion out of being a year older?

[bikerboyzz1]

what planet did you come from i work in a city next to boston mass.and i use a shovel and pick most of the day in my job i am what they call a laborer.i am 53 years old and i need that day off to rest thank you

[bikerboyzz1]

what planet did you come from i work in a city near boston mass i use a shovel and pick and sledgehammer most of the day thats what they call a laborer i need that day off to rest

[trillspots]

Mr. Rooney,
I must say I was very insulted by your comments pertaining to Labor Day. There are real laborers in this country, and no, they are not all illegal.
I, for one, work a very physically demanding job and am very appreciative of those few days a year when I do not have to reinjur my blistered hands.
Just because you haven gotten up from that desk in so many years you have your own orbit, don''t make suggestions the that may harm those less fortunate than yourself. Be happy with what you have, lest you find yourself pennyless in your retirement and doing a job that shock you with it''s physical requirements. Shame on you!

[a41grayfox]

Andy: I''m new to your comment site but it may be an informative location to get a real feel of out "citizens". After briefly reviewing the comments posted to this point, I''ll make a couple of my own. To ''buttluv2plz'', I feel memorial day should be for family and friends. Washington and Lincoln did have their own day till MLK came along. Not much we can do about that. Thanksgiving is a great holiday but in the month of November we also have Veterans Day. This is a day that begs for recognition. Where would this country be without the sacrifice of those lost of the field of battle and those that have served or those now serving. I believe Veterans Day should be a National Holliday so that our citizens will receive a clear message as to the meaning of the day. For ''dscallah'', thanks for your support. For ''trillion1'', why don''t we include Veterans Day.
I may appear a little strong here but I''m a Veteran and the way the holiday is celebrated now really turns me off. Thanks for allowing me to express myself and for your continued entertainment. agrayfox41

[bubusdad]

Dear Mr. Rooney,

Please do not kid yourself and allow your privileged status to blind you. There''s still plenty of work that one would call "labor" in the United States of America, and it''s not done by machines ("There are machines that do what "labor" used to do"). It''s done by illegal immigrants. Machines might have replaced some humans but, by and large, most of the hard work in our country is done by the illegal immigrants some people are so bent on keeping beyond our borders. They''re everywhere: in the kitchens of many restaurants, in the construction and gardening industries, cleaning our homes, taking care of our kids, harvesting and packing our food. The big problem is%u2014as you have ratified with your comment%u2014they''re invisible. Your omission contributes to their invisibility. Please correct this oversight.

Yours truly,

H.

[bubusdad]

Dear Mr. Rooney,

Please do not kid yourself and allow your privileged status to blind you. There''s still plenty of work that one would call "labor" in the United States of America, and it''s not done by machines. It''s done by illegal immigrants. Machines might have replaced some humans but, by and large, most of the hard work in our country is done by the illegal immigrants some people are so bent on keeping beyond our borders. They''re everywhere: in the kitchens of many restaurants, in the construction and gardening industries, cleaning our homes, taking care of our kids, harvesting and packing our food. The big problem is%u2014as you have ratified with your comment%u2014they''re invisible. Your omission contributes to their invisibility. Please correct this oversight.

Yours truly,

H.

[bubusdad]

Dear Mr. Rooney,

Please do not kid yourself and allow your privileged status to blind you. There''s still plenty of work that one would call "labor" in the United States of America, and it''s not done by machines. It''s done by illegal immigrants. Machines might have replaced some humans but, by and large, most of the hard work in our country is done by the illegal immigrants some people are so bent on keeping beyond our borders. They''re everywhere: in the kitchens of many restaurants, in the construction and gardening industries, cleaning our homes, taking care of our kids, harvesting and packing our food. The big problem is%u2014as you have ratified with your comment%u2014they''re invisible. Your omission contributes to their invisibility. Please correct this oversight.

Yours truly,

H.

[bubusdad]

Dear Mr. Rooney,

Please do not kid yourself and allow your privileged status to blind you. There''s still plenty of work that one would call "labor" in the United States of America, and it''s not done by machines. It''s done by illegal immigrants. Machines might have replaced some humans but, by and large, most of the hard work in our country is done by the illegal immigrants some people are so bent on keeping beyond our borders. They''re everywhere: in the kitchens of many restaurants, in the construction and gardening industries, cleaning our homes, taking care of our kids, harvesting and packing our food. The big problem is%u2014as you have ratified with your comment%u2014they''re invisible. Your omission contributes to their invisibility. Please correct this oversight.

Yours truly,

H.

[bubusdad]

Dear Mr. Rooney,

Please do not kid yourself and allow your privileged status to blind you. There''s still plenty of work that one would call "labor" in the United States of America, and it''s not done by machines. It''s done by illegal immigrants. Machines might have replaced some humans but, by and large, most of the hard work in our country is done by the illegal immigrants some people are so bent on keeping beyond our borders. They''re everywhere: in the kitchens of many restaurants, in the construction and gardening industries, cleaning our homes, taking care of our kids, harvesting and packing our food. The big problem is%u2014as you have ratified with your comment%u2014they''re invisible. Your omission contributes to their invisibility. Please correct this oversight.

Yours truly,

H.

[bubusdad]

Dear Mr. Rooney,

Please do not kid yourself and allow your privileged status to blind you. There''s still plenty of work that one would call "labor" in the United States of America, and it''s not done by machines. It''s done by illegal immigrants. Machines might have replaced some humans but, by and large, most of the hard work in our country is done by the illegal immigrants some people are so bent on keeping beyond our borders. They''re everywhere: in the kitchens of many restaurants, in the construction and gardening industries, cleaning our homes, taking care of our kids, harvesting and packing our food. The big problem is%u2014as you have ratified with your comment%u2014they''re invisible. Your omission contributes to their invisibility. Please correct this oversight.

Yours truly,

H.

[bbrundj]

Yeah, I agree with j_liberte. The constant push to demean Christmas and kow-tow to atheist scientists is really getting passe. Good grief, let us be able to say Christmas, with Christ in it. It is a harmless, joyful and peaceful occasion, for a great influential rabbi and solemn figure, anyway. I don''t hear much said about Buddha''s day, or Darwin''s birthday, any how.

[mello_yello2]

Mr. Rooney:
1)Isn''t what is observed as Labor Day in North America--for all intents and purposes--similar to MAY DAY in Europe (where labor unions are still taken seriously)?

2)As far as birthdays are concerned, look at it this way; thin of at as one more year of surviving--especially in this wonky world!

3)On a lighter note, I love that "floating" holiday (ie, the day after Christmas)--I dare say, it would''ve been up the late Timothy Leary''s alley: "FFFFFFAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR OOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[mello_yello2]

Mr. Rooney:
1)Isn''t what is observed as Labor Day in North America--for all intents and purposes--similar to MAY DAY in Europe (where labor unions are still taken seriously)?

2)As far as birthdays are concerned, look at it this way; thin of at as one more year of surviving--especially in this wonky world!

3)On a lighter note, I love that "floating" holiday (ie, the day after Christmas)--I dare say, it would''ve been up the late Timothy Leary''s alley: "FFFFFFAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR OOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[logicanada]

Andy forgot to mention ex-presidents day.
It will be a global day off to commemorate the day Bush2 leaves office.
Maybe there will be another one for when the imprison him for the plethora of offenses he has committed against the U.S. people and the world at large.

[buttluv2plz]

PRESIDENTS DAY USED TO BE ORIGANALLY WASHINGTTONS B DAY AND LINCOLNS. THE FED GOV COMBINED THESE INTO ONE TO MAKE ROOM FOR MLK DAY. I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND FELT RIPPED OFF. NOTHING AGAINST MLK., BUT STILL!!????!!! FURTHERMORE MEMORIAL AND VETS DAY SEEMS ALITTLE REDUNDANT BUT I''M NOT A VET SO WHAT CAN I SAY. POWER TO THOSE WITH COURAGE AND TENACITY!!!

[pmr70]

Mr. Rooney - I am one American who knows who to thank on Thanksgiving and everyday. I thank God, the same God our forefathers thanked, for all that I have and for always being with me. I am thankful that I can not go where He is not. If you and anyone out there would read the BIBLE you and everyone else would know who to thank also.

[buttluv2plz]

MR. ROONEY, AS A FEW OTHER VIEWERS BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH, SO TO SPEAK ABOUT YOUR "HOLIDAY" SEGMENT, I JUST HAD TO COMMENT. FIRST OF ALL YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME LAUGH, PONDER, THINK AND MOSTLY AGREE WITH YOU.
BUT PLEASE TAKE THIS TO HEART; I DON''T USUALLY DO THIS ON-LINE THING. I CAN''NOT TYPE WORTH A ***!
BUT PRESIDENTS DAY AS I REMEMBER IT IN GRADE SCHOOL, WAS A TRANSFORMATION FROM: ONE WEEK YOU GOT A DAY OFF FOR WASHINGTON''S B-DAY, THEN DAY FOR FOR

[dscallah]

Mr Rooney,
What about Veterans Day? Without all the Vets this country and our rights to celabrate any holidays would not exist. Without the sacrifices of our Vets you wouldn''t be able to give any of your anti gov''t BS as you are now protected by the the US Constitution for which our Vets of of all times have protected. CBS should be thankful for these people and celebrate this day with them. Why Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I to question Labor Day? Memorial day was set to honor our war dead and today most people think its a day to picnic and put flowers on Aunt Mitildas grave who never served a day in the military.
I can''t believe that CBS does not honor our Vets.

[flstf4]

Dear Mr. Rooney,
I agree with you about Presidents Day as it is used today. However, initially, only George Washington''s birthday was observed. This made sense. The "Father of our Country" should be remembered because without him there would be no America.

[laa39]

Come on guys, lighten up.

Andy has just 5 minutes to say his piece.
He can''t go in depth about any topic in just 5 minutes. I''m sure he is a lot more enlightened than a lot of you believe...but with just 5 minutes to comment, he can only say so much (or little).

Don''t let you feathers get so ruffled, when he obviously doesn''t have enough time to cover every single aspect about the topics he comments on.

His commentaries are meant to be fun, humorous, and to give people something to think about..not to be taken too seriously.