I usually brush off what Andy says as the trivial ramblings of a bitter old man, but this was particularly insightful and touching way of looking at war and Memorial Day.
War is not the nature of all humans. It's the nature of men. Women don't make war. When is the last time a group of women said, Let's go kill some people with our machine guns? I know that there are plenty of female soldiers out there, but the idea of war was born of man and is perpetuated by man. Look in history all the way back to Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis.
@godverdegodverdomme - There is nothing out there that will PROVE validity to people like you. Your always looking for the answers that agree with your biases. Proof is really faith at the end of the day. I.E., you drop something and it inevitably hits the ground. You assume that happens because of something that you read in a book written by a scientist. Is that credible? Gravity is a theory. Ptolemy had a theory that the earth was the center of the solar system. Theories are glorified ideas.
@godverdegodverdomme yes, yes. villify me. Demonize me. Attack me personally. You're right. I have no idea what is going on. But you? You are sensational! I consider myself enlightened by your every word. I hope our future generations are just like you. Thank you for your valuable insight.
@rocketnerd Your sarcasm fails to an extremely large extend, despite of how easy it is not to let that get by you, you still do. I'd say that is a feat in itself, were it not a so commonly shared trait among the religiously obsessed.
Know thyself before thou knoweth others, or something in that ghost.
Normally i think Andy is a crazy old coot good for a few laughs, but here he shows his true wisdom. Really cuts through the patriotic BS and points out that war is man's biggest failure as a species.
War is not a pleasant thing, and no one hates it more than those who fight. However, sometimes war is necessary, and there are times when talking and diplomacy can't solve disputes, or when a country is attacked unprovoked.
Sadly, this is human nature, and no matter what people do to change that, there will always be other people who choose war, and thus we are all forced to choose it also, or be destroyed.
Sigh ... misguided. Those who died, gave us the right to even think about this attempt to alter a day set aside for them into some kind of peace day they themselves died giving us. This idea of changing memorial day away from those who gave us the right to even have that thought of change is ludicrous.
Are you guys kidding me? I know its an ideology nowadays that war is never justified, that it is never the answer but is that really true? Bad people will always do bad things, and we cant mind control them to do what we want, they will always have their agency. Their wars are not justified. But coming to the aid of those in suffering is. Let me ask was America justified in joining WW2? It ended the reign of a tyrant and prevented the near genocide of an entire race.
...my logic is simply this -listen to the individuals verbal cadence...listen for a logical, calm explanation.
As Rooney has aged his emotional state has gently taken a dip off of rational clear headedness and delved into extremes with his assumptions.
...as some age they become calmer & wiser while others become mired in their own emotional angst -a simple illustration of this would be comparing someone like David Letterman to Dennis Miller -Miller is much cooler,calmer and respectful.
Nobody wants or enjoys war however Rooney's previous rants have shown him to be an unstable lunatic of vast proportion...when you have ruined your credibility due to sanity issues as he has it makes it difficult to accept him (as opposed to his message) as a stable person grounded in common sense that should be listened to.
WWII was a nasty-destructive war. My Grandpa entered the Air Force at the age of 23 and delayed his career and my grandma's boyfriend was killed. The US could have stayed neutral but American's knew in their gut that what the Nazis were doing was wrong. Also, what the Japs did was just plain upsetting.
Not bad. A lot of people who were alive in WW II thought there should be no more wars, whenever, and wherever possible. I don't see Mr. Rooney as being unpatriotic, because he is right. As for stopping war completely, I'm afraid that may well be impossible.
Well Andy, SOMEBODY had to stop the Nazi's, the Japs, and the "I"talians (sp)
or it would have been Death camps for everyone - including YOU!
Your priorites are way off base. You seem to balme AMERICA for the loss of your friends - But it is AMERICA your sock challenged friends fought for - and died for.
Should we NOT fight for AMERICA? In the final analysis - it comes down to Fight or Flight and you are choosing Flight.
The Nazi ideology, one could argue, was an attempt at a "new" religion; a mix Germanic mythos, racial superiority, Darwinism, and the elevation of Hitler to a God-like figure.
And on the atheist front, the Communists were no better when came to brutally sacrificing their people in the name of their name secular dogma.
We were attacked by a foreign country on December 7, 1941, and Congress actually declared war. World War 2 was The LAST REAL WAR. Mr. Rooney was there. He deserves our respect.
What an utter idiot. Saying "War is to cause death" is like saying "Surgery is to cut people." This is why the mainstream media is dying - because these vapid fools keep preaching their sixties hippie nonsense.
Tell a parent or widow their son's life was wasted. Tell an Iraqi family who no longer fears a regime that would torture or kill them on a whim that US efforts were a waste. Tell Afgan schoolgirls their freedom to attend school was a waste. If we cannot standup for others freedom then who would stand up for ours when they come for us?
Been there. Done that. Even told an 80-yr old WW2 veteran that he has no chance of seeing his war buddies again because he, like everyone else, has no soul.
As for the Iraqis, they may not fear Saddam, but they do still fear death because now they have new non-secular mobs to live in fear of - instead of the one SECULAR leader you just disposed.
Afghan girls are now allowed to attend school. Well La dee dah. It doesn't help much when Honor Killings are still legal and on the rise there.
Had you said that to my WWII vet Dad you would be drinking your food through a straw.
"you just disposed"? You had as much to do with it as I.
I'm glad people like you are not in charge of keeping our country safe. It is people like you have have no soul and already lost in your own self made hell.
"Tell a parent or widow their son's life was wasted. Tell an Iraqi family who no longer fears a regime that would torture or kill them on a whim that US efforts were a waste. Tell Afgan schoolgirls their freedom to attend school was a waste. If we cannot standup for others freedom then who would stand up for ours when they come for us? "
2 can play this game. You should tell a child in North korea that their doesnt have enough oil or their leader havent killed enough ppl to warrant a rescue
I love his thoughts. I just got back from DC and everyone was talking about our fallen heroes. I feel sorry for all those who have died in war and wish someday our country would grow up and learn to sit on its hands and work toward peace at any cost. THAT would be heroic. All who have died in Iraq had their lives wasted by an idiotic president who wanted to make a name for himself protecting oil interests. Very sad.
I'm sorry Andy Rooney. The goal of war is not to cause death. The goal of a just war is to protect life and freedom and to win victory over an enemy that would take that freedom and the lives of the innocent.
War is not moral or immoral.
An unjust war is immoral.
A just war is moral.
Mr. Rooney I hope you would understand that distinction and not paint with such a broad brush. It is unfair to our nation and the men and women who have defended our country both in the armed services at at home.
Stop Loss doesn't happen to retiring Military members. Members who are retiring have an open contract to begin with. Stop Loss is used on the younger Soldiers too keep them around on their contract. StopLoss is retarded so I agree with you. I just wanted you to know that it is the young Military members that are suffering from it.
My Credentials: I was StopLossed in Afghanistan and hated my life at the time because of it.
You hit the nail right on the head, starting at 2:20
I say we start that new religion you talked about right now by burning all those PoS christian republicans Haters at the stake on The White House lawn.
Damn, I home DHS doesn't come knocking on my door again. :(
You, however, have demonstrated your absolute narrow minded leftist stoked firey red hate for anyone who would disagree with you and every human that dares not drink the kool aid that you so deeply swallowed.
Also: Perhaps you haven't noticed, Bush is out of office.
That PoS g. w. bush will be on the spot for as many year as President Clinton and Hillary were . . . and they didn't commit treason or war crimes so get use to it idea of that PoS g. w. bush being prosecuted.
Making assumptions is human nature. Also it's not about being left or right. It's just about what's fair. Letting everyone have the same rights regardless of what or who they are just seems like the right thing to do.
Those of you who haven't served should try to do a better job of seperating the war from the warrior. We don't get to choose the war our leaders send us to fight, but we do get to choose how we conduct our own small portion of it. The men and women I served with conducted theirs with honor and as much compassion as war allows. Direct your anger at the leaders you elected.
You ask :Who will remember...?" Certainly not you. While you scurry about trying to establish who was right and who was wrong and flaming on the net, we who fought and those who were lost on both sides are appropriately mourned. I think the true meaning of "loss" is lost on you.
The problem is that you and yours only mourn the Americans, not the people in the third world countries (no threat to us) that the politicians have our bombs kill.
If you took the time to read instead of flame, you would see that I do mourn "those who were lost on both sides". Don't for a minute think that you know my convictions, my committments or my integrity. Rant on Lockbert99...each time you do, you expose yourself for who you are...
If the Shiite's didn't strike a nerve with me, it is doubtful that you can. I share your frustration...that is the point I'm trying to make. It is not as simple as one would like to make it appear. I am not pro war, just as I'm not pro Democrat or pro Republican. This all simply started as a conversation about remembering the lives that have been TAKEN. I mourne all loss and believe that those in positions of political and financial power are ultimately responsible.
OK, this got out of hand. I apologize. My intent was not to make personal attacks. I am just very upset that we allowed Bush/Cheney to devastate a country on clearly false pretenses. Andy is no different in that regard.
Dulce et decorum NON est to die for one's country. It's just death. Those of us who don't listen to that, who wear our flags on our lapels flagrantly (funny how most war mongers do) but not proudly can ever know what terror, terror beyond measure, beyond absurdity, is it to have other people wanting to kill you--you having to kill them first before they do you in.
Sounds like Andy Rooney is yearning for a Ron Paul type government where there are fewer wars and less war mongers acting tough with our young people.
If you have never served, you wouldn't understand. On Memorial Day, you remember what ever you like, some of you will remember nothing. I for one will remember, honor and show the respect that is due. I believe my service and that of others has somehow allowed Xerock and others of similar minds to write what they write, say what they say and think as they wish. War is as old as man and there will always be those who believe in their cause and others who do not. I believe.
War is as old as man. War will be the end of man. War is. You peacenik pinko commies better realize that. Your peace marches and sit ins and scathing blogs aren't going to change anything. Men have to pound chests and stand toe to toe to see who's got the biggest pecker. War is. Living.
No one will remember the millions of Vietnamese or hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who were killed by Americans and their bombs either. Were they trying to take our freedom Andy?
A pinko commie would do the same thing as America - treat a brutal attack on a third world country who was no threat to us (per hundreds of inspections by UN WMD inspectors) the same as World War II.
I agree. What good is all of our advancement, invention, education, and success..... if we never come up with a better way to solve our differences besides war?
its so true, i dont get why people cant see right from wrong and stop there senseless killings. Andy sure is smart and a great man who surprisingly is a vetran, have a nice memorial day.
"To cause death to other people", is not the goal of war, it is an unfortunate necessity to stop evil. Furthermore, not all the soldiers' lives were "taken". Some did give their lives for others.
actually that wouldnt be a bad idea, as we have so many religions to divide people and to give people more reasons to hate eachother and kill eachother and cause loads of havoc, chaos, and of course war. andy always has something great and wise to say.
I usually brush off what Andy says as the trivial ramblings of a bitter old man, but this was particularly insightful and touching way of looking at war and Memorial Day.
dak879 1 year ago
War is not the nature of all humans. It's the nature of men. Women don't make war. When is the last time a group of women said, Let's go kill some people with our machine guns? I know that there are plenty of female soldiers out there, but the idea of war was born of man and is perpetuated by man. Look in history all the way back to Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis.
rocketnerd 1 year ago
@rocketnerd if it were woman it would be just as bad in a different way
TonyPizzaro 1 year ago
@rocketnerd War is not the nature of men either. It is the nature of a select group of demented monsters
that happen to make calls from "higher up". The book of genesis? That proves nothing whatsoever since
it is in no way, shape, or form, a credible source of information.
godverdegodverdomme 9 months ago
@godverdegodverdomme - There is nothing out there that will PROVE validity to people like you. Your always looking for the answers that agree with your biases. Proof is really faith at the end of the day. I.E., you drop something and it inevitably hits the ground. You assume that happens because of something that you read in a book written by a scientist. Is that credible? Gravity is a theory. Ptolemy had a theory that the earth was the center of the solar system. Theories are glorified ideas.
rocketnerd 9 months ago
@rocketnerd We have no biases about such topics. You make the claim, so YOU have to show
evidence for it. That's the way the world works, and it is very simple to understand.
People like you however, have failed time upon time upon time, since the beginning of religious
activity, to prove your position or theirs for that matter, is correct.
And what have we done? We have shown you through intricate logic that your ideology is utter bullshit,
each and every time. You just fail to admit defeat.
godverdegodverdomme 9 months ago
@godverdegodverdomme yes, yes. villify me. Demonize me. Attack me personally. You're right. I have no idea what is going on. But you? You are sensational! I consider myself enlightened by your every word. I hope our future generations are just like you. Thank you for your valuable insight.
rocketnerd 9 months ago
@rocketnerd "Thank you for your valuable insight."
You have youtube's 500 character limit to thank for that, I can only fit in so much.
Besides, do not be so hypocritical. You started to demonize me didn't you?
"People like you" remember? You catagorized and patronized me without knowing shit
about me to begin with.
godverdegodverdomme 9 months ago
@godverdegodverdomme Right again. Nothing gets by you.
rocketnerd 9 months ago
@rocketnerd Your sarcasm fails to an extremely large extend, despite of how easy it is not to let that get by you, you still do. I'd say that is a feat in itself, were it not a so commonly shared trait among the religiously obsessed.
Know thyself before thou knoweth others, or something in that ghost.
godverdegodverdomme 9 months ago
@rocketnerd "Gravity is a theory"
Yes ofcourse gravity is a theory, what is your point?
Theories are anything but glorified ideas, and you leave the impression
you have no clue whatsoever how the scientific world works, or what a theory is.
A scientific theory is not the same as a quickly brainstormed theory with no research
or peer reviewing to back it up. Yet you treat it as such.
godverdegodverdomme 9 months ago
Normally i think Andy is a crazy old coot good for a few laughs, but here he shows his true wisdom. Really cuts through the patriotic BS and points out that war is man's biggest failure as a species.
gilmour6754 1 year ago 2
thanks, and may your friends RIP.
alabader741 1 year ago
War is not a pleasant thing, and no one hates it more than those who fight. However, sometimes war is necessary, and there are times when talking and diplomacy can't solve disputes, or when a country is attacked unprovoked.
Sadly, this is human nature, and no matter what people do to change that, there will always be other people who choose war, and thus we are all forced to choose it also, or be destroyed.
971QKE 1 year ago
Sigh ... misguided. Those who died, gave us the right to even think about this attempt to alter a day set aside for them into some kind of peace day they themselves died giving us. This idea of changing memorial day away from those who gave us the right to even have that thought of change is ludicrous.
lonewulf44 1 year ago
Are you guys kidding me? I know its an ideology nowadays that war is never justified, that it is never the answer but is that really true? Bad people will always do bad things, and we cant mind control them to do what we want, they will always have their agency. Their wars are not justified. But coming to the aid of those in suffering is. Let me ask was America justified in joining WW2? It ended the reign of a tyrant and prevented the near genocide of an entire race.
JesterM1A1 2 years ago
...my logic is simply this -listen to the individuals verbal cadence...listen for a logical, calm explanation.
As Rooney has aged his emotional state has gently taken a dip off of rational clear headedness and delved into extremes with his assumptions.
...as some age they become calmer & wiser while others become mired in their own emotional angst -a simple illustration of this would be comparing someone like David Letterman to Dennis Miller -Miller is much cooler,calmer and respectful.
MightySaturn5 2 years ago
I seriously almost cried, that was the best piece of Andy Rooney I've ever seen.
toddler1008 2 years ago 6
Fuck War....
blobperson 2 years ago
This is the most touching piece I've seen from Mr. Rooney
markwaldron 2 years ago 5
Some of you guys need to learn how to think! Their are mindless puppets on both sides of this argument!
thecrimsonfloyd 2 years ago
The man is right. All this country does is start wars that have nothing to do with our freedoms and get people killed.
AMERICA IS AN EMPIRE.
...spread the word.
fahimh 2 years ago
hahaha "some new religion"
wahthefck 2 years ago 4
Nobody wants or enjoys war however Rooney's previous rants have shown him to be an unstable lunatic of vast proportion...when you have ruined your credibility due to sanity issues as he has it makes it difficult to accept him (as opposed to his message) as a stable person grounded in common sense that should be listened to.
MightySaturn5 2 years ago
WWII was a nasty-destructive war. My Grandpa entered the Air Force at the age of 23 and delayed his career and my grandma's boyfriend was killed. The US could have stayed neutral but American's knew in their gut that what the Nazis were doing was wrong. Also, what the Japs did was just plain upsetting.
Harshcore811 2 years ago
Not bad. A lot of people who were alive in WW II thought there should be no more wars, whenever, and wherever possible. I don't see Mr. Rooney as being unpatriotic, because he is right. As for stopping war completely, I'm afraid that may well be impossible.
Teflon65 2 years ago 3
Finally somebody who uses the rational part of their brain instead of barking out baseless claims.
It's a good commentary from Andy.
mrvexingparse 2 years ago 5
Well Andy, SOMEBODY had to stop the Nazi's, the Japs, and the "I"talians (sp)
or it would have been Death camps for everyone - including YOU!
Your priorites are way off base. You seem to balme AMERICA for the loss of your friends - But it is AMERICA your sock challenged friends fought for - and died for.
Should we NOT fight for AMERICA? In the final analysis - it comes down to Fight or Flight and you are choosing Flight.
They died for a cause called LIBERTY.
FreeAgain2 2 years ago
Watch it again. You missed the point.
boostfiend 2 years ago
WOW, a Patriot, the hits keep on coming...
skb7966 2 years ago
well said Andy, always been a big fan.
Alexander, Peace Corps Guatemala
NewYorkViolets 2 years ago
BANG ON ROONEY
tsocanuck 2 years ago
The Nazi ideology, one could argue, was an attempt at a "new" religion; a mix Germanic mythos, racial superiority, Darwinism, and the elevation of Hitler to a God-like figure.
And on the atheist front, the Communists were no better when came to brutally sacrificing their people in the name of their name secular dogma.
patsagainstrats 2 years ago
The Nazi's were first and foremost Socialist Fascist. Just like Americans today. We are a nation of soon to be socialist fascist.
putittogether 2 years ago
You ever ask yourself why did the German people not see the writing on the wall when they slipped into a socialist fascist state?
Well the could not see the wall, they were brainwashed by propaganda....Like Americans today.
putittogether 2 years ago
We were attacked by a foreign country on December 7, 1941, and Congress actually declared war. World War 2 was The LAST REAL WAR. Mr. Rooney was there. He deserves our respect.
fpm229 2 years ago 3
What an utter idiot. Saying "War is to cause death" is like saying "Surgery is to cut people." This is why the mainstream media is dying - because these vapid fools keep preaching their sixties hippie nonsense.
wak3upca11 2 years ago
Andy Rooney the crazy hippie that fought in WWII.
You need to put the "my team vs. your team" politics aside and think for yourself about what exactly Andy Rooney is saying.
MrFlyPerfect 2 years ago
Tell a parent or widow their son's life was wasted. Tell an Iraqi family who no longer fears a regime that would torture or kill them on a whim that US efforts were a waste. Tell Afgan schoolgirls their freedom to attend school was a waste. If we cannot standup for others freedom then who would stand up for ours when they come for us?
headbone3232 2 years ago
Been there. Done that. Even told an 80-yr old WW2 veteran that he has no chance of seeing his war buddies again because he, like everyone else, has no soul.
As for the Iraqis, they may not fear Saddam, but they do still fear death because now they have new non-secular mobs to live in fear of - instead of the one SECULAR leader you just disposed.
Afghan girls are now allowed to attend school. Well La dee dah. It doesn't help much when Honor Killings are still legal and on the rise there.
Xerock 2 years ago
Had you said that to my WWII vet Dad you would be drinking your food through a straw.
"you just disposed"? You had as much to do with it as I.
I'm glad people like you are not in charge of keeping our country safe. It is people like you have have no soul and already lost in your own self made hell.
headbone3232 2 years ago
No god. No soul. No afterlife. You can pass that reality to that decrepit old fart you call a father.
My hell dies when you do.
Xerock 2 years ago
Thanks for making my point.
headbone3232 2 years ago
"Tell a parent or widow their son's life was wasted. Tell an Iraqi family who no longer fears a regime that would torture or kill them on a whim that US efforts were a waste. Tell Afgan schoolgirls their freedom to attend school was a waste. If we cannot standup for others freedom then who would stand up for ours when they come for us? "
2 can play this game. You should tell a child in North korea that their doesnt have enough oil or their leader havent killed enough ppl to warrant a rescue
uche007us 2 years ago
Well, tell that to Obama. Would you support a US/Allied invasion of NoKo?
headbone3232 2 years ago
I love his thoughts. I just got back from DC and everyone was talking about our fallen heroes. I feel sorry for all those who have died in war and wish someday our country would grow up and learn to sit on its hands and work toward peace at any cost. THAT would be heroic. All who have died in Iraq had their lives wasted by an idiotic president who wanted to make a name for himself protecting oil interests. Very sad.
DavidGilmore 2 years ago
War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
-Major General Smedley Butler
motonegros 2 years ago
I'm sorry Andy Rooney. The goal of war is not to cause death. The goal of a just war is to protect life and freedom and to win victory over an enemy that would take that freedom and the lives of the innocent.
War is not moral or immoral.
An unjust war is immoral.
A just war is moral.
Mr. Rooney I hope you would understand that distinction and not paint with such a broad brush. It is unfair to our nation and the men and women who have defended our country both in the armed services at at home.
IssuesAndJustice 2 years ago
Read "War is a Racket" by USMC Major General Smedley Butler. It's a thin book full of the truth of war...or is it the lies of war?
The draft takes away a man's liberty. The war takes his life.
mcgrawtim123 2 years ago
The US doesn't draft it's military.
headbone3232 2 years ago
They do when they decide to keep their soldiers there past their retirement dates in a project they call "stop-loss".
A practice that the military wants to stop doing and will do so just in time for the mandatory pull out of the US from Iraq in 2011. How convenient.
Xerock 2 years ago
Stop Loss doesn't happen to retiring Military members. Members who are retiring have an open contract to begin with. Stop Loss is used on the younger Soldiers too keep them around on their contract. StopLoss is retarded so I agree with you. I just wanted you to know that it is the young Military members that are suffering from it.
My Credentials: I was StopLossed in Afghanistan and hated my life at the time because of it.
MrFlyPerfect 2 years ago
In Rooney's war the U.S. drafted tens of thousands, maybe more....the Russians, Japanese, and Germans drafted millions.
mcgrawtim123 2 years ago
Yes, the US drafted millions but millions joined up on their own. That's a concept not understood by many today.
headbone3232 2 years ago
Well said!!
mopuffy01 2 years ago
ANDY YOU GOT IT!
You hit the nail right on the head, starting at 2:20
I say we start that new religion you talked about right now by burning all those PoS christian republicans Haters at the stake on The White House lawn.
Damn, I home DHS doesn't come knocking on my door again. :(
gwbushapos 2 years ago
To GWBUSHAPOS:
As a combat Veteran I sincerely hope you are not breeding...
Based on your hatred based and angry comments you are unworthy of those who protect you.
You MIGHT have served, but even if you did, your words betray a cowardice that cannot possibly serve peace or humankind.
ChuckSnow5 2 years ago
ChuckSnow5:
Yeah lets talk about COWARDS!
How about that PoS g. w. bush who was AWOL more than 30 days which makes him a DESERTER!
May I assume your against abortion of a fetus a human being but OK with Shock ans Awe?
christian republicans are EVIL!
gwbushapos 2 years ago
You may assume NOTHING about me.
You, however, have demonstrated your absolute narrow minded leftist stoked firey red hate for anyone who would disagree with you and every human that dares not drink the kool aid that you so deeply swallowed.
Also: Perhaps you haven't noticed, Bush is out of office.
ChuckSnow5 2 years ago
ChuckSnow5:
I knew it!
You're a typical PoS christian republican.
That PoS g. w. bush will be on the spot for as many year as President Clinton and Hillary were . . . and they didn't commit treason or war crimes so get use to it idea of that PoS g. w. bush being prosecuted.
gwbushapos 2 years ago
Making assumptions is human nature. Also it's not about being left or right. It's just about what's fair. Letting everyone have the same rights regardless of what or who they are just seems like the right thing to do.
animeindoorsir 2 years ago
Why the hatred? Are you really any better than those you disagree with when you resort to comments like yours? I hope you really think about that.
IssuesAndJustice 2 years ago
IssuesAndJustice:
I never thought about it but now that you mention it I guess I am better those those that will Murder innocent human beings for personal wealth.
Thank you, I feel spiritually elevated now.
gwbushapos 2 years ago
....... Let the "elites" fight their own damn wars.
a7green 2 years ago
Those of you who haven't served should try to do a better job of seperating the war from the warrior. We don't get to choose the war our leaders send us to fight, but we do get to choose how we conduct our own small portion of it. The men and women I served with conducted theirs with honor and as much compassion as war allows. Direct your anger at the leaders you elected.
dorkf1sh 2 years ago
TO LOCKBERT99...
You ask :Who will remember...?" Certainly not you. While you scurry about trying to establish who was right and who was wrong and flaming on the net, we who fought and those who were lost on both sides are appropriately mourned. I think the true meaning of "loss" is lost on you.
beirutvet 2 years ago
The problem is that you and yours only mourn the Americans, not the people in the third world countries (no threat to us) that the politicians have our bombs kill.
lockbert99 2 years ago
If you took the time to read instead of flame, you would see that I do mourn "those who were lost on both sides". Don't for a minute think that you know my convictions, my committments or my integrity. Rant on Lockbert99...each time you do, you expose yourself for who you are...
beirutvet 2 years ago
You are a curious mixture of sanctimony and knee-jerk defensiveness. Perhaps I struck a nerve?
lockbert99 2 years ago
If the Shiite's didn't strike a nerve with me, it is doubtful that you can. I share your frustration...that is the point I'm trying to make. It is not as simple as one would like to make it appear. I am not pro war, just as I'm not pro Democrat or pro Republican. This all simply started as a conversation about remembering the lives that have been TAKEN. I mourne all loss and believe that those in positions of political and financial power are ultimately responsible.
beirutvet 2 years ago
OK, this got out of hand. I apologize. My intent was not to make personal attacks. I am just very upset that we allowed Bush/Cheney to devastate a country on clearly false pretenses. Andy is no different in that regard.
lockbert99 2 years ago
...and all the democrats that voted for the war and voted time and time again to fund it to this day get a pass?
headbone3232 2 years ago
Dulce et decorum NON est to die for one's country. It's just death. Those of us who don't listen to that, who wear our flags on our lapels flagrantly (funny how most war mongers do) but not proudly can ever know what terror, terror beyond measure, beyond absurdity, is it to have other people wanting to kill you--you having to kill them first before they do you in.
It's that crass. That's it, no more.
chazmena 2 years ago
Sounds like Andy Rooney is yearning for a Ron Paul type government where there are fewer wars and less war mongers acting tough with our young people.
midwestcharm 2 years ago
One of the BEST commentaries I have head from Andy Rooney -- or anyone else for that matter. OsiSpeaks[dot]com
KYJurisDoctor 2 years ago
If you have never served, you wouldn't understand. On Memorial Day, you remember what ever you like, some of you will remember nothing. I for one will remember, honor and show the respect that is due. I believe my service and that of others has somehow allowed Xerock and others of similar minds to write what they write, say what they say and think as they wish. War is as old as man and there will always be those who believe in their cause and others who do not. I believe.
beirutvet 2 years ago
War is as old as man. War will be the end of man. War is. You peacenik pinko commies better realize that. Your peace marches and sit ins and scathing blogs aren't going to change anything. Men have to pound chests and stand toe to toe to see who's got the biggest pecker. War is. Living.
luketdrifter2100 2 years ago
So is murder - even by your mythology, theist. That doesn't mean Murder is a part of life or that its ethical.
Now here's the reality. No America soldier in the past 60 years has died defending ANY American's freedom. Not since WWII.
Go suck on that and pretend anyone should have pride in you for "doing your job".
Xerock 2 years ago
It seems you omitted 'Anti-American' to your profile...odd since it's the most obvious.
Paleo2k 2 years ago
Freedom is America's alone?
headbone3232 2 years ago
let everybody else fight for their own.
tolkus53 2 years ago
then who would help us when they come for us?
headbone3232 2 years ago
No one will remember the millions of Vietnamese or hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who were killed by Americans and their bombs either. Were they trying to take our freedom Andy?
lockbert99 2 years ago
You pinko commie.
luketdrifter2100 2 years ago 2
A pinko commie would do the same thing as America - treat a brutal attack on a third world country who was no threat to us (per hundreds of inspections by UN WMD inspectors) the same as World War II.
lockbert99 2 years ago
NO ... but this wouldn't stop oil-eager Uncle Sam .
m0elnaggar 2 years ago
I love Andy Rooney. He is a national treasure!!!!!!!
His son Brian looks just like his dad (ABC news reporter based in L.A.)
NotsoNutso 2 years ago
oh boy this liberal still alive
gaiuskaiser 2 years ago
Too BAD you are still alive. Andy Rooney is a national treasure!!!!
NotsoNutso 2 years ago
war is over if you want it ...JL
mslaerik 2 years ago
I think he probably would have said Kenny G instead of Eddie G, but was alerted of the unintentional humor that might pose.
BinkieMcFartnuggets 2 years ago
I agree. What good is all of our advancement, invention, education, and success..... if we never come up with a better way to solve our differences besides war?
ShaneWoodbury 2 years ago
its so true, i dont get why people cant see right from wrong and stop there senseless killings. Andy sure is smart and a great man who surprisingly is a vetran, have a nice memorial day.
godwhyisthistaken 2 years ago 2
"I am sick and tired of war. Its glory is all moonshine.
It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard
the shrieks and groans of the wounded
who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation.
War is hell."
General William T. Sherman
Energyium 2 years ago 11
agreed.
fuck war.
piscesrising2006 2 years ago 13
Unbelievable, regardless of semantics, that he gets the message so spot on.
NavyNate123 2 years ago
"To cause death to other people", is not the goal of war, it is an unfortunate necessity to stop evil. Furthermore, not all the soldiers' lives were "taken". Some did give their lives for others.
ytmachx 2 years ago
powerful words from a great man
Zipppppppp 2 years ago
Andy, fighting and greed are a part of human nature Those that have will fight for more and those that don't will fight to get it.
pongman 2 years ago
Well said.
redstone1963 2 years ago
beautiful Andy .....
wonderlandstop 2 years ago 3
We can't forget for those that are still dying.
DRSmetal 2 years ago 4
new religion? dont agree....but the rest of the speech was good
drpro01 2 years ago
actually that wouldnt be a bad idea, as we have so many religions to divide people and to give people more reasons to hate eachother and kill eachother and cause loads of havoc, chaos, and of course war. andy always has something great and wise to say.
Gawaine687 2 years ago
We just need to take hatred out of the human soul....not something that happens without external (Divine) help.
ScottKilbourn 2 years ago
I agree ... with you
m0elnaggar 2 years ago
Yeah Rooney still ahs that something that still make you want to listen to him he has not lost it yet hope he never does!
eleventhdr 2 years ago
I believe this is His best commentary.
hellavadeal 2 years ago 4
I agree
maynecuffs 2 years ago
Probably one of his most serious, usually he complains about some trivial thing that u young people (compared to him)enjoy.
BenjaminWirtz 2 years ago