Andy Rooney on Memorial Day

Last night, I heard Andy Rooney's commentary on Memorial Day. I only heard about it last night as it first appeared on 60 Minutes (of your life you can never get back), and I have no desire to watch any CBS "journalism". So, guessing that my loyal blog readers are much like me and don't waste their precious time on shows like 60 Minutes (of wasted time), I am providing Rooney's comments here:

(CBS) This segment was originally broadcast on May 29, 2005.


I posted the link to Rooney's comments so that anyone who reads this will understand the context. I do not want to be accused of putting words into Rooney's mouth or taking what he has said the wrong way. So before reading my commentary, please first read his.

There are a couple of key phrases that I think are rather unfair and need to be addressed.

For example, Rooney says that, "We use the phrase 'gave their lives,' but they didn’t give their lives. Their lives were taken from them."

Last time I checked, the men and women of the military DO willingly give their lives for their country. Yes, they are killed in combat by an enemy. Yes, they are killed and don't simply die of natural causes, but the fact remains that these selfless men and women join the armed forces with a full understanding that their lives may be required to protect and defend America...and they each give it willingly, not to the enemy, but to their country. Andy Rooney's perspective on this cheapens the sacrifice. There's no other way to put it.

Rooney also says that, "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."

Personally, I can think of no more noble reason to be brave than to protect freedom and the good that it brings and to act in defense of the otherwise defenseless. After all, that is what I have always thought the goal of American wars was. In each and every American waged and fought war, American soldiers were either protecting our God-given freedoms or defending those around the globe who were being denied basic human rights and freedoms or those who were unable to defend themselves. The goal is not death. Most often, American wars are waged to stop a greater number of deaths. Yes, Americans die in the process, but countless other men, women and children live because of America's sacrifice. This is both bravery and nobility of the highest form. Death is a part of war, but it is not the ultimate goal. Rooney knows this. He has been in combat. He fully understands this, but his liberal agenda doesn't allow for rational reasoning.

Next Rooney says, "I wish we could dedicate Memorial Day, not to the memory of those who have died at war, but to the idea of saving the lives of the young people who are going to die in the future if we don’t find some new way - some new religion maybe - that takes war out of our lives. That would be a Memorial Day worth celebrating."

While I somewhat understand what Rooney is saying, he's wrong yet again. I don't want any more young (or old) men and women to have to die for freedoms' sake, but the reality of the world in which we live is that there will always be evil leaders who wish to take away the freedom and lives of other innocent people. Being diplomatic and peaceable is a great goal, it's always worth trying, but it is rarely enough to stop true evil. Evil is determined to succeed and the only way to stop it is to confont evil head-on and kill its root, otherwise it will spring up again and again, leaving a path of death and destruction wherever it goes. War is, and always will be, a part of our lives here on earth.

And finally, Mr. Rooney, Memorial Day is not a day to celebrate. Rather it is a day to remember and to honor those who willingly gave their lives for something greater than themselves. For one who should know better, you get this all wrong.