I wish I could link the full article but I can't find it online, but here is a quote:
"Our soldiers in Iraq are people, young men and women, and they behave like people – sometimes good and sometimes bad, sometimes brave, sometimes fearful. It's disingenuous of the rest of us to encourage them to fight this war by idolizing them. We pin medals on their chests to keep them going. We speak of them as if they volunteered to risk their lives to save ours, but there isn't much voluntary about what most of them have done. A relatively small number are professional soldiers. During the last few years, when millions of jobs disappeared, many young people, desperate for some income, enlisted in the Army."
I hate to tell Mr. Rooney, but I know of more than one Marine and Soldier who when their unit was going home, asked to stay longer.
I didn't join the Marine Corps cause I couldn't find a job. I'm a Computer-Engineering major at Georgia Tech, believe me, neither now, nor when I graduate will I be completely unable to find a job forcing me to join. I joined because I feel that my country gave me my freedom, it doesn't owe me anything, but I owe it something.
My best frined that I have in the Marines, who is in Iraq, is a multi millionaire. He lived in Orange County, CA before he joined. He had a very large house. He had 3 cars which he paid cash for.
Further more in this article, he said we should ask soldiers if they were offered a trip home or a medal, which they would take. Trip home everytime. I know of no soldier who cares how many medals or ribbons they wear. This comes from Mr. Rooney's flawed assumption that we measure each other by the fruit salad on our chests. But I guess he'd not know since I don't think he's ever served has he?
Posted by Skywalker at April 13, 2004 08:53 AM | TrackBackThe more words I hear come from Andy Rooney's mouth, the more I wonder why this idiot is even *given* a platform to speak from.
Posted by: mrs. muddy at April 13, 2004 09:36 AMBecause the true hero never considers himself a hero. However a true idiot will always point out who the hero's are. They are never right.
Andy Rooney, case in point.
Posted by: cwilli at April 13, 2004 05:07 PMHey, cwilli, good to hear from you. How are things?
Posted by: mrs. muddy at April 13, 2004 05:24 PMNot bad. Started a new job last week so I have been very busy..... How about you?
Posted by: cwilli at April 13, 2004 05:38 PMCongrats on the new job. What are you doing ...if you don't mind me asking.
How about me? Dude....remember, I stay home with the kiddies all day. Next week, I'm being fitted for my very own straight jacket then I'll quickly start my shock therapy....other than that, I'm fine. :-) hehehe.
Posted by: mrs. muddy at April 13, 2004 06:09 PMThats a funny one. I am working as a field engineer for a major data storage company here in Columbus.
Also for those who care to tell CBS how you feel:
The following statement was made by CBS’s Andy Rooney – we ask all Americans who disagree with him to call CBS and demand he be fired or at the very least, make an apology.
Rooney's Comment:
“Treating soldiers fighting their war as brave heroes is an old civilian trick designed to keep the soldiers at it. But you can be sure our soldiers in Iraq are not all brave heroes gladly risking their lives for us sitting comfortably back here at home.”
- CBS News Correspondent Andy Rooney
CBS headquarters phone numbers are:
212-975-4321
or
212-975-3247.
from: http://www.freedomalliance.org/ (that would be Oliver North's organization)
Update:
I called the number for CBS to give them a peace of my mind. A live person did answer the phone and I began my rant. She quickly told me to hold and transfered me to a voice mail box that informed me that his comments were in no way the opinions of CBS and that he didnt broadcast these opinions on any of their shows. He made these comments in a newspaper article and not on CBS.
Basically they are moving the blame to Andy Rooney and not themselves. I think think that he should be fired anyhow because what they fail to realize is that no matter what medium he chooses to voice his opinons, he does represent CBS.
Shame on Andy Rooney and Shame on CBS. I would like to say that the reason for his comments were agenda based. However since I was not a fan of Andy Rooney before these comments I do not know this for sure. The only think that I did know about him was that really old people watch him and he has a winey, annoying voice. Therefore I never watched him.
They did not allow for any message to be left.
Posted by: cwilli at April 16, 2004 04:39 PM
Here's the link if anyone wants to read it firsthand.
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/04/08/newsopinion/hjjfjfjbhghbid.txt
It is pretty outrageous-- although I wouldn't want my own boys fighting in Iraq when we can't even decide why we're there...
Posted by: rdeffry at August 6, 2004 04:54 PM