Andy Rooney on Memorial Day
W.J. Astore
The most powerful video I've watched about Memorial Day is this short essay by Andy Rooney at "60 Minutes." Each time I watch it, I get choked up a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgCUXBd9zcg
Andy makes many excellent points in this video. He says those who die in wars don't "give" their lives for their country; rather, their lives are taken from them. He reminds us that war is the least noble of humanity's actions, even with the displays of courage and bravery that take place during it. Finally, he wishes for a different Memorial Day, not one in which we remember the dead, but one where we celebrate the end of war and the safety and security of our children.
Andy Rooney knew war, and close friends of his died in World War II. For me, this video both captures the spirit of Memorial Day while pointing the way forward to a better day in America.