THE IGNORANCE AND ARROGANCE OF ANDY ROONEY
3/12/07
I seldom watch CBS. My reasons are endless for that decision. I happened to be channel surfing last night and came across Andy Rooney’s 60 Minutes summary of his attitude towards the U.S Military. His final sentence of cynical stupidity was that the U.S military should accept more morally waivered soldiers for combat. He also stated that a draft should be reinstated.
I never liked Andy Rooney. I never trusted a word he’s ever spoken. I recall an article he wrote for a local Connecticut paper several years ago. He lived in Connecticut then, and may still. That article was a defense for rich people. I must paraphrase his statements since I didn’t keep the article. I remember it well because it was so typical of his elitist ,eastern establishment mentality. He stated in so many words that rich people shouldn’t be criticized because they are rich, but poor people should be because they weren’t rich. etc. etc. The article was loaded with Rooney’s typical sarcasm and cynicism. His phoniness and sick attempts at humor were splattered all over the article.
It occurred to me while I listened to Rooney’s” 60 Minutes” comments on the military and the draft; that this “80 something” national cynic, has never reached a level of wisdom achieved by others of his age. I began to consider how many other people in their 80s and still on national television news programs were as delusional as Andy Rooney is.
My departed grandmother was suffering from severe dementia when she reached her 80s. She passed away at 87 not knowing who anyone was. Every year we hear of hundreds if not thousands of elderly drivers in their 80s and 90s killing themselves or others in strange car accidents. These drivers crashed into buildings, crashed into crowds of people, crashed into their own garages. I had a dear old friend pass away 10 years ago at the age of 99; who was forced by his family and the police to stop driving at 92. His final accident was very serious. He couldn’t see very well in his right eye, and crashed into and tore someone’s driver’s side door off while the driver was about to exit his car. My old friend hit the door , ( thankfully not the other driver) and continued on without stopping. The door flew off and smashed into another parked car. My friend continued to drive home, parked his car in his driveway , went into his house and told no one of the incident; until the police showed up a few hours later. A witness had identified his license plate and my 93 year old friend was arrested for evading responsibility and reckless driving.
I loved the old guy and had known him for 10 years. We had a close relationship and he called me the day after his arrest to tell me what happened. He never once blamed himself for the accident and insisted it wasn’t his fault. It took me an hour on the phone with him to make him understand that it was his fault and the police were right in suspending his license.
What I loved about my friend was that he was eccentric as hell and had a wild and crazy attitude for life. He insisted that he continue to work at his trade as a barber; until a few years before his death. He had the wildest stories I’ve ever heard. Spending a Saturday morning with him at his shop was a joy. I would often stop by and see him on Saturday mornings to visit and see how he was. He shared with me many intimate stories about his life , some that would bring tears to his eyes. He trusted me with these stories and wanted to share them with someone who would listen. He had a unique wisdom and called himself a philosopher and a poet and would breakout into singing an Italian opera at the top of his lungs. I often laughed at his emotional tales and fits of anger,when he told me of the many people he had known and observed and situations he had been in during his life. What I loved about him was his honesty, stubbornness and genuine sincerity. As he entered his 90’s he began to repeat himself and he would admit he was not as spry as he was a few years earlier. He became more belligerent with people who didn’t take him seriously and his comments became more acrid and cynical. I was saddened to see him start to fail. After he lost his driver’s license he went through a year or two of resigned acceptance and then finally retired. His wife of 70 years threatened to divorce him if he didn’t retire; when they were threatened to be sued by a customer who suffered a serious nick on the back of his head from the barber razor. My friend’s defense was, the customer talked and moved his head too much . He realized after a family intervention, that he had to give up the barber shop.
I have a great respect for anyone who has lived longer than I have. Life is difficult and everyone’s life experiences are different and if they can relate them to others as my friend did to me wisdom can be found in those stories. So many of our elderly have valuable stories to relay to others who will take time to listen. Andy Rooney however, is not worth listening to. His cynicism is bloated by his exalted ego and financial success. What he fails to see is what my old friend failed to see, after he evaded responsibility and nearly killed someone. Andy Rooney’s irresponsible comments about allowing mentally deficient people into the military and reinstating the draft is a criminal evasion of responsibility. He knows he will never face combat and never did. He knows he has been bought off by the powers to say what he says. He never had the courage to speak truth to power. If anything he’s been their spokesman. He knows that he’s seen as a greedy, cranky old man, who cares for no one but himself. His drooling hypocrisy flows from his mouth like a fountain of dribbling saliva. Face the facts Mr. Rooney. Your a hypocrite. Your a menace to yourself and society. Your segment on 60 Minutes should be cancelled before you embarrass yourself any further. Retire before your cynical remarks and elitist stupidity spoken on national television are responsible for the deaths and ruined lives of more young men and women. Your evasion of responsibility is apparent to everyone, who watches your weekly car crashes on 60 Minutes.
L.A. STEEL
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