tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post6030311225805768261..comments2023-12-20T11:32:15.997-05:00Comments on Billevesées: Andy RooneyWilliam V. Madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-29758069942138806592011-11-05T20:06:15.852-04:002011-11-05T20:06:15.852-04:00Even I make mistakes, and thus a clarification -- ...Even I make mistakes, and thus a clarification -- Presumably when he cited <i>"homosexual unions"</i> in the context of "premature death," he was talking about AIDS. I don't think even Rooney believed that cigarettes cause HIV.William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-35310018320275484672011-11-05T20:02:19.973-04:002011-11-05T20:02:19.973-04:00Rooney was told so often what a lovable coot he wa...Rooney was told so often what a lovable coot he was that he began to believe it, and the more reward he reaped for his "whimsical" remarks, the less care he exercised in pronouncing them. <br /><br />Rooney's remarks regarding "homosexual unions" and death were less anodyne than you make them out to be here. To quote him: “There was some recognition in 1989 of the fact that many of the ills which kill us are self-induced. Too much alcohol, too much food, drugs, homosexual unions, cigarettes. They’re all known to lead quite often to premature death.”<br /><br />Presumably he was talking about AIDS, but he didn't say so: that's a problem. In 1989, we already knew that "heterosexual unions" (among other things) can spread AIDS, but he didn't say so: that's another problem. He equated "homosexual unions" with lifestyle choices -- which a lot of people still do, but journalists (even "commentators" on television) should know better. And while he spoke, thousands of men and women were sick and dying, ostracized, unattended by doctors or loved ones. <br /><br />Consider the historical moment: <i>60 Minutes</i> enjoyed the biggest audience in television. A few months after the broadcast in question, Ryan White (to pick but one example) met the very kind of "premature death" Rooney spoke of, but did anything Rooney said make sense of that? Did he afflict the comfortable or comfort the afflicted? No: although he had access to the facts, he fed ignorant prejudice instead.<br /><br />Rooney was paid vast sums to talk about paper clips and shoelaces. On this occasion, he chose to speak about more controversial matters, which is fine, but he did so irresponsibly. That being the case, yes, I did and do think that a temporary suspension -- very much like the one he received -- was appropriate. <br /><br />Finally, my dear, dear Rick, if I'd never heard of Voltaire, and most especially if I didn't subscribe wholeheartedly to his most famous dictum, do you honestly believe I'd ever have published some of your comments on this blog?William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-36573215047703380672011-11-05T16:48:10.225-04:002011-11-05T16:48:10.225-04:00I agree that many of today's TV pundits and pe...I agree that many of today's TV pundits and personalities, left- and right-wing, are crude and obnoxious to the point that sometimes it is hard to listen to them. I am quite in agreement with Christopher Hitchens when he writes of our rotten, celeb-soaked culture of news-cum-entertainment. But after reading this, I am a bit surprised that you would find it appropriate to take Rooney off the air after his comment that gay sex is one of the factors (but not the only factor) that might potentially result in someone contracting HIV. Do you dispute the truth of that statement? And if you do, have you never heard of Voltaire ("I wholly disagee with what you say...")?<br /><br />-- RickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-61361973507947243452011-11-05T15:19:40.149-04:002011-11-05T15:19:40.149-04:00Thanks, Michael -- In principle, anyway, a news pr...Thanks, Michael -- In principle, anyway, a news program is supposed to show reality, not fiction. In that sense, maybe it's not surprising that the real Andy Rooney was not far from the persona he revealed on TV.William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-53082870134406770802011-11-05T14:53:20.549-04:002011-11-05T14:53:20.549-04:00Thanks for this, Bill. Your characterization — “os...Thanks for this, Bill. Your characterization — “ostensibly humorous, frequently pointless” — seems exactly right.<br /><br />The final <i>60 Minutes</i> interview surprised me. What I had thought was just persona was no act: Rooney appeared authentically mean and sour. Maybe being ninety-two gives you permission to be whatever you want. But it seemed like a mighty sad way to pass the days.Michael Leddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com