![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
For just about as long as I can remember, Sunday nights have meant watching 60 Minutes. (It originally meant 60 Minutes followed by Murder, She Wrote, but that ended some time ago.) It is the only 'television experience' I've ever really shared with my mother. Our interests are pretty divergent for the most part, but she did have a strong influence on my love of the news and following politics. My father is usually a bit more interested in lecturing about the news than talking about it. Watching and discussing the stories with my mom as she folds laundry is a one of those core images deep in my self-identity.
The denouement of all 60 Minutes is, of course, Andy Rooney. I've always loved his segments, starting as a kid when they were the only part of the show I really understood. I've never understood the complaint that he is annoying and repetitive. He points out how stupid the world is, and the world has yet to change. So is it worse to point these things out or to suffer mutely? Plus I'll admit I have a big soft spot for lovable old curmudgeons, hoping to be one myself someday.
His last two segments have been particularly good. As a WWII era reporter, I expect to disagree with his politics on occasion. He's done plenty of flag-raving pieces (particularly after 9-11) that I found questionable. But for the last two weeks he has done pieces on the War in Iraq which have absolutely floored me -- in the good way. It's Just My Opinion and Just Tell Us The Truth are wonderful (and wonderfully daring) observations on the war. I'm glad Rooney is there to say them, because no one else in the American media is.
The denouement of all 60 Minutes is, of course, Andy Rooney. I've always loved his segments, starting as a kid when they were the only part of the show I really understood. I've never understood the complaint that he is annoying and repetitive. He points out how stupid the world is, and the world has yet to change. So is it worse to point these things out or to suffer mutely? Plus I'll admit I have a big soft spot for lovable old curmudgeons, hoping to be one myself someday.
His last two segments have been particularly good. As a WWII era reporter, I expect to disagree with his politics on occasion. He's done plenty of flag-raving pieces (particularly after 9-11) that I found questionable. But for the last two weeks he has done pieces on the War in Iraq which have absolutely floored me -- in the good way. It's Just My Opinion and Just Tell Us The Truth are wonderful (and wonderfully daring) observations on the war. I'm glad Rooney is there to say them, because no one else in the American media is.