5-2-11 - A Day of Calls about the Death of Bin Laden and a Call from Janette!

In case you missed it...

ROSIE TAKES CALLS AND OPINIONS ON THE KILLING OF OSAMA BIN LADEN
Rosie said originally they were going to spend today's broadcast discussing the Royal Wedding and the White House Correspondent's dinner until news broke last night that Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed.  That news redirected the entire direction of the show.  Rosie said when she was alerted that Obama was going to give a speech at 10:30pm on a Sunday night, she felt tremendous panic!  Then after she heard the announcement of Bin Laden's death, she read her Twitter feed and was fascinated at the different perspectives so she started retweeting them.  Some people thought everything she retweeted was an endorsement but it was not.  She was merely trying to show the varying degrees of reaction.  The celebrating of the crowds at the White House and in NYC reminded her of the celebrations by the people in Fallujah after the blackwater contractors were killed.  Here is a link to some video from that story if you forgot.  Careful, it's awful to watch as the men hang the corpses of the contractors on a bridge and dragged their dead bodies behind their cars.  Jeannie said she hopes the people who lost loved ones on 9/11 will be able to feel justice from this news but worries the hatred and violence isn't over because we've created generations of hatred from the war.   Pete wishes we had captured Bin Laden and held him for trial.  He said, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth leaves the world blind and toothless."  Pete worried we do damage to public opinion about us overseas when we're not anymore interested in human rights than our enemies.  Shoshana wasn't even concerned when they broke in late last night and said the President was going to speak.  She's been so jaded by "urgent" news interruptions she just felt like it was another "false alarm."  Bobby didn't want to rejoice in Bin Laden's death because he remembered people burning American flags, laughing and dancing when our buildings were falling. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who also went into a complete panic when the President broke into regularly scheduled programming.  She said she had mixed feelings hearing the news.  On the one hand she had a sense of the post 9/11 patriotism but on the other hand she didn't like the rejoicing factor of it all.  Rosie and the caller both follow Marianne Williamson's Twitter feed and they discussed how at first she said "mindless celebration is spiritually inappropriate and naive" and then she removed it and took the statement back!  Rosie was quite surprised she took it back actually.  And Rosie was tweeting with Rabbi Shmuley who wrote a tweet about the death that has since been removed.  It was something condoning the death of Bin Laden and Rosie wrote to him and asked him if Rabbis celebrate death and murder? Rosie's tweet to him is now part of his essay on Huff Po.  Rosie read it to the listeners at home. Rosie said we've seen this type of celebratory behavior before in other lands and it repulses and horrifies her when it happens other places.  She said it's interesting to see it happening here.

Rosie took another caller who asked if the troops can come home now.  She said the death of Bin Laden doesn't mean anything if we're still at war.  She was sad people died yesterday.  Rosie said if only it meant the war was over.  If only.  Rosie also read the Vatican's statement on the death of Bin Laden. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who mentioned the interview with Lara Langan on 60 Minutes last night.  I was in tears watching this.  I literally almost got sick to my stomach listening to her interview.  She is so lucky to be alive.  And I have to say, the fact that a woman dressed in a burka with only the slits of her eyes showing was the one that came to Lara's rescue is so symbolic to me.  We often marginalize and minimize these devout women, as if they are not human, as if underneath that black clothing is not a real, living, feeling, caring woman, mother, and sister.   And yet it was a woman in a burka who first helped save Lara from the mob of men trying to rip her limb from limb.  It was such a powerful interview and  I highly recommend watching it.    Anyway, this caller doesn't think we have the right to have a party over the news and is scared about the retaliation over Bin Laden's death. She believes the U.S. needs to be humble at this moment. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who was a little annoyed at the conversation.  She thinks the wars will now end and if they do, it will be worth it.  She was also happy it happened on Obama's watch.  Rosie wasn't so sure it means the wars are going to end but said if that is true, it would be wonderful. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who felt shocked by the news but hoped the families of the victims of 9/11 feel some justice. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who said we haven't really accomplished anything because Bin Laden has had 10 years to train and recruit more people to follow in his footsteps. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who was excited for our military but fears the repercussions of this action.  Pete read the statistics that state that 4,400 Americans have died in Iraq and 1,482 have died in Afghanistan trying to get Bin Laden.  And Rosie added the thousands of wounded Americans and the people of the Mideast who have died as well.   

One caller is a proud military wife and is proud America is back in love with our troops.  But she worries it won't last and people will again soon forget the sacrifices military families have to make every single day.  She urged listeners to keep loving the troops and their families.  Rosie told the caller she was totally right.  Rosie said if Osama's death did that for our troops, it would be worth it. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who, in her heart, felt Osama would never have allowed himself to be taken alive.  She urged listeners to remember our troops and stop cutting our military's health benefits.  Rosie totally agreed and thinks we should treat our troops better and give them the best health care. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who knew many people who lost a parent on 9/11.  But when she heard of the death of Osama Bin Laden she thought thought "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and "no man is an island."  She said we're all mankind and the death of one diminishes us all.  She felt badly about the whole thing.  Rosie agreed with her and said she had wisdom with her words. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who was very saddened by the news.  She referenced Charlie Wilson's War as why so many in the Middle East are so angry with the U.S.  She said Osama Bin Laden was more than just a terrorist, he was a father and a son though he did very bad things.  She was thinking about the people who would mourn him and look up to him.  She said there must be other ways to solve our problems besides armed conflicts.  Rosie agreed with her completely and said she honors all the service members who give their lives for this country. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who heard the news this morning who felt very neutral about the news.  She thought about all the years he's been around and how Bin Laden has created a legacy of evil.  She said anyone who celebrates his death because they think the evil is gone, is just wrong.  She said to remember all the things we have lost because of 9/11 and said it's a sad day today.

Pete said Bin Laden was a wealthy Saudi who likely received training, money and arms from the CIA in the beginning.  He helped set up Al-Qaeda and the CIA knew about it and didn't think it was a threat.  Then came the series of incidents and bombings that launched Bin Laden onto the top of the FBI's Most Wanted List.   

Rosie took a call from a listener who wanted to talk about our Veterans.  She said there's still work to be done now that we've caught Osama Bin Laden.  The caller said Veterans still need help with PTSD and just because someone doesn't look wounded on the outside they can still be wounded on the inside.  Rosie agreed and said you think we would have learned that in Vietnam, but we did not.

Rosie took a call from a Republican who does not agree with the celebrating.  He wished we could have brought Bin Laden back alive and tried him with proper course.  Rosie agreed.  Rosie said her teenage son Parker, who wants to be in the military, said to her last night, "Damn, this means I'm not going to get a shot at him."  Rosie understands that perspective too. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who is a clinical social worker who recently saw the documentary I Am.  She was so emotional after seeing it and how everything we do affects everything else. When she heard of the death of Bin Laden she kept thinking about that documentary and how everything affects everything else.  She cried and felt sad at the news.  She wished she could call Tom Shadyac and ask him what he thought.  Rosie said the documentary made her feel the same way.  Rosie said she understands the celebratory feeling but wishes as a nation we could be above the behaviors that we loathe though she said she understands peoples' needs to express themselves.

One caller told Rosie at first she was happy and then she worried about what will happen now.  She took a call from a listener who had conflicting feelings because she doesn't think it's right to celebrate someone's death and she didn't know how to explain it to her daughter.

Lastly, Rosie took a call from a listener who feels like the staff has it all backwards today.  She said when Hitler was killed, nobody felt bad that that murderous man had died.  The news of Bin Laden's death gave her a great sense of relief.    She said Muslims should be happy he's gone too because they were often targeted because he claimed he was representing their religion.  When he wasn't, he was representing evil.  She was relieved Bin Laden has been captured and killed.  This caller lost her husband, who was a firefighter on 9/11 and she has two children.  She told Rosie for her to tell the families that they shouldn't feel joy or justice was wrong.  She said when they catch the criminal who killed your loved one you feel good.  She said it doesn't bring them back but it's a temporary "thank God."  Rosie told the caller no one was telling her she shouldn't have relief, closure or celebrate.  (I'm not going to lie but I kinda yelled, "Yes you were!" at my Sirius radio.  I even scared my dogs!  lol  I love Rosie, I do but I totally disagree with her on this one. Albeit, simplistic, immature or immoral, I'm glad that guy isn't walking this Earth any longer.  I'm happy for the families, the troops and our President.)  The caller said she had to prepare her kids this morning for school and for the questions they will face today and it was difficult.  Her kids are now 14 and 12.  She said to find out this morning that their father's murderer was captured made them breathe a sigh of relief.  She said to say it's wrong for them to be happy about Bin Laden's death is awful for her to hear.  She said Bin Laden attacked us and he was continuing murdering people and he needed to be stopped.  The caller said we should be proud we finally caught him!  Rosie understood what the caller was saying and she said everyone has the right to react to the news how they feel.  The caller said  there's a huge spectrum on how people feel about the news and the media only focused on the loudest reactions but if they would have looked more generally, across the country, it wouldn't have been that same reaction.  The caller said her husband can now rest in peace because the troops did such a great job. 

After the call Jeannie said she hopes this news can bring those who have been directly affected closure.  

Rosie ended the conversation saying, "Now he's gone and on we go."

JANETTE CALLS IN!
Janette then called into the show from the Ukraine!  Janette is on a mission with Medical Missions for Children and had basically just arrived.  She described the area she was in and said so far every person who speaks English has told her how much they hate the USSR.    She said she and the team are in the hospital now and they all are just arriving.    She said they've done a surgery so far on an adult who had a large goiter as an after effect from Chernobyl.  So far she doesn't know how many operations they will have but she said they'll be doing general surgery, fixing cleft lips for children and fixing burns. Janette said the Ukraine is typically a very successful trip for her group because they also get to train the local doctors!  Rosie thanked Janette for calling in and said she thinks it's great what she's doing.  She sent love to Janette and her boyfriend Barry and told them to take care.  At the end of the conversation Rosie asked Janette if she had heard the news about Bin Laden and ever the conspiracy theorist she is said she isn't sure she believes it!    Actually she said she "thinks it's a crock of crap."  lol   

THE ROYAL WEDDING, WEIRD HATS, OPRAH BTS AND SETH MEYERS SLAMS TRUMP
Rosie said they had planned to talk for a while about the Royal Wedding today but the Bin Laden news kind of bumped the story!  Rosie and Bobby talked about how great William looked, how Kate looked great, etc.  Bobby actually got up at 4am to watch it and LOVED it!   He was frustrated because everyone kept talking about how similar Kate's dress was to Princess Grace's.  He emphatically stated, "IT WAS NOT SIMILAR AT ALL!"  And he proceeded to list the many, many reasons as to why Kate's dress was different!  lol  Rosie found it hilarious that Bobby, from a mental image only, can list off the differences between the two dresses and that he got so emotional about it!  They also discussed Fergie's kids' hats.  Bobby liked them but said he might have toned the hats down a bit.  Rosie then did a HILARIOUS Queen Elizabeth impersonation of her reacting to the hats.   

Rosie said she is so clueless about fashion but she knew those hats were wrong.  In fact, last night when she was tweeting during Oprah Behind the Scenes she had never heard of a designer Oprah was talking about during the show.  Also, there was a moment in the show when Oprah talks about seeing Diana Ross perform and how she had to know #1 what carat her diamond earrings and #2 what kind of mascara she  was wearing that didn't wash off in the rain!  Rosie thought to herself (and tweeted) what a girl!!!!!! (about Oprah)  Rosie said she never would have noticed those things.   

Rosie took a call from a listener who is sad Rosie Radio is going off the air.  Rosie said during her show "Rosie" on OWN you'll be able to listen to the broadcast on Sirius!  The caller was happy to find that out but said she'll still miss the intimacy.  The caller said she thought the hats of Fergie's daughters were a way for them to give the finger to the royal family for not inviting her mother! lol

Rosie said she will be "off" for the next two days because she's going to LA to host a discussion for OWN about the documentary Becoming Chaz.  She said they'll be back Thursday and Friday with new shows however.    Becoming Chaz will premiere on OWN on May 10th! 

Rosie took a call from a listener who said she couldn't stop watching William and feeling motherly towards him and thinking how proud his mother would have been.  Rosie agreed and said she felt the same way.   

Lastly, they briefly discussed Seth Meyers bashing Trump at the White House Correspondents dinner!  Rosie loved it and thought Seth Myers was really funny.  She played the audio of his slams on Trump  along with a running commentary only Rosie can deliver.   Trump has released a statement reacting to the mockery saying Seth's delivery was poor and that he stuttered.  Rosie, on the other hand, thought Seth did amazing and thought he was really funny. 

Seth slams Trump.

Rosie closed the show.  Rosie will be back live on Thursday and Friday of this week! 

and that's what you missed - kw