Couric & Co.
October 3, 2006 2:05 PM

Katie on "freeSpeech"

By
Katie Couric
Topics
CBS Stuff
We've gotten a lot of comments and feedback about last night's "freeSpeech,"which featured a father whose son was killed at Columbine.

A lot of the comments were negative, like these:
Your free speech segment today was the biggest load of hogwash I have ever witnessed. How could you use an unspeakable tragedy to give a rightwing flat earth nut job a podium?

Tonite, you have some idiot who tragically lost his son at Columbine…he has my sympathy, but he does not deserve a spot on the Evening News to spout his political views.

This ultra right wing religious right drivel is a disgrace.
But we also received some positive feedback:
The Free Speech segment from the father of the Columbine student was one of the finest pieces I have ever heard on network news. My sincere appreciation goes to CBS for the courage to air it.

Thank you! As the mother of three children, I applaud your episode of Free Speech tonight. I'm sure that you will receive many e-mails denouncing your segment, but I appreciate hearing a "conservative" view in what can be a very liberal media…I live in the heartland of America (Kansas) and believe we all need a strong faith to get through difficult times.

I never thought I would hear such words on any network television station. He said all the things I have been thinking since the '60s.
Clearly, this struck a nerve.

We knew when we decided to put on this segment that a lot of people would disagree with it. We also knew some might even find it repugnant. (Some of you made that point loud and clear!)

But that is the very essence of what we try to do with the "freeSpeech" segment. This is a platform for our viewers to hear from a wide range of people – those who may share your views, and those who don't.

When we approached Brian Rohrbough and asked him his thoughts about this latest school shooting, this essay was the result. We understood that people may disagree with what he said, and with what he believes. But censoring or attempting to re-shape his opinion would be antithetical to the very idea of free speech.

This is a nation built on dialogue and debate. And, most importantly, on freedom of speech. As George Washington once said, "If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."

We hope "freeSpeech" can add more voices to the national discussion. At the very least, last night, we got people talking.

And we hope the conversation is just beginning.

UPDATE: You can find more on this issue, including a statement from Executive Producer Rome Hartman, over at our sibling blog, Public Eye. -- Ed.


Add a Comment See all 166 Comments
by lstitt October 6, 2006 4:34 PM EDT
Given the extent of the responses, clearly people are watching CBS News...I applaude the concept of the "Free Speech" segment. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to pick just one each day. These video "letters to the editor" are part of the American tradition.

There is a very good speech made in "The American President," where President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) talks about how American Citizenship is something you have to work at hard:

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free."

I may not agree with everyone I hear. I may hate the rhetoric that someone is spouting. But this is America. Every person is entitled to say what he or she believes. That's what makes this a wonderful country. That is what you celebrate every night. Stick to your guns! (figuratively speaking only, of course)
Reply to this comment
by les-s October 6, 2006 4:16 PM EDT
Certainly freedom of speech-your excuse for this presentation-is important. That does not imply that uninformed and pernicious opinion is somehow entitled to a national platform, particularly in a forum that (however you may disclaim it) implies entitlement to weight and consideration. I sincerely hope that you are not unaware that Mr. Rouhrbough's "opinions" are oft repeated attacks in a campaign intented to replace the teaching of scientific concepts with religious precepts, and to blur or eliminate the separation of church and state. I am not at all surprised to see a positive comment, cited in your statement above, from a Kansas resident--a state whose Board of Education has conducted a campaign to reduce or remove evolution from the school curriculum, and replace it with a "science" that presumes supernatural intervention in natural processes. Your implied support for these opinions under a veneer of respect for free speech is lamentable; and the conflation of the right to speak with the validity of opinion is sophomoric. Perhaps you will consider this from Harlan Ellison, which I believe speaks to that difference:

"Everybody has opinions...we are all told from the moment we open our eyes, that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion...We are not entitled to our opinions; we are entitled to our informed opinions. Without research, without background, without understanding, it's nothing. It's just bibble-babble."
Reply to this comment
by wasullivan2 October 6, 2006 2:06 AM EDT
You presented a speaker who had experience the loss of a child in a school shooting. That in itself was overkill. The story had been covered.

Then you presented a speaker who did not speak of his experience as the father of a child killed in a school shooting. And his experience was that of a suicidal student in his own school, not a suicidal adult raiding a school populated by strangers. Further, he offered an insane tirade that does not deserve a response.

You had the choice to run the Free Speech that was originally scheduled. You really screwed up.

I really hate to see CBS News screw up so badly.

Reply to this comment
by gary l merryman October 6, 2006 1:19 AM EDT
After watching the news about the Amish tradgedy I am angry with your media for forcing yourself on the Amish people by taking their pictures. Your reporters are too agressive and will do anything to get anything they can including stepping on toes of the innocent.Me and my family have many Amish friend in Pennsylvania and we respect their wishes, unlike your reporting crews who deliberatly disrespect the wihes of the Amish culture. You should be ashamed.
Sylvia Merryman
Reply to this comment
by thmnst October 5, 2006 11:10 PM EDT
Mr. Rouhrbough's comments displayed a lack of critical thinking. There is no evidence to suggest a link between the various issues he raised and school violence. There are many countries throughout the world who long ago removed prayer from their schools and now teach evolution. And these same countries have a much lower crime rate than we do. The cause of school violence lies elsewhere.
Don
Reply to this comment
by scot_welnack October 5, 2006 8:34 PM EDT
Brian Rohrbough implying the blame for the shooting rested on Godless Darwinism and evolution (science), is like saying John Lennon's death (shooting) can be blamed on all christianity, because Mark David Chapman said he was motivated by his devout christian faith. Ridiculous, repugnant !
Reply to this comment
by dystopias October 5, 2006 5:50 PM EDT
I don't see the KKK being regularly asked to give their opinions on current events. That would be free speech to. So why is this hate monger put on the national news?
The point is that CBS should give the opinion of someone who actually has something intelligent to say, or give no opinion at all. The news should not be the medium for such hate mongering as Mr. Rohrbough%u2019s.
Reply to this comment
by smd1957-2009 October 5, 2006 1:23 PM EDT
It would be wrong to wish 'Scot_Welnack' and the others that posted these ridiculous comments against the Columbine dad have the opportunity to be in Mr. Rohrbugh position in life.... I applaud the man for his honesty and INSIGHT. Incidentally, its an INSIGHT NO ONE should ever have to have again. As IBM says, THINK people... he had to bury his child; what have you done to approach this level of horribly sad expertise?
Reply to this comment
by abegott October 5, 2006 12:26 PM EDT
I stopped watching network news years ago when all three major networks began to bombard conservatives, Christians, and our government. I was hoping Katie would be different. While i am still disappointed on the negative slant towards our troops and our President, I applaude CBS for allowing Mr. Rohrbough's comments. His viewpoint is shared by millions of Americans. As a public school employee, I see the desparation in our students each and everyday. Thanks CBS, I am hoping that this will be a beginning to positive journalism.

Reply to this comment
by srfdog101 October 5, 2006 12:16 PM EDT
As Voltaire said, "I may disagree with what you say, but shall defend, to the death, your right to say it." This however, seems to be an epitaph rather than a rallying cry in this country today. I give CBS News credit for allowing Mr. Rohrbough%u2019s views. If you do not agree with them, that is your right too, but belittling and degrading his viewpoint is a public censorship that should not be tolerated in a free society. I am reminded of Noam Chomsky, who said, %u201CThe smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum %u2013 even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there%u2019s free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of debate.%u201D Once again, free speech has made up for freedom of thought, which most people in this country avoid. As for the term %u201CChristofascism,%u201D remember who penned the very rights we hold so dear; it was a bunch of middle aged, upper class, Caucasian, Christian males with last names like Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and Hancock. So before you bloviate do some critical thinking.
Reply to this comment
See all 166 Comments
.

Follow Couric & Co.

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...