Our Mailbox Runneth Over
(AP)
Well, it’s been a quiet week at “Couric and Co.” And it’s only Wednesday.
The mailman nearly suffered a hernia hauling in sacks of comments over Monday’s “freeSpeech” segment. (We took a few packages that were ticking and threw them in the creek…) Surf around the CBS News website and you’ll find all sorts of ideas and opinions about this. A tell-tale sign that this was going to be an especially interesting week: nearly every comment, on every post, for the last three days, has had something to say about “freeSpeech,” no matter what the topic.
Personally, I was struck by how many of the people who posted began their comments with one word: “Shame.” As in “Shame on you, Katie Couric.” (I might mention here that the majority of people wagging their fingers and using that word would proudly label themselves free-thinking, tolerant, progressive, maybe even liberal. Tolerance, it seems, has its limits.) I was also struck by how the tide seems to have turned. Over the last 24 hours, a growing number of e-mails and comments have been in support of Brian Rohrbough and his views. A friend of mine who runs a conservative blog says that’s not surprising. She told me that most people who agree with Rohrbough would not be inclined to watch CBS, and when they heard through the blogosphere grapevine that “freeSpeech” was causing a kerfuffle, and that abortion and evolution and Christianity were being mentioned, they wandered over to take a look.
Now it’s hitting the papers. Media maven Howard Kurtz (who, I swear, should be played by Ray Romano in the movie version of his life) has written about the controversy in this morning’s Washington Post.
And you’ll find more down the street, where Vaughn is busily corralling kittens at Public Eye.
Take a look, and then take a look around. We’re continuing to get comments all over the place.
And it’s still only Wednesday.
The secrets of tennis legend 
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- next
See all 81 Comments"A comparison of peoples' views in 34 countries finds that the United States ranks near the bottom when it comes to public acceptance of evolution. Only Turkey ranked lower."
Source:
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060810_evo_rank.html
Countries like Iceland, Denmark and Sweden top the list.
Guess which countries are not even on the list of the 32 countries with the highest murder rates in the world? Iceland and Sweeden.
Denmark is #28 on the list.
Guess where the US stands? #8. (right up there with other 3rd world countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Columbia and Mexico)
source:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_wit_fir_percap-crime-murders-firearms-per-capita
Turkey's murder rate is 4% higher than the US's.
http://christianparty.net/turkey.htm
Apparently, if there is any correlation between the acceptance of the theory of Evolution and murder, it is just the opposite of what the NeoCons claim according the the latest statistics.
The countries with the most acceptance of the theory of Evolution have a much lower rate of murder than those, like the US and Turkey, who are the cellar dwellers of progressive nations that accept the theory of evolution as scientific fact.
"I might mention here that the majority of people wagging their fingers and using that word would proudly label themselves free-thinking, tolerant, progressive, maybe even liberal. Tolerance, it seems, has its limits."
That's been my experience.
I am a woman with epilepsy and a mild brain injury. I've found that those who purport to be "free-thinking", "tolerant", "progressive", and "liberal" are actually the least tolerant when it comes to dealing with, helping, being friends with, and basically sharing the world with people like me.
From the outside I look completely normal. I sound completely normal and am of normal intelligence (above-average, I%u2019m told). But most of the time I move more slowly than others. Sometimes I speak more slowly than others. And I often think and understand more slowly than others. Not always, but on and off, and it%u2019s impossible to predict when I%u2019ll be %u201Con%u201D and when I%u2019ll be %u201Coff%u201D.
I explain this to people, and they claim to listen. But they don't hear. When I slow down, they become frustrated. They get upset. They get angry. I become an inconvenience to them, and eventually, I find that they either accuse me of having these slowed down times for attention (oh, if I could only NOT have the attention), or they avoid me altogether.
Most people with epilepsy and with brain injuries end up agoraphobic, and with associated anxiety problems. Can you blame them? I certainly can%u2019t. I%u2019ve fought it all my life, and continue to.
I always expected civil rights groups (liberal) to be willing to help if I had any problems. I%u2019ve gone to liberal groups designed to defend my rights when I%u2019ve needed my rights defended. The ACLU, the Epilepsy Foundation, other disability rights groups %u2013 couldn%u2019t be bothered. The issues I needed help with were %u201Ctoo small%u201D, weren%u2019t going to get them any notoriety, and so they weren%u2019t willing to take just a little time out to help me (the two times I%u2019ve needed help, the solution would have taken a phone call or a simple letter to solve). It still makes me sick to think of it, because I fear what will happen if I need help in the future. That fear keeps me from trying things and living a richer life.
The university I attended refused me accommodation (this was a California State University). I was told that even though I had verifiable disabilities, I was not %u201Cdisabled enough%u201D. Now that I am more savvy, I know that I was entitled to accommodations regardless and I should have been given them as soon as I told them what my diagnoses were. I could sue the university, but I won%u2019t. It would be more trouble that it%u2019s worth.
So conservatives were Americans with Disabilities Act. So they dont believe in throwing tax money at social security, disability, and welfare. I've come to find that this is for good reason. The ADA was a tool for lawyers cherry pick the most profitable and high profile cases, and take advantage of the suffering of disabled people for their own gain. Throwing more money into social security, disability, and welfare is not useful. Do disabled people use these systems? Yes. But these systems keep them in poverty. Will putting more money into these systems fix this? No. More money going into these systems rarely gets to the recipients in any significant way. It is usually diverted into one part or another of the bureaucracy that %u201Cruns%u201D it.
Conservatives tend to be much more %u201Ctolerant%u201D of my needs than others. They tend to be much more patient with me. They tend to hear me when I say tell them what I need to do in able to function, comprehend, and communicate at peak level. Are all conservatives like this? Of course not. But I%u2019m done fooling myself into thinking that just because a group calls themselves %u201Cliberal%u201D and %u201Ctolerant%u201D, that makes them so. I base my judgement not on what people say (no matter how many times they say it), but on what they DO.
So conservatives were Americans with Disabilities Act. So they dont believe in throwing tax money at social security, disability, and welfare. I've come to find that this is for good reason. The ADA was a tool for lawyers cherry pick the most profitable and high profile cases, and take advantage of the suffering of disabled people for their own gain. Throwing more money into social security, disability, and welfare is not useful. Do disabled people use these systems? Yes. But these systems keep them in poverty. Will putting more money into these systems fix this? No. More money going into these systems rarely gets to the recipients in any significant way. It is usually diverted into one part or another of the bureaucracy that %u201Cruns%u201D it.
Conservatives tend to be much more %u201Ctolerant%u201D of my needs than others. They tend to be much more patient with me. They tend to hear me when I say tell them what I need to do in able to function, comprehend, and communicate at peak level. Are all conservatives like this? Of course not. But I%u2019m done fooling myself into thinking that just because a group calls themselves %u201Cliberal%u201D and %u201Ctolerant%u201D, that makes them so. I base my judgement not on what people say (no matter how many times they say it), but on what they DO.
I wrote quite often the first two weeks. I had a vested interest. I love the CBS Evening News -- watching it for 45 years -- not bad for someone only 53. It was a rough start. But I was serious in my criticism. Having worked in news for most of my career, one knows on a stage so large, many comments are dismissed. I don't know how many, or if any, of my comments may have made a difference. But indeed the subsequent weeks have been "quiet" insofar as my posts. That's because I wanted to believe you would carry on in the great tradition of CBS -- I now feel confident you will. And the Free Speech segments, which were so awkard in the beginning, well, tonight's left me with a lump in my throat. Thank you for carrying on in the proper manner for something so many of us revere.
Michael Dillin
Neptune Beach, FL
I disagree with everything Rohrbough said, however I agreed with everything Bob Schieffer said on Wednesday. In the U.S. we can (I think) hear both views.
We are able to agree/disagree with any CBS free speech comments, this isn't the case in many countries in the world.
State is no where in the Constitution!
Posted by pilgrimsway at 10:01 AM : Oct 05, 2006"
No, it's in the Bible... Where Jesus commands that we "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's, and to God that which is God's"...
If that's not a message to true "Christians" (those of us who actually read the Bible anyway), that we should keep church and state separate from one another, then I don't know what is... We are also commanded to obey the "laws of the land" which apply equality and freedom of speech to our citizenship. While I agree with some of monday's free speech segment, I feel it is wrong to try to "strong-arm" a school, or the country, to any one individual's particular religious beliefs.
B
This is another example of what is happening to our society and proves what Mr. Rohrbough is saying. The only religion that is not off limits to ridicual and hatred is the fundamental Christian. If you had said the comments of a Atheist or Muslim might seem repugnant to your viewers, you would have been summarily tried and executed in the media.
Let's try to have the same rulebook for all!!
Also, I know it may be difficult, but could you try to be fair in your journalism. Maybe others around you might take the hint and try it too.
Do I find your words Repugnant! No I'm just disappointed that someone in your position would use a national platform to insult someone who does not share your opinion of the world. But I have come to expect that from elitist who does not understand the world or take responsibility for their actions. Yes a classic example of "Not my fault" which is being ingrained into American Society. I guess you feel right at home with the Dixie Chicks.
The last time I watched even the first 15 minutes of any CBS Evening News program was back in the 80's. A colorful, artful graphic with the name 'Islamic Jihad' popped up over Dan Rather's left shoulder as he rat-a-tat-tatted his way through yet another account of the continuing fulfillment of biblical prophesy in the Middle East.
The appearance of that attractive logo-like artwork twenty years ago, produced with considerable cost, effort and skill by some earnest but unknown CBS artist, gave that terrorist organization a prominence and standing (in the context of the broadcast) that made me physically sick - and furious.
At the top of this thread KC said:
This is a nation built on dialogue and debate. And, most importantly, on freedom of speech. As George Washington once said, %u201CIf freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.%u201D
Wrong. This is a nation built on the Bible. KC would never tell you about that same General George Washington on his knees in the snow praying to an Almighty God for strength and victory for his troops. Is THAT "repugnant" too?
CBS and KC deserve some credit, but God bless Mr. Rohrbough - and the pure truth he delivered. Posted by getsavednow at 04:45 AM : Oct 05, 2006 - and then REMOVED?
Ps. I bet most people do not know that separation of Church and
State is no where in the Constitution!
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- next
See all 81 Comments