freeSpeech: Brian Rohrbough

Dad Of A Columbine Victim Asks “Why Did This Happen?”

(CBS)  I'm saddened and shaken by the shooting at an Amish school today, and last week’s school murders.

When my son Dan was murdered on the sidewalk at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, I hoped that would be the last school shooting. Since that day, I’ve tried to answer the question, "Why did this happen?"

This country is in a moral free-fall. For over two generations, the public school system has taught in a moral vacuum, expelling God from the school and from the government, replacing him with evolution, where the strong kill the weak, without moral consequences and life has no inherent value.

We teach there are no absolutes, no right or wrong. And I assure you the murder of innocent children is always wrong, including by abortion. Abortion has diminished the value of children.

Suicide has become an acceptable action and has further emboldened these criminals. And we are seeing an epidemic increase in murder-suicide attacks on our children.

Sadly, our schools are not safe. In fact, we now witness that within our schools. Our children have become a target of terrorists from within the United States.

[tarquinius2]

I found his statements to be offensive. He implies that people who believe in proven fact over dogma are somehow morally inferior. Religion is a personal choice and has no place in the schools or the government.

[mimipjh]

Mr. Rohrbough is so very right. It is a sad day when we can't send our children to school without having to worry about something like Columbine or today's tragedy occuring.
We teach nobody gets a failing grade - everyone does well - no reward for doing good - no punishment for doing bad - we all need to wake up. There is a right or wrong. My prayers are with Mr. Rohrbough and all the families effected by this horrible event. PJH

[rogerde1]

How about gun control...hello is
cbs totally gone conservitive....ARA?...God?..left out of school?...give me a break

[larryjt-2009]

Dear Ms. Couric,

Your free speech essay was inappropriate to put on the air as the %u201Canswer%u201D to a horrific crime against Amish children.

Perhaps in the future we%u2019ll know that the killer was badly educated and no one told him the difference between right and wrong. Perhaps we%u2019ll learn that he was afflicted by a misbegotten abortion. Perhaps there will be proof of some of the things the speaker declared to be the reason for this awful crime.

Until then, I think my answer is better: We let anyone have any number of guns. We killed public programs on mental health back in the Reagan administration. In this case we have a man with serious mental illness and a bunch of guns, and the resulting crime stems from those aspects of our kamikaze society. This is where I see blame for this crime. I think my answer is better than the agenda of a father whose grief must be immense. Shame on you for letting him say these things. What could abortion possibly have to do with murdering young girls.

I%u2019ve given up on NBC for its coddling of Mel Gibson and Ann Coulter. I%u2019ve given up on ABC for its mangling of Iraq War history. You%u2019re next. We%u2019re waiting over here in the real world for some intelligent news broadcasts.

I wish CBS would excise the "free speech" segment from their news programming. We need more facts and less opinion from the media. Incendiary and accusing content (from anyone) does not serve the public interest.

[davisa6]

This guy is a very dangerous nutbar. I guess this is the sort of thing you can expect when the weather girl is running the show. This is a very sad day for CBS and more importantly for the USA.

[dmoody0403]

I absolutely agree with Mr. Rohrbough and salute him for standing up and saying what so many Americans say silently. There is indeed right and wrong. Until we recognize that fact (and return to teaching the same) we will continue to reap the results of a failed and immoral educational system. For those of you who disagree, tell me that we are better off with the moral relativism that now pervades our schools and society.

[Smitty55]

Hats off to CBS news for allowing Mr Rohrbough to speak during the free speech segment! He hit it way out of the ball park. Our founding father would be so proud!

[tkb2101]

Hi,

I'm a nonpracticing Amish female student at Columbia University and I resent that Brian Rohrbough blatantly capitalized on the very tragic Amish shooting today to espouse his views on evolution and abortion. His self-centered speech expressed no compassion whatsoever toward today's and last week's victims.

By the way, religion is NOT taught in Amish schools. The Amish firmly believe that God/religion is to be taught to their children by the parents and in church and NOT by teachers in the schoolroom. It is NOT the teachers' responsibilities to indoctrinate the kids.

I suppose Mr. Rohrbough would say that the Amish children today deserved to be shot and their parents and the community in general deserve to suffer as a result because the Amish expel God from the schoolroom.

-Torah Bontrager
[e-mail]

[pnmm89a]

I greatly sympathize with Mr. Rohrbough, the Amish, and any others who have lost children in such a manner. It is absolutely heartbreaking!

I just think that by Mr. Rohrbough attempting to rationalize the problem by blaming the teaching of evolution or lack of spirituality, he is making more of a political statement that distracts from his important message. I only wish the answer was so easy.

[pietenpol-2009]

This is the best commentary that I have heard in a long time. He has told it exactly like it is!!

[linz1002]

Ms. Couric,
It's about time somebody stepped up to the plate to show the world all angles. It gets old hearing opinions from those hanging on the left side of the fence. It was quite refreshing to get an honest opinion from a gentleman who has had to deal with this type of tragedy. I applaud you for making the effort to let all voices heard

[brushfinch]

As much as my heart goes out to Mr.Rohrbough and to the parents of the Amish children killed today, I profoundly disagree with his views. This country has no serious mental health programs, many cannot afford the expensive medicines that keep their illnesses under control;the ease with which guns can be obtained thanks to the NRA lobbying efforts ( decried by most police departments)is criminal; the prevalence of gratuitous violence in films, DVDs, video games and television programs, where each gory detail is glamorized,...this is what lies behind these awful crimes. The teaching of science, including evolution ( which , by the way,does not imply denial of God)have nothing to do with these situations. Religion and spirituality are a personal matter and should stay that way.

[skch-2009]

I completely agree with Mr. Rohrbough's comments. Thank you for airing his "freeSpeech" segment!

[scottish26]

I agree that the comments were not appropriate for the issue. He started off fine and ended fine but goes off on this religious kick half way through that wasn't needed. I mean come one if we're going to talk morals how many wars have been fought in the name of god like the Crusaudes.

Had he stayed on topic and not gone off on some bashing of those who don't agree with religion then that would have been fine but he because offensive by making it sound like only religious people have morals HA HA hardly. How many religious folks still get in the same situation. I mean wasn't there a case not to long ago where some preachers wife was accused of murdering her husband the preacher. Some morals there.

Geesh

[joannviola]

No wonder the Amish do not wish to be a part of the majority society. When asked for comments on the murder of Amish children in their school Mr. Rohrbough blames godlessness and abortion? What does that have to do with those innocents?Where is compassion? Where is basic human empathy?
How about something other than blaming those who do not believe as he does?
We have enough people blaming others for their own problems. This week three of them carried weapons into schools and murdered people.
Mr. Rohrbough carried his own moral gun onto your broadcast and shot another bullet into the hearts of that community.
I agree that our schools are no longer safe, but if I had the opportunity to speak about the school shootings I would reach out with love and prayer for the victims, not with my own agenda.
May the Creator forgive this heartlessness.

[glenorie]

Good for you Dad.
May the life you lost in your son save the lives of others. Thank you also Ms. Couric for the most heartfelt way you conducted yourself in the light of this evenings sad news. This is a time to consider why this kind of evil is increasing. Sure there are a number of reasons. Something like this never has a simple solution or we would imbrace it. We do know however the starting point is a caring heartfelt attitude and Mr. Rohrbough and Katie had it.

[joeshields56]

While I sympathize with and grieve Mr. Rohrbough's loss, I feel his opinion on the cause of such madness is groundless and that CBS did a great dis-service in airing his speech at this time. This should not be a part of a "News" program.

[aussiedi]

Tonights Free Speech was so good that I made the effort to register to cbsnews.com as a result. I am inspired by the clarity that Mr. Rohrbough used in articulating the error of the ways for our youth. Our children are precious. Too many are dying senseless deaths. How true - evolution teaches the strong kill the weak.

My deepest sympathy to all who are personally affected not only by today's tragic killings but all who have lost loved ones as tragically as happened today.

I hear too often how we need to fight the terrorists on their soil but nothing seems to be happening to fight the people who reign terror where we live. No matter how many of those injured survive today's masacre they will never be the same.

This is a sad day. Kudos to CBS. I was moved and this is definitely news.

[mwe3wm]

I agree we should thank CBS for allowing this forum.

My condolences go to the father of a lost child.

I disagree with his view that more religion is needed in our government and public schools. We have difficulty with our current politicians and their declarations on who is more patriotic.

What would the problems be if politicians thought that each had God on their side and the other side was doomed to eternal damnation.

As a father I am concerned about my children and their security in school. I have to take action and become involved with my children's security by demanding their school district have a plan to fend off these types of frontal assaults.

Michael Edwards
Texas

[shgkrggar]

I'm sorry for the gentleman's tragedy but he is way wrong. We have these problems because our leaders refuse to see that our problems can not be resolved by adding religion to schools. What our leaders must learn is the art of compromise. Conservatives must accept that some gun control is appropriate and would keep guns from the mentally ill - the murderer of the girls today, the young - the WI principal murderer etc. Liberals must accept that controlling violence in TV, Movies and Video games is necessary to stop the desensitization of killing. Like the Amish, our leaders should realize that religions do not belong in our schools. It is a personal experience to be taught by parents and churches. Compassion and understanding of diversities is what we should be teaching in our schools. Then regardless of religion, we would be accepting of our neighbors.

[pbrauer52]

It's an insult and an injustice to innocent slaughtered children to in any way associate the actions of a lunatic with personal issues like abortion and public schools. Mr. Rohrbough would be better served offering empathy instead of rethoric.

[bftex]

When you said the father of one of the Columbine victims would say a few words, I expected that the sentences he would utter would provide some solice for the families of recent school shooting victims. Instead, he used the segment as an opportunity to preach from a right-wing "Christian" platform. I doubt abortion or a lack of religious teaching in the schools had anything to do with the recent incidents in which adults unrelated to the schools carried out their own terroristic missions. And in the case of Columbine, if memory serves me, the gunmen were deeply troubled students who felt excluded and ridiculed at school because they weren't among the popular crowd. Hindsight is always 20/20, but if the two boys' propensity for violence could have been identified earlier, there might have been no Columbine. Maybe we should take a little of the time now given over to teaching students how to take standardized tests and help them understand that all of humanity has value. And, there is the problem of all those guns out there, but that's already been said by those who have posted previously.

[fedora1958]

Okay, seriously, that's it. After 30 years of loyal viewing, I'm switching to the NBC Nightly News.

It's a disgrace what's happened to CBS News since Dan Rather left. Is blaming evolution for school shootings considered in the maintream of American thought? If you're going to put people like this poor deluded man and Rush Limbaugh on the evening News, I want to see some real leftist radicals, and outspoken critics of the administration. I want to see Noam Chmosky, and Keith Olbermann. Instead, we get a gentle admonition from Bob Schiffer from time to time that torture is bad.

The "Free Speech" segment (the quotes in the graphic logo are appropietly ironic) is nothing more than a cowardly capitulation to political pressure. It's the biggest reason why, after 30 years, I'm changing my viewing habits.

Goodnight. And good luck.

[kesh55]

Lashing out with virtual Dobsonian (Focus on the Family) bullet points that defy reason is more akin to indoctrinated speech, not free speech. He blames the removal of God from schools; yet the perpetrator of the Lancaster County horror was described as a nice, church-going Christian, a family man. It's not the time to be casting stones.

[whereiskevin]

I feel for Brian Rohrbough's loss...but he is part of the "Delusional Set" that equates belief in God and subscription to certain values as absolutes of virtue and righteousness. In this, he is absolutely wrong!
His comments suggesting that this nation is in a moral free-fall because we don't allow myth-based teaching, and because we allow women the right to control their reproductive freedom has no bearing on the tragedy in Pennsylvania today. Shame on him for suggesting otherwise!

[bbmover]

I hope CBS counters Mr. Rohrbough's "free speech" statement with an opposing viewpoint for balance. First, God in the public school counters our country's historical belief in the separation of church and state. Otherwise, which religion rules?

Second, belief in a woman's right to choose has nothing to do with the rage of children who are driven to kill. It is a personal moral choice which often involves the health of mother and child. The personal choice of children who are driven to kill comes from a different source. Perhaps it stems from the frustration of having no choice at all.

Third, the most ridiculous statement that the schools have replaced God with evolution; evolution and God can successfully coexist! It never ceases to amaze me that the most
"religious" people sometimes confine God to human
limitations.

As to the causes- how about parents simply taking and teaching responsibility instead of blaming the schools for not doing the parent's job? Duh!!!

[betb]

Thank You Mr. Rohrbough for your excellent comments on the free speech segment of tonight's news. Our country has lost it's moral compass, and because of it there is so much evil all around. My prayers go out to all the families that are dealing with this terrible tragedy.

[eb48]

Tonight's news had a tragic lead story about the school shootings in Pennsylvania. I have no argument with that coverage. What I did find highly offensive was the editorial comment by a father of a victim of the Columbine shootings. Obviously this gentleman has lived through a parent's worst nightmare and today's events surely brought back terrible memories. What I found offensive however is the CBS News choice to present his highly personal views to a wide national audience with no opportunity for an alternate voice to be heard. While I may agree with some of his thoughts, others are completely absurd and would surely lead this country back to the Middle Ages. You gave this individual an uncritical platform to demonize activities such as the teaching of evolution. Can this argument also be extended to the convicted pedophiles of the Catholic clergy? I hope in the future you will be more discriminating when inviting comments from the public to be used in the Evening News.

[osha911]

I find that airing this individuals horrific loss of his son at a time when yet another tragedy has struck our nation was a political statement. To use the murders of young people in the same light as abortion is beyond my ability to comprehend. I viewed the evening segment aired on October 2, 2006 to be totally offensive in the light where yet more innocent children were lost in a senseless act of murder. This individual may have the right to voice his opinion in a national forum, but to have your company air it under free speech is reprehensible. He has politicalized his views, using the loss of his son to gain the political stage to issue his personal views addressing a social issue that has stood the test of the United States Court system. If this individual is so concerned as to his right to speak, why is he so quick to condemn the freedom of another to take action has they see it under the laws of our nation? I may not support the idea of abortion, but I will grant the right of decision to those whose lives are effected through that decision. Why does this man not go to our "third world countries" to save the masses of unwanted lives due to a simple physical act? It is not up to we mortals to pass judgement on others. Those who believe in a higher authority believe that the judgement of mankind's actions are left to that authority. I am not that higher authority, but I am taking my right of television viewing to another network.

[lynncs]

I was appalled by Mr. Rohrbach's comments on "Free Speech". To get on a political "bandwagon" and using his grief to legitimize it, was truly disgusting. He blames public education for the violence in an Amish based School?????(Go figure) CBS has really gone downhill, and I think I'll switch to NBC. Although I don't always agree with the "Free Speech" segment....this was over the top, and it was sad to wittness what was supposed to be a time to sympathize with the victims of this terrible event in Pennsylvania turn into a "Right Wing" tirade. Shame on CBS and Mr. Rohrbach.

[timeout800]

Why does CBS give the "Christian" right a voice for their agenda at a most inappropriate time. Our hearts break for those families who have lost their dear children. Guns and mental health issues are to blame as well as all those political agendas that have not tackled these very pressing issues.

While I know this parent's pain is still intense, his personal political views did not address what needed to be addressed today. I'm sorry that CBS did not do better today.

[rewald1-2009]

I grew up in a household where CBS News was the regular evening fare for what was going on the world. Cronkite, Rather and Severeid almost seemed like part of the family. Watching the Free Speach segment on tonight's CBS Evening News made me realize how much CBS News has changed, and changed for the worse. In depth analysis has been replaced by shallow political pandering that tries to link the tragic school shootings to the teaching of evolution and a women's right to control her body. I will no longer be watching Katie Couric and the CBS Evening News - I will tuning in to a network that presents a more reasoned an balanced point of view.

[jerryek]

Shame on you CBS! The views proposed on tonights freespeech included several completely baseless and, frankly, insulting comments.

First, the theory of biological evolution does not posit anything about the strong killing the weak. Since Mr. Rohrbough clearly does not understand the basic principals of biological evolution, perhaps he isn't the best person to be airing judgments about in on national television.

Second, I find Mr. Rohrbough's connection between evolution, abortion, and classroom shootings more than simply idiotic, but completely irresponsible. He is insinuating that non-Christians are amoral and do not value human life. How is this type of religious bigotry acceptable on network TV?

We all witnessed the rantings of a crazy man tonight. He somehow turned a school shooting into an opportunity to attack the separation of church and state and impose his religious views on everyone in the country.

This was clear religious extremism. Mr. Rohrbough, like the Taliban, wants to impose his religion on everyone. He wants to have all children subjected to his religion in the school system. This was an attack on one of the fundamental principals of our country: religious freedom.

Mr. Rohrbough should be ashamed of himself for taking advantage of a tragedy like this to advance his agenda. And CBS should be ashamed of themselves for airing this message of intolerance.

[barnardw]

Thank you CBS News and Katie Couric for airing Brian Rohrbough's comments on the "Free Speech" segment of today's Evening News. It was refreshing to hear suggestions on what could be done to curtail violence in our schools. Why don't we try it? Obviously what we are doing now is not working.

Bill Barnard
Georgia

[sparkcolo]

I completely agree with most of what others here have said. While I feel for this man for the loss of his son, another time of tragedy is not an opportunity to advance one's political agenda. I expected Mr. Rohrbough to come on and condemn these acts and possibly discuss how schools need better security or crime prevention or something along those lines. Instead we got to hear some far-right rant that could just as well have been coming from Pat Robertson and company. Just what exactally do evolution, abortion and God in schools have to do with school shootings? The answer: zero. Is it possible that this man actually believes that his son would be alive today if evolution had been taught in public schools? If he wants to start pointing fingers why doesn't he start with the gun industry and the obviously well intentioned people at the NRA. It's pretty hard to deny that if the crazy people have no guns, they can't shoot anybody.

[thayden60]

This is what I come to expect from a corporate slag heap doing the bidding of a hugh corporation like Viacom. How far the mighty have fallen when a corporate entity such as yours needs to dig up a poor misguided soul like Mr. Rohrbough to do their bidding. You can see the man is still grieving his child and it's unhuman to use him in this way. Shame on all of you at CBS!

[alltogether3]

If it all was only so simple as "everyone pray", and our children wouldn't fall victim to violent crimes. A better "healthcare" system available to all, might make a difference in catching people who are dangerous to themselves and others, seems a bit more realistic.

[jbub2]

Finally some words of wisdom on the CBS News. I am so sorry for the loss of your son Mr. Rohrbough and agree wholeheartedly with your meaningful expressions on why such tragedies continue to occur in this country.

[brash13]

Back to Brian Williams for me. I will no longer be watching CBS News after tonight's free speech episode. While I sympathize deeply with Mr. Rohrbough's loss, I am offended that CBS allowed this rant under the guise of news. Shame on CBS. Shame on Ms. Couric.

How sad. You choose to broadcast a political diatribe at a time of such tragedy. It's hard to decide which is worst - your editorial judgement or complete lack of taste.

[dantebaron-2009]

Thank you Brian!!! This country was founded on God's principles. The proof of what you say can be seen in the crime reports over the years. Hearing a Christian being allowed to speak on network news was pleasantly shocking since Christians are no longer allowed to speak anywhere without someone being "offended". It's "interesting" that free-speach includes anything except God. Mentioning Columbine was simply stating the fact & sighting repeditive behavior patterns in people today. All of the killings are sickening. I'm glad that CBS has the FreeSpeech segment.

[bobbyleone]

Abortion? The theory of evoluion? I was a story about menatl illness? Did that term even come up? Everyone at CBS news should be ashamed of themselves, not for agenda motivated journalism, we're used to that.... You should NEVER underestimate the intelligence of your audience, or even worse, your fellow Americans.

[hamerj1]

The teaching of evolution as the reason behind school shootings??????? Is your "free speech" time a time for the ignorant to say whatever they want? You can't yell "fire" in a crowded movie theater but you can blame killings on the teaching of truth in American schools. And, I wonder if this man has ever entered an Amish school? I'm sure they pray everyday and then some. The fact that abortions are legal somehow also played into his rant. And I won't go any further with that because I may say something I consider wrong. Is there no filter on the CBS "free speech?" Can someone come on and spout anti-semitic beliefs too? Or any racial slurs? Will CBS just allow it under the auspices of free speech? Or, perhaps CBS believes in the fanatic Christian right. If the killers going into schools are students themselves like they have been in the past, let's look at their parents instead of evolution and abortion and teachers. CBS needs to be a bit more responsible.

[rcs68]

If you want safe schools . We need to cleanup what goes on Tv and other programs, about 90% of tv has some sort of shootem up and *** in it. Can't we do better than that? Are childern devser better.

[rrrpinnc]

Thank you, Mr. Rohrbough, for speaking out. Thank you, Katie, for allowing his comments to be aired. If anyone can empathize with the families effected by today's tragedy, he should. Our society has deteriorated faster than I could have believed possible. I agree with every point that Mr. Rohrbough made. I can remember a time when no one locked their doors and our children were safe at school. One can only blame the moral decay of our country and the lack of respect for life.

[gtalmadge-2009]

Amen to that Brian! Your comments are accurate and hit home with true accuracy. The killing of your son is something that we will never forget, and now your bravery to speak the truth becomes an example to us all. Thank you for your courage.

[slysligo]

Mr. Rohrbough is being intellectually dishonest and he knows it. Evolution and the rights to an abortion have nothing to do with school shootings. It's because we live in a country where our government talks about the sanctity of life on one hand and sends our soldiers to their death on the other. They talk about respect for others on one hand but teach our citizens that it's OK to kill innocent Iraqis on the other. Pictures of violence from Iraq juxtaposed to the daily assurances that killing is OK from our leaders teach Americans that violence solves problems. The real culprit is our American culture of celebrating war when we should be pushing peace.

[jbmountjoy]

How can Mr. Rohrbough possibly believe that one of the root causes of the insane massacres at schools such as Colombine is the teaching of scientific evolution in school rather than some version of religious mythology. I am appalled that he blames the victims for causing this violence. He should focus instead on why our culture so extolls violence in video games, movies, sports, and in our relations with other countries, and then allows so many unstable people such easy access to so many guns.

[thundrdrum]

God and abortion have nothing to do with the Amish school murders. You took an opportunity to say something meaningful, related to your personal experience with Columbine, and politicized it. Shame on you. Shame on CBS for publicizing this tripe. He had nothing meaningful to say, to comfort, to empathize with the Amish losses.