Recently a brand new Herman Cain has emerged, Dr. Ben Carson, a retired, world renown neuro-surgeon from Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Carson is one of the most respected physicians in the world and his story represents such a triumph of the American spirit that it inspired a TV movie about his life.
I have a great deal of respect for Dr. Carson's accomplishments. But as I have watched him slowly work his way into a possible Republican nomination, my respect for him as a man has begun to fade. Firstly I have a difficult time understanding how an African-American could align himself with anything that remotely resembles a conservative ideology. But I also understand why. Those who were some of the poorest among us who managed to raise themselves up, feel that if they can achieve such lofty heights, anyone can. This is the psychology behind the reasoning of those who've managed to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps".
Dr. Carson was raised by a single mother in the poorest of conditions, and he beat the odds. But his being blessed enough to achieve his goals does not mean that he is the rule. He is in fact the exception, and just because he is the acception, it does not mean that he should forget where he came from. These are just a few of his comments.
“When you rob someone of their incentive to go out there and improve themselves, you are not doing them any favors. When you take someone and pat someone on their head and say there there, you poor little thing… I am going to give you food stamps… let me give you housing subsidy… let me give you free health care… and because you cannot do that and those people over there that are causing half of problem."
And my personal favorite
"Obama Care is the worst thing to happen to this nation since slavery."
As if he never had any help, and anything is comparable to slavery!!
Dr. Carson is not the first successful African-American to succumb to Stockholm Syndrome, and unfortunately he will not be the last. Stockholm Syndrome is a legitimate psychological condition in which a hostage identifies with their captors after being held captive for a lengthy amount of time. So much so that they actually begin to take on the identity and value system of those who have damaged their psyche.
Just this morning I heard a comment that Dr. Carson made to a conservative commentator in reference to women being physically abused. According to Dr. Carson this may not actually be a problem in America at all, despite vast amounts of data that suggest the contrary.
It seems that perhaps the best thing about Ben Carson is that he is headed down the road to implosion just like Herman Cain, but where as Cain thought with the wrong head, and had bad ideas, Carson is thinking with the right head and is still having bad ideas. I hope that the next "token negro" that the Republican Party decides to prop up at least makes compelling arguments that don't sound entirely insane.
PR
Being controversial gets one recognized, and I understand that is why you need this blog. But, I find it easier to follow a person, like the Doctor than someone like you, a critic, because he lives what he preaches and demonstrates to all that they are valuable, that ALL HUMANS, regardless of skin color can determine thier destiny. In the words of another Dr. Mr. King said, " I look forward to a day when we will be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin." Get over your blackness dude, we all put our pants on one leg at a time!
ReplyDelete" In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."
I am amazed at the fact that a coward like you has the nerve to hide behind the anonymous moniker and tell me how to get over my blackness. But then again I guess you've found some ball in your anonimity. With that being said I will get over my blackness the minute that white people do. You have been brainwashed by whoever spoon feeds you, to believe that Black people are whiners who love to use the race card. But it all reality it is your ancestors, if indeed you are white, who have managed to perpetuate a culture of racism. Read a book! That way you can at least be a brave objective critic instead of one who posts things on the internet that he would never say to my face! As far as Dr. Carson goes, if you'd follow him you have a significant character flaw and I probably shouldn't even be responding to you. But I enjoy the art of dialogue even when it is fraught with lunacy.
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