If only we could all speak so freely as Dr. Ben Carson.
He is the head of pediatric neurosurgery at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the best hospitals in the world. He grew up in poverty in Detroit, raised by a single mother who made her sons read two library books each week and write reports on them. She couldn't read them, but they didn't know.
He recently addressed the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., a preeminent annual get together held since 1953. It is hosted by members of Congress and focused on finding common ground through faith. Every president attends and it is billed as one of the only non-political events in the capital.
Dr. Carson's speech ignited a firestorm from both left and right on cable news, with some on both sides calling for him to apologize to President Barack Obama for making overtly partisan remarks.
Many on the right praised him for attacking the president, who sat a few feet away from him during his address, with Fox News inviting him on multiple programs.
CNN's Candy Crowley asked a panel of guests if his remarks were "offensive." And Cal Thomas, a conservative columnist who organizes a media dinner connected with the event wrote, "Our politics have become so polarized and corrupted that a president of the United States cannot even attend an event devoted to drawing people closer to God and bridge partisan and cultural divides without being lectured about his policies."
It's true, Dr. Carson did assail the tax code, suggesting the tithe as a much simpler and fairer model for raising revenue than the current progressive tax structure with carve outs for myriad interest groups. And he also said healthcare would be cheaper and more effective if people took more responsibility for their care via health savings accounts "instead of sending it [money] to some bureaucracy."
But all those either offended by Dr. Carson's speech or thrilled that he allegedly berated the president in his presence missed the point.
Only those who see life filtered through a political lens would have taken his remarks that way.
His main point, the one he led with and returned to repeatedly, was about freedom of speech.
"We've reached the point where people are afraid to actually talk about what they want to say because somebody might be offended," he said.
He called political correctness "dangerous" because it "keeps people from discussing important issues while the fabric of this society is being changed." He added, "what we need to do in this politically correct world is forget about unanimity of speech and unanimity of thought, and we need to concentrate on being respectful of those people with whom we disagree."
He went on to lay out the biggest moral problems facing America in his mind - a foundering public education system, skyrocketing national debt, and a healthcare system that costs too much and delivers too little - and solutions to them using modern day parables to illustrate his points.
Surely those items are worthy of discussion at a breakfast dedicated to bridging partisan divide at a critical moment in America's history.
Second, if speakers are not allowed to talk about issues of pressing national concern at an event that elevates the Christian faith, doesn't it implicitly reduce God to a figurehead? If anything, Dr. Carson acted like Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple - waking up those in the audience at the event and those watching on television to the things of ultimate importance and calling out the hypocrisy of organizers who want a happy talk about common principles while America is falling apart outside the doors of the Washington Hilton.
If he and future speakers are not allowed the freedom to express their deepest concerns, then what's the point of a prayer breakfast except as a hollow tradition?
- Marta H. Mossburg is an independent columnist. Contact her at marta@martamossburg.com.
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
Commentary
Discussion
Prayer breakfast remarks ignite a firestorm
By Marta Mossburg CNHI
If only we could all speak so freely as Dr. Ben Carson.
He is the head of pediatric neurosurgery at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the best hospitals in the world. He grew up in poverty in Detroit, raised by a single mother who made her sons read two library books each week and write reports on them. She couldn't read them, but they didn't know.
He recently addressed the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., a preeminent annual get together held since 1953. It is hosted by members of Congress and focused on finding common ground through faith. Every president attends and it is billed as one of the only non-political events in the capital.
Dr. Carson's speech ignited a firestorm from both left and right on cable news, with some on both sides calling for him to apologize to President Barack Obama for making overtly partisan remarks.
Many on the right praised him for attacking the president, who sat a few feet away from him during his address, with Fox News inviting him on multiple programs.
CNN's Candy Crowley asked a panel of guests if his remarks were "offensive." And Cal Thomas, a conservative columnist who organizes a media dinner connected with the event wrote, "Our politics have become so polarized and corrupted that a president of the United States cannot even attend an event devoted to drawing people closer to God and bridge partisan and cultural divides without being lectured about his policies."
It's true, Dr. Carson did assail the tax code, suggesting the tithe as a much simpler and fairer model for raising revenue than the current progressive tax structure with carve outs for myriad interest groups. And he also said healthcare would be cheaper and more effective if people took more responsibility for their care via health savings accounts "instead of sending it [money] to some bureaucracy."
But all those either offended by Dr. Carson's speech or thrilled that he allegedly berated the president in his presence missed the point.
Only those who see life filtered through a political lens would have taken his remarks that way.
His main point, the one he led with and returned to repeatedly, was about freedom of speech.
"We've reached the point where people are afraid to actually talk about what they want to say because somebody might be offended," he said.
He called political correctness "dangerous" because it "keeps people from discussing important issues while the fabric of this society is being changed." He added, "what we need to do in this politically correct world is forget about unanimity of speech and unanimity of thought, and we need to concentrate on being respectful of those people with whom we disagree."
He went on to lay out the biggest moral problems facing America in his mind - a foundering public education system, skyrocketing national debt, and a healthcare system that costs too much and delivers too little - and solutions to them using modern day parables to illustrate his points.
Surely those items are worthy of discussion at a breakfast dedicated to bridging partisan divide at a critical moment in America's history.
Second, if speakers are not allowed to talk about issues of pressing national concern at an event that elevates the Christian faith, doesn't it implicitly reduce God to a figurehead? If anything, Dr. Carson acted like Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple - waking up those in the audience at the event and those watching on television to the things of ultimate importance and calling out the hypocrisy of organizers who want a happy talk about common principles while America is falling apart outside the doors of the Washington Hilton.
If he and future speakers are not allowed the freedom to express their deepest concerns, then what's the point of a prayer breakfast except as a hollow tradition?
- Marta H. Mossburg is an independent columnist. Contact her at marta@martamossburg.com.
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
May 21, 2013
Mr. President, the buck stops with you.
President Truman set that standard, with these very words posted on a sign on his Oval Office desk.
But now, with over a thousand days left in this second Obama administration, we find a Nixonian stench emerging from the “W. House.”
May 21, 2013
Rarely has the White House briefing room so resembled the main ballroom at a meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference.
May 21, 2013
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
May 17, 2013
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
May 17, 2013
The federal government recently announced new regulations for buying fast food.
May 17, 2013
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
May 17, 2013
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
For my neighbor.
That’s what it’s like at his feeder.
May 14, 2013
On April 27, Dr. Jeff Butts demonstrated a rare form of servant leadership as he participated in the Go Love Indy westside service project.
May 13, 2013
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
May 13, 2013
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Tires
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An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
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