Heeeeere's Benny (take 2 )
It seems that the GOP presidential front-runner, Dr. Benjamin Carson, has been caught in a lie or two... or three; okay, maybe four. Doctor Ben has claimed in his autobiography, "Gifted Hands," that he was offered a scholarship to West Point. He also stated that he met with U.S. Army’s chief of staff, General William Westmoreland, during Memorial Day 1969. In addition, Carson claims that he was declared to be the most trustworthy student by a Yale University psychology professor. All of this would be admirable, a laudatory set of accomplishments --- problem is, none of it is true.
Certainly more disturbing is Carson's account of himself as a misguided and angry youth who once stabbed a classmate and who attacked his mother with a hammer. (These latter events have been corroborated by Carson's mother and by his own subsequent statements). Managing to stay out of trouble, Ben Carson turned his life around, found God and went on to become a respected neurosurgeon. That changed personal history doesn't change an obvious fact, however: some of the youthful activities of Ben Carson's gifted hands could have led to life in a jail cell rather than an operating room.
Apparently the good doctor is content with making up compelling stories about his life thinking it will make up for his complete lack of credentials suitable for the role of president. Americans love rags to riches stories --- it is a key to the American mythos; it's what America is all about. So, unfortunately, is fraud and violence.
What is truly disturbing is not the fact that Carson has openly admitted the veracity of his statements about his violent past, but that he has comfortably challenged the American public to simply ignore them.
Certainly more disturbing is Carson's account of himself as a misguided and angry youth who once stabbed a classmate and who attacked his mother with a hammer. (These latter events have been corroborated by Carson's mother and by his own subsequent statements). Managing to stay out of trouble, Ben Carson turned his life around, found God and went on to become a respected neurosurgeon. That changed personal history doesn't change an obvious fact, however: some of the youthful activities of Ben Carson's gifted hands could have led to life in a jail cell rather than an operating room.
Apparently the good doctor is content with making up compelling stories about his life thinking it will make up for his complete lack of credentials suitable for the role of president. Americans love rags to riches stories --- it is a key to the American mythos; it's what America is all about. So, unfortunately, is fraud and violence.
What is truly disturbing is not the fact that Carson has openly admitted the veracity of his statements about his violent past, but that he has comfortably challenged the American public to simply ignore them.
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