Sunday morning on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, Rev. Jessie Jackson debated Dr. Ben Carson on the subject of violence by African-American youth and whether it was a response to racism. The two differed greatly in both viewpoint and demeanor, Carson presented his case with a soft-spoken calmness while Jackson appeared angry and ruffled most of the time. In my view, just a look at his facial expression during the discussion makes it quite obvious where his heart lies.
Jackson presented the standard argument he always uses. The police are biased and corrupt, the "gentle giant", all 292 pounds and 6'4" was unarmed, had done nothing wrong and was the victim of out-of-control police. He didn't want to talk about the new information which was coming out to contradict the early press reports, he just wanted to make sure that Michael Brown got "justice". And, of course, in his view it was clearly a case of racism with a white officer killing a black young man in the prime of his life. In fact, he went so far as to call the death a "state execution".
Dr. Carson was thoughtful and and measured. He acknowledged that it's always a tragedy when a young man dies, but he said racism had little if anything to do with it. In his view, as long as so many young men are raised without acknowledging that they have personal responsibility for their actions and lack a clear sense of right and wrong they will always have such problems. Throw in the use of illegal drugs and alcohol and the situation just magnifies itself.
As a man who grew up in a single parent family and was poor, Dr. Carson should know what living without many wants can be like, but he was also blessed to be raised by a hard working Christian mother who instilled in him focus and decency. And that is just the point he was trying to make, the parents of young men who are "roaming the streets" have a responsibility to instill their offspring with good values. If they develop a strong moral self and are taught to respect others and learn and grow spiritually and mentally, then they will be equipped to meet life's challenges as productive citizens, not with violence and bad behavior.
Jackson even got into a bit of a tussle with the host, Chris Wallace, when he said that white officers are clearly biased against black youth when they see them on the streets. When Wallace pointed out that 91% of violence against African-Americans is committed by African-Americans, Jackson just avoided the issue. And I think that is what he has done with his entire life of activism. For you see, Jackson could have truly been a wonderful resource for developing peace and good citizenship instead of fomenting more anger with his rhetoric. After all, his home city of Chicago is a war zone with dozens of African-Americans killing and maiming each other monthly on the streets while Jackson is off complaining about injustice and violence elsewhere. He seems unconcerned about the death of young blacks in the case of black on black cases. Nowhere is crime worse and death so prevalent among blacks than right back home, Jessie.
I pray that the violence can be stopped and that people will be able to calmly have the real discussion that they need. And I also pray that the family of Michael Brown can find peace and that the young officer, Darren Wilson, can find fair treatment in a society that preys on sensationalism and is so quick to jump to conclusion on the basis of sound bites and short video clips. For it's not the cowardice that Eric Holder says we Americans have that is the problem, it's the unwillingness to break the shackles of political correctness and face the truth.
Come on, America, we can do better than this. Let's open our hearts to find the real truth and we will find the solution. With open hearts we can give the Holy Spirit a chance to bring God back into our lives and solve this and every other problem. Only then can we face and eliminate the violence and I think that was part of Dr. Carson's point. Let's give it a try before we destroy ourselves.
Jackson presented the standard argument he always uses. The police are biased and corrupt, the "gentle giant", all 292 pounds and 6'4" was unarmed, had done nothing wrong and was the victim of out-of-control police. He didn't want to talk about the new information which was coming out to contradict the early press reports, he just wanted to make sure that Michael Brown got "justice". And, of course, in his view it was clearly a case of racism with a white officer killing a black young man in the prime of his life. In fact, he went so far as to call the death a "state execution".
Dr. Carson was thoughtful and and measured. He acknowledged that it's always a tragedy when a young man dies, but he said racism had little if anything to do with it. In his view, as long as so many young men are raised without acknowledging that they have personal responsibility for their actions and lack a clear sense of right and wrong they will always have such problems. Throw in the use of illegal drugs and alcohol and the situation just magnifies itself.
As a man who grew up in a single parent family and was poor, Dr. Carson should know what living without many wants can be like, but he was also blessed to be raised by a hard working Christian mother who instilled in him focus and decency. And that is just the point he was trying to make, the parents of young men who are "roaming the streets" have a responsibility to instill their offspring with good values. If they develop a strong moral self and are taught to respect others and learn and grow spiritually and mentally, then they will be equipped to meet life's challenges as productive citizens, not with violence and bad behavior.
Jackson even got into a bit of a tussle with the host, Chris Wallace, when he said that white officers are clearly biased against black youth when they see them on the streets. When Wallace pointed out that 91% of violence against African-Americans is committed by African-Americans, Jackson just avoided the issue. And I think that is what he has done with his entire life of activism. For you see, Jackson could have truly been a wonderful resource for developing peace and good citizenship instead of fomenting more anger with his rhetoric. After all, his home city of Chicago is a war zone with dozens of African-Americans killing and maiming each other monthly on the streets while Jackson is off complaining about injustice and violence elsewhere. He seems unconcerned about the death of young blacks in the case of black on black cases. Nowhere is crime worse and death so prevalent among blacks than right back home, Jessie.
I pray that the violence can be stopped and that people will be able to calmly have the real discussion that they need. And I also pray that the family of Michael Brown can find peace and that the young officer, Darren Wilson, can find fair treatment in a society that preys on sensationalism and is so quick to jump to conclusion on the basis of sound bites and short video clips. For it's not the cowardice that Eric Holder says we Americans have that is the problem, it's the unwillingness to break the shackles of political correctness and face the truth.
Come on, America, we can do better than this. Let's open our hearts to find the real truth and we will find the solution. With open hearts we can give the Holy Spirit a chance to bring God back into our lives and solve this and every other problem. Only then can we face and eliminate the violence and I think that was part of Dr. Carson's point. Let's give it a try before we destroy ourselves.
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