Benjamin Carson Controversy

[Woody]

http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=30532

The Emory Wheel

Our Opinion: 2012 Grad Speaker Selection Confuses

By The Editorial BoardPosted: 01/19/2012

At the beginning of every spring semester, students, especially graduating seniors, look forward to hearing who has been selected to speak at the Commencement ceremony in May. This year, neurosurgeon and humanitarian Benjamin Carson will address the Class of 2012. While Carson would be an exciting figure to have speak at Emory on various other occasions, as he is an extremely accomplished physician and has an inspiring life story, we are still somewhat disappointed with his selection as the Commencement speaker.

Commencement is a special ceremony held to honor those graduating from the University, and the Commencement speaker should be a figure that gets students excited and attracts attention to the event. Though Carson is highly achieved, not only as a surgeon but also as a teacher, an author and a humanitarian, the majority of the students graduating this May will not be immediately familiar with his name or his story. He is well-known in certain circles, such as those in the medical community, but the scope of his appeal is much narrower than some former speakers, including former President of Mexico Vicente Fox in 2009, politician and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010 and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano last year.

Furthermore, we are concerned because his speech has the potential to be controversial. As a devout Seventh-day Adventist, Carson often expresses his religious beliefs in his novels and in his public statements. He has also mentioned them in Commencement speeches that he has delivered at other universities, including at the University of Delaware in 2000, during which he stated, “Don’t be ashamed of God. We live in a country where people say, ‘You’re not supposed to talk about God in public.’ Somehow that violates the concept of separation of church and state. That’s a bunch of [censored]. Think about this. Let’s forget about all this political correctness stuff.”

Carson’s religious dedication is not in and of itself a cause for concern, but a speech grounded in religion would not be appropriate for a graduating class as diverse as those that Emory has consistently seen in its past. Despite Emory’s methodist affiliation, the University has strived to make students of all religious backgrounds feel comfortable and welcomed, and a strongly religious speech during Commencement would not resonate with the whole of Emory’s graduating class, and it could even feel alienating to those who do not identify with the speaker’s beliefs.

Although we understand that fame of the name is not essential for the delivery of an excellent speech, we do believe that the selection of a speaker that is widely recognized is an important goal for Emory when inviting speakers for this ceremony. This year, different organizations have secured household names like Watergate journalists Woodward and Bernstein and director Spike Lee, and the impact of these visits was clear. The events attracted not only students, but faculty and staff and even members from all over the greater Atlanta community.

Other universities have found themselves in national news when a ubiquitously known figure spoke during the Commencement ceremony. As an esteemed University, Emory also should have been looking to secure a more recognizable name; bringing in a “big-name” commencement speaker is not only a way for a University to gain positive media coverage, but also a way to expand its reputation as a member of the upper-echelon of learning institutions.

At the end of the day, the fact remains that Carson is a pioneer in his field and an inspiration to many, and his contributions to our society have been enormous. We also encourage students who are not yet familiar with Carson to not be dismissive of his selection; we still believe that his life experiences give him the potential to deliver a very moving speech and a promising send-off to our soon-to-be Class of 2012 College graduates.

[phkrause]

Its sad that this has to be a controversy. It looks to me that the controversy has only to do with him being a SDA! Because it seems they've had other religious speakers and had no problem with there message.

[Dr. Rich]

Its sad that this has to be a controversy. It looks to me that the controversy has only to do with him being a SDA! Because it seems they've had other religious speakers and had no problem with there message.

I totally agree with you PK! I know Ben personally and have heard him speak many times and have CDs and DVDs of him. He was a speaker at LLU for graduation a few years ago and was wonderful with a standing ovation. His life story is now in book form and can be found in most bible book stores.

He also gave a powerful talk as the main speaker for "Mannatech" at their yearly gatherings in Dallas TX, as he used thier products to help get rid of cancer

[doug yowell]

Commencement is a special ceremony held to honor those graduating from the University.......... and the Commencement speaker should be a figure that gets students excited and attracts attention to the event such as former speakers, including former President of Mexico Vicente Fox in 2009, politician and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010...

So how exactly did these speakers honor the graduates? President Fox is the leader of a country that can't even keep millions of his own citizens at home and Arnold is still a guy who makes his living by pretending he's someone who doesn't really exist. On the other hand maybe Dr. Carson's speech would scare many of the graduates into thinking seriously about the possibility of becoming responsible adults?

[doug yowell]

Though Carson is highly achieved, not only as a surgeon but also as a teacher, an author and a humanitarian, the majority of the students graduating this May will not be immediately familiar with his name or his story. He is well-known in certain circles, such as those in the medical community,

Yes,but who would want a person like that when you could invite world renown leaders like Brad Pitt,Sean Penn,Michael Moore,or Lady Gaga.

[Woody]

Quote:

Lady Gaga

well she would be a lot better to look at.

[doug yowell]

Furthermore, we are concerned because his speech has the potential to be controversial. As a devout Seventh-day Adventist, Carson often expresses his religious beliefs in his novels and in his public statements.

Carson’s religious dedication is not in and of itself a cause for concern, but a speech grounded in religion would not be appropriate for a graduating class as diverse as those that Emory has consistently seen in its past.

Yes, and such tolerant diversity certainly has no room for anyone who actually expresses their religious beliefs publically,especially at a once Christian school.

[doug yowell]

Although we understand that fame of the name is not essential for the delivery of an excellent speech, we do believe that the selection of a speaker that is widely recognized is an important goal for Emory when inviting speakers for this ceremony. This year, different organizations have secured household names like Watergate journalists Woodward and Bernstein and director Spike Lee, and the impact of these visits was clear. The events attracted not only students, but faculty and staff and even members from all over the greater Atlanta community.

Wait, I thought all this was supposed to be for the honoring of the graduates? I guess that no one was really interested in their accomplishments unless the commencement speaker was a media approved superhero.

[doug yowell]

Carson’s religious dedication is not in and of itself a cause for concern, but a speech grounded in religion would not be appropriate for a graduating class as diverse as those that Emory has consistently seen in its past. Despite Emory’s methodist affiliation, the University has strived to make students of all religious backgrounds feel comfortable and welcomed, and a strongly religious speech during Commencement would not resonate with the whole of Emory’s graduating class, and it could even feel alienating to those who do not identify with the speaker’s beliefs.

This year, different organizations have secured household names like director Spike Lee, and the impact of these visits was clear.

Yes, all of the attendees from religious backgrounds felt comfortable and welcomed by Spike Lee's challenging and uplifting speech.And though some of the graduates may have not have been able to identify with Spike Lee's beliefs, none were alienated at his profanity laced presentation.

[doug yowell]

Other universities have found themselves in national news when a ubiquitously known figure spoke during the Commencement ceremony. As an esteemed University, Emory also should have been looking to secure a more recognizable name; bringing in a “big-name” commencement speaker is not only a way for a University to gain positive media coverage, but also a way to expand its reputation as a member of the upper-echelon of learning institutions.

Usually the accomplishments of the graduates of any university are responsible for expanding that university's upper-echelon reputation.I guess those graduates are only as important as the one who gives the commencement address.

[doug yowell]

At the end of the day, the fact remains that Carson is a pioneer in his field and an inspiration to many, and his contributions to our society have been enormous. We also encourage students who are not yet familiar with Carson to not be dismissive of his selection; we still believe that his life experiences give him the potential to deliver a very moving speech and a promising send-off to our soon-to-be Class of 2012 College graduates.

Aw come on, why waste time on a guy like that when you could have an inspiring someone like Angela Davis or Ward Churchill?

[olger]

Originally Posted By: Woody

Though Carson is highly achieved, not only as a surgeon but also as a teacher, an author and a humanitarian, the majority of the students graduating this May will not be immediately familiar with his name or his story. He is well-known in certain circles, such as those in the medical community,

Yes,but who would want a person like that when you could invite world renown leaders like Brad Pitt,Sean Penn,Michael Moore,or Lady Gaga.

[olger]

Quote:

Lady Gaga

well she would be a lot better to look at.

The devil was beautiful to look at. And YES I am EQUATING the two.

[doug yowell]

Lady Gaga would be a lot better to look at.

Sure, but then you'd be dissing the sight impaired attendees.

[BobRyan]

This year, neurosurgeon and humanitarian Benjamin Carson will address the Class of 2012. While Carson would be an exciting figure to have speak at Emory on various other occasions, as he is an extremely accomplished physician and has an inspiring life story, we are still somewhat disappointed with his selection as the Commencement speaker.

...Though Carson is highly achieved, not only as a surgeon but also as a teacher, an author and a humanitarian, the majority of the students graduating this May will not be immediately familiar with his name or his story... the scope of his appeal is much narrower than some former speakers, including former President of Mexico Vicente Fox in 2009, politician and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010..This year, different organizations have secured household names like Watergate journalists Woodward and Bernstein and director Spike Lee, and the impact of these visits was clear. The events attracted not only students, but faculty and staff and even members from all over the greater Atlanta community.

At the end of the day, the fact remains that Carson is a pioneer in his field and an inspiration to many, and his contributions to our society have been enormous.

[phkrause]

Originally Posted By: Woody

Lady Gaga would be a lot better to look at.

Sure, but then you'd be dissing the sight impaired attendees.

They wouldn't be missing anything, so it really wouldn't be a diss.

[olger]

True PK