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One Nation

Page 19

by Ben Carson M. D.


  Who knows what tomorrow holds for each of us and for our nation? We have no time to waste. Today is the day to act. Resolve to take one step toward helping our nation return to greatness. If we all do so, we cannot fail to remain “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

  The New Beginning

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many thanks to those who made this book possible, including Sealy Yates, Adrian Zackheim, Bria Sandford, Will Weisser, Washington Speakers Bureau, Audrey Jones, Stephanie Marshall, my many medical colleagues and patients, Armstrong Williams, and Xavier Underwood.

  INDEX

  The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. The link provided will take you to the beginning of that print page. You may need to scroll forward from that location to find the corresponding reference on your e-reader.

  abortion, 3, 175

  morality and, 193–94

  pro-life vs. pro-choice arguments on, 100–101

  academic bullies, 89–90

  ACLU, 56

  Adams, John, 40–41, 207

  Adams, Sam, 207

  adult day care centers, 155

  Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), 3, 12–13, 64–65, 71, 74, 75, 142, 143, 147–48, 172–73, 206

  African American communities:

  education and, 31, 33–34, 51

  elite class and, 30, 31–34

  leadership in, 43

  out of wedlock births in, 31

  African American-owned businesses, 32

  ageism, 58–59

  Alaska, 1–2

  Alinsky, Saul, 14–15, 20, 23, 24, 25, 39

  Al Qaeda, 135

  American colonies, 93–94, 179

  American flag, xxiv–xxv, 206–7, 209

  American Revolution, 93, 170, 171, 177

  America the Beautiful (Carson and Carson), xvi–xvii

  Anderson, Marian, 42

  Armistead, George, xxiv

  Armstrong, Neil, 189

  atheists, 175, 199, 201

  athletes, 184–86

  Australia, 146

  AZM (azinphos-methyl), 89

  bald eagle, xxiii

  banks, xxi

  Benghazi, 135

  Berea College, 135

  bestiality, 18, 19

  best/worst analysis in considering actions, 205–6

  Bible, 28, 40, 200, 201

  and caring for others, 157

  Carson’s National Prayer Breakfast speech and, xi

  Chronicles, xi, 34

  Creation story in, 192, 196–97, 198

  Ephesians, 194

  Exodus, 193

  James, 151

  Jeremiah, 193

  Jude, 194

  Leviticus, 194

  Matthew, 193

  morality and, 192–95, 199, 200

  Proverbs, xi, 1, 11, 26, 35, 48, 62, 72, 85, 96, 98, 108, 111, 121, 122, 124, 138, 140, 148, 151, 152, 169, 171, 181, 191, 204

  Psalms, 193

  Solomon in, 139–40

  tithing in, xxi, 104, 120

  Biden, Joe, xi

  bigotry, 3, 48–61, 86, 197

  action steps for, 61

  ageist, 58–59

  defeating, 60–61

  homophobia, 60, 195

  racial, see racism

  religious, 53–57

  sexist, 17, 57–58

  Bill of Rights, xvii, 54

  First Amendment, 41, 55

  Second Amendment, 109–10, 175

  Bin Laden, Osama, 135

  birth control, 67

  births out of wedlock, 31

  black communities, see African American communities

  Black Panthers, 27

  books, 133–34

  Carson’s reading during childhood, xv, 134, 182, 183, 184

  brain:

  information and, 125–26

  morality and, 198–99

  Brown, Chris, 186

  bullies, bullying, 5, 85–97

  academic, 89–90

  action steps for, 97

  in business, 90–91

  consequences of giving in to, 94

  gaining respect of, 86, 95–96

  media, 86–87, 97

  political, 87–89, 97

  political correctness and, 86, 93

  in school, 5, 85–86, 95–96, 169–70

  unintentional, 91–93

  bullies, pushing back against, 96–97

  heritage of courage and, 93–94

  peacefulness and consistency in, 95

  Bush, George W., 15, 135

  business, bullies in, 90–91

  can-do attitude, 7, 29, 176, 189

  capitalism, 154

  caring for others, 152–65

  action steps for, 165

  charities and, 146, 154, 161, 165

  churches and, 146, 161, 162, 165

  compassion and, 157, 164–65

  the disabled, 152–53, 155, 156

  the elderly, 153, 154–56, 165

  government dependency and, 153, 156, 157–58

  irresponsible people and, 146, 163–64

  minimum-wage jobs and, 158–60

  people (not government) helping people, 161–63

  the poor, 153, 157

  socialism vs. capitalism and, 154

  Carnegie, Dale, 207

  Carson, Ben:

  Alaska trip of, 1–2

  aunt and uncle of, 152–53, 191

  BB gun of, 191–92, 199

  book reading during childhood, xv, 134, 182, 183, 184

  in car accident, 210–11

  conjoined twins cases and, 91–93, 140

  early jobs of, 158–60

  as highway cleanup crew supervisor, 62–63, 159

  as intern, 16–17

  medical career of, 151, 159–60, 181–83, 198, 204, 208

  at medical school, 138–39

  mountain climbing experience of, 76, 77

  National Prayer Breakfast (1997) speech of, ix, x

  National Prayer Breakfast (2013) speech of, ix–xxvi, 18, 143, 206

  poverty in upbringing of, xiv, xv, xvi, 183

  in school in Detroit, xiv, 35–36, 48, 50, 85, 95–96, 114, 182

  temper of, xiv, 21, 107–8, 140

  as X-ray technician, 159

  at Yale University, 26–27

  Carson, Candy (Ben’s wife), xvi, xvii, 125, 141, 153, 170

  Carson, Curtis (Ben’s brother), 48, 124, 140–41, 187, 191

  Carson, Sonya (Ben’s mother), xiv–xv, 49, 111–12

  book reading and, xv, 134, 182, 183

  as role model, 187

  wisdom of, 140–41, 142, 150

  Carson Scholars Fund, xvii–xviii, xix, 98–99

  Carver, George Washington, 30

  “Census Bureau Links Poverty with Out-of-Wedlock Births” (Nelson), 31

  character, questioning of or attempts to destroy, 21, 67

  charity, 146, 154, 161, 165

  China, 75–76

  Christian crusaders, 53

  Christianity, 53–54

  Dark Ages and, 178

  as U.S. heritage, 40–41, 192, 203

  see also Bible; God; Jesus Christ

  Christian Right, 56

  Christmas, 54, 55

  “Merry Christmas,” xii, 41, 56, 91

  Chronicles, xi, 34

  churches, 146, 161, 162, 165, 202

  Churchill, Winston, 189

  Civil War, 33, 189

  classical music, 124–25

  Clinton, Bill, ix, x, 56, 78, 115

  Clinton, Hillary, x

  College of the Ozarks, 135–36

  colonies, American, 93–94, 179

  “Coming Home” program, 161–62

  common sense, 3, 6, 23, 29, 59, 117, 118, 121, 129, 139, 141, 149

  and compassion for the poor, 157

  knowledge and, 142

  Obamacare and, 147–48

  voter identification cards and, 4

  see also w
isdom

  communal societies, 173, 174

  communication, 13–14

  political correctness’s stifling of, 13–14, 17–18, 19

  compassion:

  for the poor, 157

  true, 164–65

  compromise, 111–23

  action steps for, 122–23

  on gay marriage, 116–17

  on national debt, 117–21

  pride and, 116, 121–22, 123

  recent examples of, 114–16

  starting small in, 114

  timing and, 113

  computers, 129, 136

  Congress, 54, 56, 63, 65, 127

  Congressional Franking Committee, 56

  Constitution, xvii, 37–38, 39–41, 77, 170, 180, 206

  Bill of Rights, xvii, 54

  drifting away from, 172, 174

  First Amendment, 41, 55

  religion and, 40–41, 53, 54, 55

  revering, 176–77

  Second Amendment, 109–10, 175

  as vision, 170–72, 179

  voting for those who uphold, 177–79, 180

  constitutional convention, 176

  courage, 6, 13, 189, 204–9

  best/worst analysis and, 205–6

  heritage of, 93–94

  Creation, 192, 196–97, 198

  criminal justice system, 32

  Cronkite, Walter, 29

  Cyrus, Miley, 186

  Dark Ages, 178

  debt:

  national, see national debt

  personal, 72–73, 80, 81, 118

  Declaration of Independence, xvii, 142, 180

  demagoguery, 67

  Democrats, 63, 68, 69, 78, 177

  fighting between Republicans and, see political fighting

  Detroit, Mich., 26, 33, 48–50, 124, 181, 184

  Carson as highway cleanup supervisor in, 62–63, 159

  Carson in school in, xiv, 35–36, 48, 50, 85, 95–96, 114

  Detroit Tigers, 69–70

  disabled, caring for, 152–53, 155, 156

  disagreement, 110

  respectful, see respectful disagreement, 98–100

  dividers, 86, 189

  tactics of, 66–67

  dogs, xii, 11–12

  dollar, value of, 74–75

  Douglass, Frederick, 33, 188–89

  driving a hard bargain, 112

  drone strikes, 135

  Dungy, Tony, 185

  eagle, xxiii

  economic independence, 32

  economy, 142

  growth of, 75–76, 119

  Edison, Thomas, 188, 211

  education, xiii–xiv, xvi–xix, 3, 6, 43, 136–37, 177–78

  basic knowledge in, 131–32

  of blacks, 31, 33–34, 51

  Carson Scholars Fund and, xvii–xviii, xix, 98–99

  at College of the Ozarks, 135–36

  in 1800s, xvi–xvii, 40, 126

  as foundation of our government, 126–27

  prosperity and, 132–33

  Title I and, xix, 98–99

  wisdom and, 141

  of young black women, 31

  see also informed citizens; knowledge

  Edwards, John, 186

  Egypt, 3, 46, 53

  Einstein, Albert, 189

  elderly:

  bigotry and, 50, 58

  caring for, 153, 154–56, 165

  electronic medical records (EMRs), xxii, 143

  elites, elitism, 3, 26–34, 51, 86

  action steps for, 34

  arrogance of, 28–29

  escaping subservience to, 31–34

  in Ivy Leagues, 26–27

  media and, 28

  minority communities oppressed by, 29–30

  secular progressive, 28

  Emory University, 196

  emotional trauma, 22–23

  EMRs (electronic medical records), xxii, 143

  enemies, 96–97

  see also bullies, bullying

  energy, 149–50

  England, 3, 23, 170, 171

  entertainers, 185

  entitlements, 29, 40, 81, 117

  entrepreneurship, 119, 172, 206, 207

  environment, 89, 149, 150

  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 149

  Ephesians, 194

  evolution, 195–200

  Exodus, 193

  experts, wisdom and, 141–42

  failures:

  admitting, 151

  blaming others for, 148

  families, 30, 202

  fast and furious scandal, 135

  federal budget, 65–66, 115

  balanced, 78

  deficit in, xx, 73, 78, 80, 121

  surplus in, 78

  see also national debt

  First Amendment, 41, 55

  flag of the United States, xxiv–xxv, 206–7, 209

  Florida Atlantic University, 90

  food stamps, 29

  Ford, Henry, 188, 207, 211

  Ford Motors, 158

  forgetfulness, see ignorance and forgetfulness

  Fort McHenry, xxiv

  founders, xvii, 2, 6, 37–38, 56, 136, 170–71, 176, 177

  Constitution and, see Constitution

  Declaration of Independence and, xvii, 142, 180

  education and, 126

  freedom of speech and, 23–24

  historical revisionism and, 37–38

  religion and, 40–41

  Franklin, Benjamin, 171, 211

  freedom, xiii, 38, 58, 97, 170, 172, 176, 178, 179, 180, 205–7, 209

  freedom of choice, 12–13

  freedom of speech, 205, 206

  founders and, 23–24

  political correctness and, 12, 19, 23–24

  free market, 154, 173

  gangs, 49, 183

  Garrison, William Lloyd, 188–89

  gas masks, 188

  Gates, Bill, Jr., 141

  GDP (gross domestic product), 74

  GE College Bowl, 124

  Germany, Nazi, 94

  Gingrich, Newt, 115

  Glass-Steagall Act, 44

  God, xxi, 28, 42, 49, 54, 107, 121, 140, 175, 200–201

  “In God We Trust” phrase, 55, 200

  morality and, 192–95, 199–203

  in Pledge of Allegiance, 3, 55, 60–61, 201, 211

  wisdom of, 151

  world created by, 192, 196–97, 198

  see also religion

  government:

  expansion of, 38, 93, 121, 176

  reducing size of, 79, 121

  surveillance by, 135

  utopian vision and, 172–74

  government dependency, 42, 52, 153, 156, 157–58, 172, 175

  people helping people vs., 161–63

  see also welfare

  government employees, 162–63

  government officials, 186

  Graham, Billy, ix

  Graham, Franklin, 162

  Great Britain, 3, 23, 170, 171

  Greece:

  ancient, 3, 77

  modern, 73

  gross domestic product (GDP), 74

  guns, 109–10, 175

  Hale, Nathan, 23

  Hamilton, Alexander, 207

  Haymarket Square, 113

  health care, xxi–xxii, 29, 70, 172

  catastrophic insurance in, 145

  electronic medical records (EMRs) in, xxii, 143

  health savings accounts (HSAs) in, xxii, 143–47

  malpractice cases and, 102–3, 146–47, 207–8

  Medicare and, 113

  Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), 3, 12–13, 64–65, 71, 74, 75, 142, 143, 147–48, 172–73, 206

  third-party insurance-based, 144

  vision for a wiser system, 142–48

  Henry, Patrick, 23

  heroes, 189, 190

  see also role models

  Higgins Elementary School, 48

  historical revisionism, 37–40, 43, 47, 51, 86

  history repeating itself,
43–46

  Hitler, Adolf, 94

  Holocaust, 94

  homosexuality, 12

  gay marriage and, 3, 18–20, 60, 116–17, 175, 194–95

  homophobia and, 60, 195

  morality and, 194–95

  Hope Center, 193–94

  Howe, William, 201

  humility, 106–8, 122

  wisdom and, 150–51

  hypersensitivity, 13, 14–15, 23, 24

  faux, 17–20, 25

  ignorance and forgetfulness, 35–47

  action steps for, 46–47

  of Christian heritage, 40–41

  dangers of, 129–30

  historical revisionism, 37–40, 43, 47, 51, 86

  and history repeating itself, 43–46

  King’s advice and, 42–43

  in medicine, 36

  information:

  brain and, 125–26

  sources of, 133–34

  see also knowledge

  informed citizens, 124–37

  action steps for, 137

  basic knowledge for, 131–32

  dangers of ignorance, 129–30

  and education as the foundation of our government, 126–27

  Internet and, 129, 133

  manipulators and, 134–35

  voting and, 126, 127–28, 130, 131

  see also education; knowledge

  insurance companies, 64

  Internet, 129, 133

  inventors, 188–89

  Iran, 46, 53

  Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, 115

  Iraqi war, 135

  irresponsible people, 146, 163–64

  IRS (Internal Revenue Service), 24, 68, 117, 135, 143, 206

  Islamic extremists, 53

  isolationism, 45

  Israel, 43–44

  Israelites, 200, 202

  Ivy Leagues, 26–27

  Jackson, Andrew, 78

  James, Book of, 151

  Jefferson, Thomas, 59, 174

  Jeremiah, Book of, 193

  Jesus Christ, xx, 42, 53–54, 90, 195

  Johns Hopkins Hospital’s statue of, 54–55

  Jews, 50

  jobs, minimum-wage, 158–60

  Jobs, Steve, 141

  Johns Hopkins Hospital, 57, 208

  Carson as intern at, 16–17

  conjoined twins at, 91–93, 140

  statue of Jesus at, 54–55

  Johns Hopkins School of Education, 19

  Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 18–19

  Jude, Book of, 194

  Keller, Helen, 42, 189

  Kennedy, John F., 189, 211

  Key, Francis Scott, xxiv

  King, Martin Luther, Jr., 39, 46, 207, 211

  forgetting advice of, 42–43

  King, Martin Luther, Sr., 30

  knowledge, 128, 150

  basic, 131–32, 133

  brain and, 125–26

  common sense and, 142

  sources of, 133–34

  wisdom and, 138–39, 141

 

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