Outrage as Ben Carson calls slaves 'immigrants' who came to America with a 'dream' in his first speech as HUD secretary

[TomSea]

Outrage as Ben Carson calls slaves 'immigrants' who came to America with a 'dream' in his first speech as HUD secretary

    Carson gave first official speech as HUD secretary in Washington on Monday
    'There were immigrants who came here in slave ships,' Carson said
    The remark was largely ignored by the HUD workers in attendance
    But the speech was broadcast live on social media
    Actor Samuel L. Jackson blasted Carson on Twitter, as did others

By Ariel Zilber For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:15 EST, 6 March 2017 | Updated: 19:03 EST, 6 March 2017

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Monday likened slaves who came to this country centuries ago to modern-day immigrants searching for a better life.

Carson's remarks, his first since being appointed to head HUD by President Donald Trump, outraged social media.

'That's what America is about,' Carson said in remarks which were broadcast live on social media.

The secretary was addressing the federal workers at his department in Washington as well as employees in HUD offices throughout the country.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4287880/Ben-Carson-likens-slaves-immigrants-speech.html#ixzz4abC50afx
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[Rivergirl]

Perhaps this man is an idiot savant.

[Hoodat]

'A land of dreams and opportunity. There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less.'

'But they, too, had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great grandsons, great granddaughters might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land.'

Not seeing a problem here.

[Wingnut]

Not seeing a problem here.

Nope.  Just the twisting of his words to appeal to the weak minded and further the hate.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Not seeing a problem here.

Except for calling slaves "immigrants". that does not really compute IMO.

[jmyrlefuller]

Except for calling slaves "immigrants". that does not really compute IMO.

Well, technically, they came here, and that's all that matters.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Carson is correct.  It is the migration that is pertinent to being an immigrant, not its voluntary or involuntary nature.

Slaves were as involuntary as kids are when dragged across the border by their parents.

[NavyCanDo]

Not seeing a problem here.

Me niether after reading what he actually said. People too eager to believe headlines. No wonder fake news thrives so well.

[geronl]

A surgeon in charge of HUD is speaking about immigrants? Why?

[NavyCanDo]

A surgeon in charge of HUD is speaking about immigrants? Why?

Try reading the story. Its about the American Dream, freedom and oportunity.

[geronl]

Try reading the story. Its about the American Dream, freedom and oportunity.

their village was attacked by another tribe, they were marched to the coast and sold to white people (alien to them) and then stuffed into ships under horrible conditions for a long voyage.

I really doubt they were having a lot of dreams about how wonderful America will be

[Smokin Joe]

their village was attacked by another tribe, they were marched to the coast and sold to white people (alien to them) and then stuffed into ships under horrible conditions for a long voyage.

I really doubt they were having a lot of dreams about how wonderful America will be

Once they got here I doubt they were not. How could they look around and not have dreams of the freedom to make their own way? Right there is the essence of "The American Dream".
What American does not dream of the freedom to live without Masters and overseers demanding we live a certain way? (Only now, the 'masters and overseers' are government.)

[Chosen Daughter]

their village was attacked by another tribe, they were marched to the coast and sold to white people (alien to them) and then stuffed into ships under horrible conditions for a long voyage.

I really doubt they were having a lot of dreams about how wonderful America will be

I really liked Ben Carson but he has said some stupid things along the way.  He is a very smart man.  I hope he does well in his position.

[corbe]

I really liked Ben Carson but he has said some stupid things along the way.  He is a very smart man.  I hope he does well in his position.

   Your too kind @Chosen Daughter 
   Dr. Ben Carson, the brilliant pediatric surgeon, has meet his Peter Principle after all.

[Frank Cannon]

Actor Samuel L. Jackson blasted Carson on Twitter,

Oh. The guy who sells credit cards to poor people is outraged. I better get outraged too. Harrumph.

[Emjay]

Try reading the story. Its about the American Dream, freedom and oportunity.

That's a totally absurd suggestions.  Some people here don't want to know the whole story, it's easier just to make hay on the headline.

[Chosen Daughter]

ad nau·se·am


/ad ˈnôzēəm/


adverb

adverb: ad nauseam


referring to something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

'A land of dreams and opportunity. There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less.'

'But they, too, had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great grandsons, great granddaughters might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land.'

Not seeing a problem here.

I'll give that a shot.  Speaking as a very pale white guy, I'm guessing some slaves had nightmares that their children, sisters, wives, and mothers would be raped by her owners and more nightmares that sons, brothers, and fathers would become expensive, but sickeningly legal, entertainment or motivational lessons for the other slaves.  Maybe those hopes of a bright future were not realistic.  Perhaps those nightmares persisted to multiple generation.

Oh crap...am I virtue signaling again?  What I meant to say is "Great Job Ben.  You, and your magic belt buckle, are in touch with the soul of your people. 
Very impressive sound bite. You should talk more about the grain storing pyramids.  I like that story best."

[Formerly Once-Ler]

"Slaves came here as involuntary immigrants but they still had the strength to hold on.”
http://www.redstate.com/sweetie15/2017/03/06/immigrants-meant-involuntary-immigrants-dr.-carson-doubles/

Are we paying full price for this secretary?

[mrclose]

   Your too kind @Chosen Daughter 
   Dr. Ben Carson, the brilliant pediatric surgeon, has meet his Peter Principle after all.

neurosurgeon

[goatprairie]

their village was attacked by another tribe, they were marched to the coast and sold to white people (alien to them) and then stuffed into ships under horrible conditions for a long voyage.

I really doubt they were having a lot of dreams about how wonderful America will be

Yes, but that wasn't the point of his speech. During or after the war Lincoln asked black representatives whether they'd like to go back to Africa.  They were pointedly against going back.
Many people from the British Isles, all white, were transported to other countries (Australia, West Indies) for criminal activity.   Their descendants stayed in their new countries. I've read where some Australians are somewhat proud of the convict background of many Aussies...but you might have to ask an actual Aussie to affirm that.
Carson was saying (clumsily) that America is a country of hopes and dreams for the people who came here no matter under what condition.
Even many of the slaves had dreams of being free and living like other Americans. 
What does it matter how your ancestors got here?  Carson was trying to say America is still the land of opportunity. And he's right.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

their village was attacked by another tribe, they were marched to the coast and sold to white people (alien to them) and then stuffed into ships under horrible conditions for a long voyage.

I really doubt they were having a lot of dreams about how wonderful America will be

Ever read about those who came here as indentured servants?  For the most part, they were whites paying off debt or convicts.  They were so many that they formed a majority of people in some areas of the colonies.

For the most part, am sure that that long voyage stuffed into the holds of ships and forced labor when they got to US did not enamor them to life here either.


You really need to read what Carson actually said rather than the headlines.

[Victoria33]

Except for calling slaves "immigrants". that does not really compute IMO.

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

They were captured, put in hold of ships, those who died and were thrown overboard, sold in this country, and belonged to their owners.  No way were they immigrants.  He was not thinking to have said they were.

[mystery-ak]

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

They were captured, put in hold of ships, those who died and were thrown overboard, sold in this country, and belonged to their owners.  No way were they immigrants.  He was not thinking to have said they were.

Slowly read the word 'immigrant'.  It contains 'migrant'.  It says nothing about voluntary or involuntary.  You are corrupting a word by an insinuation it does.

A kid taken into a new country bu his parent is not doing it voluntarily either.  Is he not an immigrant either?