An email distributed today at Johns Hopkins:
Sent: Wed, Apr 10, 2013 6:33 pm
Subject: Dr. Ben Carson Withdraws as Speaker
Dear Colleagues,
I want to share with you that Dr. Ben Carson informed me today that he has decided to withdraw as speaker for the 2013 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine convocation. With his permission, I am sharing his email below.
Sincerely,
Paul B. Rothman, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Dear Dean Rothman,
Given all the national media surrounding my statements as to my belief in traditional marriage, I believe it would be in the best interests of the students for me to voluntarily withdraw as your commencement speaker this year. My presence is likely to distract from the true celebratory nature of the day. Commencement is about the students and their successes, and it is not about me. I want to make certain that remains so. Someday in the future, it is my hope and prayer that the emphasis on political correctness will decrease and we will start emphasizing rational discussion of differences so we can actually resolve problems and chart a course that is inclusive of everyone.
Warm regards,
Ben Carson
What I would like to say to Dr. Carson and secondarily to Dean Rothman:
There is nothing about POLITICAL CORRECTNESS that led to an uproar about your views, Dr. Carson, on gay marriage. The uproar was generated with your ignorant hate filled and bigoted rhetoric comparing gay marriage to pedophilia and animal sodomy. As usual, you cannot gracefully decline to speak without invoking your own victimhood at the hands of the PC Police.
If you want to have a rational discussion, try starting out by leaving your hate filled vitriol. And since you as a conservative MUST believe in the holy grail of personal responsibility, try taking some for your own statements, you small minded fool.
Sincerely,
Me
8:44 PM PT: Wow...first time on the rec list...very cool!