Back From The Dark Side

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger,

anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.”

Yoda

Like the evil Emperor Palpatine imploring young Skywalker to give in to his rage and come to the dark side of The Force, the moderators from CNBC, as those from FOX news before them, tried their best to create conflict in the last presidential debate. Given the differing biases of the two networks, a case could be made that such inflammatory journalism is just the typical grasping for ratings that news agencies have reverted to instead of the quaint idea of enlightening their viewers, but it is perplexing that such motivation seems only to apply to the Republican side of the equation. If the Palpatine press gives Democrats softball questions that would never create the conflict or rage that would draw them to the “dark side”, might it be because they believe them to already be there?

“If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed! Young fool.

Only now, at the end, do you understand. Your feeble skills

are no match for the power of the dark side! “

Palpatine

Darkness is threatened by the very existence of light, and so the sometimes conscious, sometimes subconscious, drive to bring down those who have lit a candle in their lives. When Dr. Carson did not take the bait at the debate, coupled with his recent preeminence in the polls, it was time for the press to do what it always does to front running conservative candidates, find something, anything, to destroy them.

“There is no civility, only politics.”

Palpatine

Breaking news! No corroborating evidence can be found that Ben Carson threatened his mother with a hammer fifty years ago!! Breaking news! People who knew teenage Ben Carson say that he never told them about trying to stab someone!!! Apparently no marital infidelity or sexual harassment could be found in Carson’s history, and none could be created on such short notice. The back-up of painting him as an angry black man wouldn’t work either since Carson admitted to having been one, and that his faith had helped him escape his anger and his circumstances. We who remain in our darkness are insulted by those who claim to have found the light, and so CNN proceeded to cast doubt on Carson’s assertion that he had an anger management problem in the first place. Wow. What kind of saint is this guy if the worst thing you can find on him is questions about whether he was not as bad a person as he said he was?

But wait, there’s more! Breaking news! Carson once said that he thought the pyramids might have been used for grain storage!!!! Well, now we’re getting to the real dirt! I mean this isn’t like a candidate believing in UFO’s or channeling Eleanor Roosevelt! How could we elect a man who once contradicted historians? This is huge! This is huge?

Breaking news!!! But really folks, this is the coup de grace, Carson claimed he was offered a full scholarship to West Point by General Westmoreland when he was seventeen. Oh Westmoreland met with Carson, and did apparently tell him that he would have no problem gaining admission to West Point at no charge, but West Point doesn’t do “scholarships”. Time for a slogan like “Bush lied, people died” … how about “Carson mislabeled ‘free college’ as ‘full scholarship’, people were confused”?

“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it

dominate your destiny, consume you it will.”

Yoda

Carson’s story is an inspirational one (see the movie, read the book) so it is only natural that his story is what will be attacked. It is his story though, that should be our own inspiration. Like Skywalker, like Carson, we as a nation find ourselves on the precipice of a great chasm. I have quoted Nietzsche before, “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” Hamstrung by the high road, temptation is great to fight fire with fire, to give into the Dark Side. There is no greater darkness than that of a man, a people, a nation who once walked in light and have now surrendered themselves to the abyss. Having been a force for goodness, the United States can become the greatest force for evil the world has ever known, yet as with Vader, as with Carson, the Dark Side is vulnerable, a small spark may bring us back.

IMHO: Ironically, these media attacks might end up helping Carson’s run. I had said to a friend after the last debate that Carson was one assertive and passionate performance away from running away with the nomination. I was referring to a debate performance, but his recent tete-a-tete with the press might suffice to demonstrate that he can have that “fire in the belly” that we expect from a President. In Carson’s case he will want to tread lightly in this area; he isn’t exactly Ronald Reagan when it comes to righteous indignation, and his ability to maintain a calm demeanor is his strength. A little fire is a good thing, but too much, and you burn your house down.

I’ve always liked and admired Ben Carson as a person, but gave him little chance to succeed in the hell of war that is presidential politics. Like many others, I wondered about his lack of political experience, both in running or in governing. My doubts are beginning to wane. It may be time to set aside preconceived notions about needing some super politician or mighty warrior to stand against the giants we face in the political arena or the world. Maybe what we need most is a man with a brilliant mind and a virtuous heart. Our greatest enemy might be our own descent, and the answer might be a seemingly ill equipped David, or a lone Jedi who has come back from the dark side. Foes and critics should use caution in attacking Carson… the Force is strong with this one.

“If you strike me down, I shall become more

powerful than you can possibly imagine.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi