Words You're Not Supposed To Say

“During slavery – and I know that’s one of those words you’re not supposed to say, but I’m saying it – during slavery, a lot of the slave owners thought that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to that slave. Anything that they chose to do. And what if abolitionists had said: ‘You know, I don’t believe in slavery. I think it’s wrong, but you guys do whatever you want to do? Where would we be?” This is the justification Doctor Ben Carson is using to justify overturning Roe v. Wade. Without exception. This analogy was shared with NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet The Press" this past weekend. If the connection between abortion and slavery seems obscure, the first thing to remember is that it came from Doctor Ben Carson, currently riding high in second place of all those Republican Presidential candidates. There are those who believe the quiet manner in which Doctor Ben Carson delivers his sometimes obscure opinions makes him the relaxed version of Not Doctor Donald Trump. Some believe that all that time studying to be a brain surgeon left Doctor Ben Carson precious little time to reflect on the history of the country for which he would like to serve as President. 

To begin with, "abolition" sounds and looks a little like "abortion." And that word that he wasn't sure about saying, "slavery," is not one of those words you're not supposed to say. It is one of those things we're not supposed to do, since there is a Constitutional Amendment that keeps us from doing it, just as there is a Supreme Court decision that allows abortion. It's part of our history. 

When asked if there would be any exception to having Roe v. Wade overturned, Doctor Ben Carson said, I'm a reasonable person. And if people can come up with a reasonable explanation of why they would like to kill a baby, I'll listen."

Rape and incest?

Rape and incest, I would not be in favor of killing a baby because the baby came about in that way. And all you have to do is go and look up the many stories of people who have led very useful lives who were the result of rape or incest."

Okay, Doctor Ben Carson. When I did a Google search for "people who have led very useful lives who were the result of rape or incest," all I got were links to articles about your insistence that there are people who have led very useful lives who were the result of rape or incest. And it got me to thinking about how, when people owned slaves here in the United States, they were treated like property, and every aspect of their lives, including their reproductive rights were subject to the whims of their owners. I'm not sure this analogy means exactly what you want it to mean, Doctor Ben Carson. 

Of course this could be because he is mistaking The Holocaust for Slavery. If slaves had been armed, then there probably wouldn't have been any slavery at all. Or something like that. Keep saying those words you're not supposed to say, Doctor Ben Carson. You'll figure it out.