The Ben Carson School is no more

In November, the Detroit school board voted to change the name of the Ben Carson School of Science and Medicine. Statements from board members make it clear the name change is because the board disagrees with Dr. Carson’s political views. Mind you, the change is happening not because Dr. Carson holds extreme or fringe views, but because he dares to dissent from what many in our culture deem as politically correct. In other words, Dr. Ben Carson has been found guilty by a jury of his peers for being a conservative.

The accomplishments that earned Dr. Carson the honor of having a school named after him are well known. Detroiters, Black Americans, and the nation at large once universally celebrated him. He was born into poverty, the son of a single mother. His life is the American dream personified.

At the age of 33, he became the head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. He was the first to successfully separate twins conjoined at the cranium. As a longtime advocate for the unborn, I marvel at his success in performing surgery on babies still in the mother's womb.

In an interview with the Washington Post, board member Lamar Lemmons indicated that Dr. Carson’s name would continue to grace the school if his accomplishments included his medical career alone. After his medical career, the good doctor entered the world of politics. After making a run for president in 2016, he was appointed the 17th Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development by President Donald Trump. As the name change debate buzzed, Lemmons said that having Dr. Carson's name on the building was like “having Trump's name on our school in blackface.” He actually said that.

The Detroit school board members maintain that Dr. Carson’s actions as secretary of HUD negatively impacted Black Americans. Of course, conservatives and liberals should have rigorous debates on the merits of their respective housing policies. But Dr. Carson's legacy at HUD, entirely in line with mainstream conservative policies, does not by any reasonable standard merit his name being removed from a school in his hometown.

Unfortunately, the school board vote is one more example of the dangerous seeds of intolerance that, once planted, take root and strangle out American values like free speech and civil discourse.

Because the intolerance takes place in a school, it is even more disappointing. Rather than the place where ideas are discussed and debated, the classroom, from elementary school to college, is increasingly becoming the place where progressive ideas refuse to make room for any opposing views.

Research and surveys from diverse think tanks and media outlets consistently reveal that the least tolerant institutions and thinkers come from politically homogeneous areas. According to a 2019 survey by The Atlantic and Predict Wise, when there is a lack of “cross-cutting” relationships, communities become more prejudiced against people of opposing political views.

The vote to change the name stirred a generous amount of displeasure. But that came almost exclusively from conservatives. Dr. Carson, despite this slight, remains respected and beloved. He will survive the attack on his name and, ultimately, his legacy.

What is at greater risk of not surviving is tolerance in the public square. Somehow America must return to a collective understanding that people who disagree with our political philosophy are not our natural enemies. We must give room for opposing views so our views may also have room in the public square.

I am passionate about protecting the diversity of thought from others because I never want to find myself unable to proclaim the ultimate truth, the gospel.

The lesson the school board is teaching impressionable students at a science and medicine school is that you can work hard to become one of the most successful doctors on the planet, but it does not matter. You risk being silenced if you dare to have political views not supported by the progressive power structure.