How Mrs. Carson Looks or Religious Beliefs of Her Husband Should Not Be an Issue!
What the social media has done is placed Ben Carson and his wife side by side to compare how they look as it relates to the President and Mrs. Obama. They used the following sentences on Facebook – Hi, I’m President Barack Obama, and I have direct TV. Hi, I’m Presidential candidate Ben Carson, and I have cable. In the meme, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are striking at the China State Dinner. President Barack Obama is dressed in a well-tailored tuxedo, and the first lady has long, side swept hair and an off-the-shoulder, custom made Vera Want gown. In the contrasting picture of the Carsons on the day Carson officially announced his candidacy for president in Detroit, he is dressed in an unremarkable but presentable blue suit. But his wife, Lacena, aka Candy, appearance makes the meme funny to some. She is wearing a hairstyle and patriotic ensemble that is in unflattering, ill-fitting and dated. The meme is a play on a popular DirecTV commercial that clowns its cable competitors for being subpar.
Well meaning sympathizers of Mrs. Carson have excused her appearance as a result of her religious beliefs stating that she is a devout Seventh–Day Adventist, a religion that discourages women form wearing makeup and jewelry and emphasizes a modest appearance. Some said that religion and modesty are not synonymous with ill-fitting and unflattering and out-of-date so her look cannot be blamed on religion.
Others said for people to stop pretending that appearance never matters when there are times that it absolutely does. For example, when Sarah Palin was taken out of her Alaskan wilderness and thrust into a presidential campaign, her handlers spent $150,000 at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus to dress her for the campaign trail. It’s because appearance matters that over the years, First Lady Michelle Obama has transformed from a conservative look popular among politico wives to that of a glamorous and designer-wearing fashion icon.
People can’t help noticing that as a presidential candidate, Ben Carson always show up looking like the position he want to have. They want the Mrs. to look the same. She does not have to have the same off-the-shoulder, hip-hugging ball gowns, but it would be helpful if the team that works with his presentation, if he has one. Would add a little something for her. Or if there is no team, she would be well-served to enlist the help of a glam squad. Not because social media has no chill, but because appearance matters, and when it comes to running for president, her husband needs all the help he can get.
Now let’s go to the religious beliefs… He’s a Seventh Day Adventist. A lot of Americans don’t know much about the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. The Protestant Christian denomination turned 150 years old in 2013, which makes it a relative newcomer on the religious scene.
Many Adventists embrace their outsider status, calling themselves “God peculiar people.” Adventists don’t drink or smoke. Here are a few of Adventists beliefs shared with mainstream Christians and several unique to Seventh-Day Adventists.
(Like all religions, Adventists display a range of intellectual diversity and the faith itself has evolved over time.
Adventist believes the Bible is the infallible word of God. Adventists believe sinful humans can be saved by Jesus. Adventists believe the Bible counsels against abortion, same-sex marriage. These beliefs are similar to Catholics, evangelicals and many conservative Protestants. While many Adventists keep their distance from partisan politics and try to maintain a wall between church and state, the church has spoken out against the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the United States. The church states, the Bible clearly calls for the protection of human life, especially the weak, the defenseless and the oppressed.
The unique Adventist beliefs include: Adventists worship on Saturday, the ‘seventh day.’ Adventists do not believe in an eternal hell. They do believe that Jesus’ second coming is imminent. Adventists believe in the visions and prophecies of Ellen White. They believe that the Bible is the final authority and the White’s writings are a lesser light pointing to the greater light – the scripture. Her teachings on health seem to have been effective as the Adventist Health System is one of the largest non-profit health systems in the country. Their healthy lifestyles have led to longer lives, on average, than other Americans.
I still contend that Dr. Carson is not qualified to be President of the United States. How he and his wife looks or his religion does not play any part in him becoming President of the United States.
