Socratic Seminar:
Preview—
The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year. The event—which is actually a series of meetings, luncheons, and dinners— is designed to be a forum for the political, social, and business elite to assemble and build relationships, draw themselves closer to God, and bridge partisan and cultural divides. It is one of the few nonpolitical events in an obviously very political city. However, when Dr. Ben Carson spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 7, 2015, he chose to address policy issues and only brushed upon four Scripture verses, a few references to God or Jesus, and the final “one nation under God.”
Opener (General Statement)—
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In fact, this event is precisely the time to put forward matters of faith and morality, which have a place in policy. Just because something is controversial, doesn’t mean it should be avoided, as in the name of “uniting rather than dividing”- which goes hand in hand with his message of speaking up for what we as Americans believe in, regardless of who may be …show more content…
Carson is acknowledging that, often times, economic issues just simply cannot be separate from social issues. He is rejecting the common thought at this event that you must deviate from economics and focus solely on social issues.
Support— Carson called for a better educational system in the United States of America, addressed the national debt and his support of the flat tax, and referenced the health care in the country. He not only provided policy fixes for these issues but personal fixes as well, such as the individual decision to choose to stop making excuses for yourself despite your economic status and contributions to HSA accounts that will teach the indigent how to be responsible with their money.
Transition— For all of the reasons, the national prayer breakfast was precisely the time for Carson to bring forth these policy issues. He ignored the concept of political correctness and embraced the fact that policy and faith can go hand and hand.
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Summary -
Closing