Beautiful statement from Dr. Ben Carson on the Charleston shootings. Yes there is racism and yes there is evil. The answer is to learn to love one another across our differences, not fan the flames:

Last night evil walked the streets of Charleston. My heart aches for the families of the victims. I pray for the families left behind. I pray for the community scared and hurting. I also pray you and I can conquer hatred.

In my lifetime I have seen such great progress. Though racial based hate is still very much alive as last night so violently reminded us.

But I worry about a new hate that is growing in our great nation. I fear our intolerance of one another is the new battle ground of evil. Today many feel it is ok to hate someone who thinks differently than you do.

The left hates the right. The right hates the left. This attitude is poison. Poison that will sicken all of us.

Just because someone is for Obamacare and another is against doesn’t change the fact we are all brothers and sisters. All Americans.

As a brain surgeon I can assure you that all of our brains look the same, no matter what our skin color or party affiliation.

The America I know and love has fought evil all over the world to protect evil’s victims. At home we must dedicate ourselves to not hating anyone based on their politics.

Our leaders have walked our country down this path and it is up to us to change course.

Please join me in praying for those who lost their lives last night. Please join me in praying for comfort for their families. Please join me in praying for our great nation, that we may heal ourselves before it is too late.

Sincerely,

Ben Carson