For the last few years, I've watched Lancaster, South Carolina flourish -- as many people from the Charlotte area are getting a taste of what South Carolina has to offer. I am a Tennessean by birth but have lived in a number of southern states besides Tennessee; Mississippi, Arkansas, North Carolina; and Louisiana. In fact, my wife was living in the New Orleans area during Katrina and I joined her there shortly after the storm. I witnessed the destruction of the Gulf Coast from Katrina and the reaction of many of the people in New Orleans.
Like the rest of our nation, I have also witnessed the reaction to civil unrest in places like Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland. Seeing these event transpire on television and the reactions that have followed, it is with great pride that I now find myself a resident of the great state of South Carolina and the ever greater people who populate this state.
As everyone knows and remembers, South Carolina has had more than its share of tragedies in the last 7 months. It began in April, when a white police officer shot and killed a black man who was fleeing from him. The police officer said he stopped the black man for a broken tail light. The white police officer is in jail without bond and charged with murder. The citizens of North Charleston, South Carolina did not riot, burn businesses, assault anyone, or commit violent acts toward their own citizens. They displayed their anger towards injustice, as we all should, when someone in authority commits an indescribable act toward one of their citizens.
The citizens of North Charleston let our justice system lead the way. They did not use this act as an excuse compound the pain and create other criminal acts. They should be commended for their restraint and belief in their elected officials to carry out the right action.
On June 17, a young white male went to a historically black church under the auspicious of joining in a bible study group. He was received with open arms by the pastor of the church, a black man. At the conclusion of the study, the young man opened fire. He killed nine black parishioners including the pastor who had welcomed him to the study group. After the agressor's capture, it was learned by his own confession that he was attempting to start a race war. It didn’t work.
Instead, the community came together, all races, to pray and console one another. In place of chaos, a mass show of support for this loss of life,which spanned the Charleston Bridge, instead occurred along with prayer vigils. Once again, the citizens of Charleston, South Carolina, did not burn, assault, kidnap, kill, or destroy. No, they came together to mourn the loss of their own.
Then the October flooding hit areas of South Carolina from Columbia to Charleston. 19 people lost their lives along with millions of dollars in property. The people of South Carolina have once again risen to the occasion in supporting one another through this tragedy, along with the grateful assistance of neighboring states. And once again, the great citizens of South Carolina did not cause any civil unrest. They did not loot, destroy, or assault their fellow South Carolinians in this time of need. They came together, neighbor helping neighbor.
For these reasons, I’m so proud of the great state of South Carolina and the people who call it home.
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