Thumbs up
Donors. Not only has an anonymous group of out-of-state donors given $3 million for scholarships in honor of the Emanuel Nine church shooting victims, but other donors have given more than $1.8 million more in gifts to two funds set up by the city of Charleston to help victims and do good works. More.
USC. Hats off to the University of South Carolina for reportedly reaching its seven-year, $1 billion capital campaign fundraising goal. More.
Obama. Thank you to President Obama for delivering a powerful eulogy last week in Charleston for the late Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Jasper. It was, in a word, inspirational.
In the middle
Church fires. Burning any church is not an acceptable response to a community that is changing. It’s sad that a Greeleyville AME Church burned this week, but its cause, thankfully, wasn’t hate, but nature (lightning). But think about what you thought when you first heard of the burning — you probably thought it was an act of racism. Lots of work still needs to be done to heal.
Presidential candidates. It’s healthy for democracy that so many people are running for president. We can’t, however, keep up with how many there are. Every week brings another political moth or two attracted to the limelight. Get ready to be assaulted by them on TV. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, reportedly has bought $7 million of ads, some of which will run in South Carolina.
Thumbs down
Vandalism. We understand the concept of civil disobedience. But snatching the Confederate flag off a pole outside the Statehouse and vandalizing portraits and statues with paint are acts that will promote division, not unity. Working within the law may be slow — democracy isn’t always quick or pretty — but it will bring change that will last. (A new flag went up; graffiti can be removed.)
Bright. State Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, seems to be poised to lead the charge to keep the Confederate flag on Statehouse grounds. Let’s hope voices of moderation will drown vestiges of the past. Let’s also hope his opportunistic ploy of trying to raise political money dies a quick death.
Wilson. Thumbs down to state Attorney General Alan Wilson for trying to block federal Clean Water regulations. More.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!