tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post8821863720775978239..comments2024-03-28T17:30:06.439-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Close to HomeJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-18167915528247377022015-07-08T15:52:13.264-04:002015-07-08T15:52:13.264-04:00Wow. Love this perspective. I, too am moved so dee...Wow. Love this perspective. I, too am moved so deeply every time I think about the forgiveness offered by those families. Just amazing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529091676234064844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-51834572529432873952015-07-07T20:09:00.605-04:002015-07-07T20:09:00.605-04:00Thanks for the comments, guys. What an amazing few...Thanks for the comments, guys. What an amazing few weeks this has been. Senator Pinckney's widow was on the Senate floor today after the third reading passed the bill to move the flag onto the House. A very touching moment. <br />Yet, we have so much more we need to do ...<br />carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-79439509688105032052015-07-07T15:43:40.073-04:002015-07-07T15:43:40.073-04:00Beautifully said, Carla. I admire the families who...Beautifully said, Carla. I admire the families who forgave the killer, but I doubt if I'd have the grace or courage to do the same. I've lived over three-quarters of my life in South Carolina and love many things about it. Most of the people are good and kind and try to lead decent, honorable lives with respect for all; sadly there are also many who live in fear and hatred and need to find a target for all that rage. What can we do to reach those people? I don't have the answer either, but I hope we find one soon.Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-16357447624585927152015-07-07T14:13:25.849-04:002015-07-07T14:13:25.849-04:00What a beautiful post, Carla. I cried when I saw t...What a beautiful post, Carla. I cried when I saw that film. I'm a Yankee living in SC. When I moved here, I was astounded by how many people saw me as an enemy. Now, I've lived here longer than I lived in the North, and I still get occasional comments about being a Yankee as if it explains my points of view, even by people who should know better. Maybe websites that promote hate and murder should be shut down just like sites that sell and display children's pornography or incite pedophilia. If that infringes on First Amendment rights, then why not a clarification of what the First Amendment is about. Wish I knew the answer. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-54472855651058006962015-07-07T12:41:30.439-04:002015-07-07T12:41:30.439-04:00Wonderful post, Carla. the forgiveness of the fami...Wonderful post, Carla. the forgiveness of the families was breathtaking. Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-64993048294692363972015-07-07T11:03:37.737-04:002015-07-07T11:03:37.737-04:00Carla, I don't live in South Carolina and I...Carla, I don't live in South Carolina and I've never been there, however, I also got teary eyed over the whole business just listening to it on NPR and reading about it in the newspaper. I can't understand that kind of hatred in the young man and in the white supremacists who support it. The ironic thing is many consider themselves Christians. That <br />whole outlook whether its those in our country or the radical Islamists in other countries totally baffles me. Of course, although I don't feel personal hatred for any one person I know,or even anything close to it, I can feel hatred for those groups I mentioned. Hatred <br />for their cruel and hateful behaviors, especially those who've deluded themselves into thinking they're doing it because it's God's will. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-85815443778520455712015-07-07T10:33:36.416-04:002015-07-07T10:33:36.416-04:00Dee you are so right. We can't let the flag...Dee you are so right. We can't let the flag's removal be the solution. It is the FIRST STEP of the solution, which will involve soul-searching and dramatic change in how we see our brothers and sisters, no matter their race, gender, etc status.<br />. carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-46171985957724613052015-07-07T10:06:15.116-04:002015-07-07T10:06:15.116-04:00I too was overwhelmed by the grace of the familie...I too was overwhelmed by the grace of the families of Senator Pinckney and the other victims. <br />Sadly I lack this grace.<br />I was furiously, incredibly angry when this happened. I still am. This young man’s murderous hatred was fueled by many in our society. A society where there is a war on Black people. A society where there is a war on the underprivileged and a war on our most vulnerable citizens.<br />I am glad we did not have riots in SC. I am glad the flag is coming down.<br />What I fear is that most people will give themselves congratulatory pats on the back and all will return to normal. A normal where discrimination is rampant in employment, housing, medical care and education. I’ve been an activist for over 50 years. I am tired. Will there will be people who will not stop fighting for equal rights , who will not stop fighting for the very young and the very old, who will not allow a few wealthy companies to dictate what is right for all of us? I hope so. I am tired and I am still angry. And that is my truth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00315518052478840340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-66980071854982374742015-07-07T10:04:52.367-04:002015-07-07T10:04:52.367-04:00"I pray that, one day, we are less a nation o..."I pray that, one day, we are less a nation of “we vs they” and more a nation of “us.” Just beautiful, Carla.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-8778624238666599962015-07-07T09:32:23.198-04:002015-07-07T09:32:23.198-04:00Forgiveness is an incredibly powerful thing. As a ...Forgiveness is an incredibly powerful thing. As a work-in-progress human being, this is something I am ALWAYS working on. What those families did was really unbelievable. Yet TRUE. <br />carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-15490542906343656252015-07-07T08:35:00.373-04:002015-07-07T08:35:00.373-04:00For several years, I taught social studies to spec...For several years, I taught social studies to special education students in an inner city Baltimore public school. I live in Pennsylvania, and had not previously studied much specific to Maryland.<br /><br />The first surprise was the state motto, which translates as "Womanly words, manly deeds."<br /><br />The second, and it was a shock, were the words to the state song, Maryland, My Maryland.<br /><br />It was written in 1861, and is a call to join Virginia in the Civil War. Lincoln is referred to as "vandal," "despot" and "tyrant." The song calls for Maryland to rise and fight the "Northern scum."<br /><br />I understand honoring the bravery of all who fought for causes in which they believe, but in this case, as with the Confederate battle flag, we express support for treason and hate. That, I don't understand.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-21273274858220291122015-07-07T08:09:56.405-04:002015-07-07T08:09:56.405-04:00Forgiveness is such a powerful force, bringing pos...Forgiveness is such a powerful force, bringing positive benefits to the forgiver, possibly the forgiven, and certainly to the rest of the world. I do not know I could be that strong, but I would hope to be.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-49624123677904259452015-07-07T08:02:30.313-04:002015-07-07T08:02:30.313-04:00Carla, you've written powerfully about events ...Carla, you've written powerfully about events and images that have affected us all profoundly. I pray, as you do, that this will not happen again and that we can be united in peace rather than divided by hate.Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.com