It is fitting that Charleston South Carolina should be the site of the first second significant terrorist attack since 9/11 and the first one against a city.
The other one was the Fort Hood in November 5, 2009, when Nidal Malik Hasan, a U.S. Army major and psychiatrist, fatally shot 13 people and injured more than 30 others. Although there was ample email evidence that he had been in contact with the Yemen-based imam Anwar al-Awlaki, who had been monitored by the NSA as a security threat, the Department of Defense and Homeland security agencies refused to designate this as a terrorist act.
But both have differed from other mass murders such as in the 2007 Virginia Tech, 2012 Aurora, Colorado theater or the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacres committed by a mentally deranged individual from one by a person who could but need not be suffering from a psychotic condition or group to make a political( cause) point. In the Charleston case the focus was White Supremacy.
Why are Charleston and South Carolina unique among American cities and States? Not only has a Confederate Flag been flying over the State House, but South Carolina and Charleston have a history of White Supremacy
South Carolina’s was at the forefront of resistance to civil rights. “Its “Declaration of Immediate Causes” for secession in 1860 made clear that a defense of slavery was at the heart of its departure from the Union
As for secession and racism, the evaders insist that South Carolina, a state that now has an African American United States senator, is long past all this. Which raises the question: If this history is all about yesteryear, why does South Carolina continue to fly the Confederate battle flag on the grounds of its state house? It’s about “heritage,” we’re told. But the nature of that “heritage” is cloaked in the mists of battlefield bravery in the Civil War. And remember: The flag was put up in 1962 as the civil rights movement gained strength. White supremacy is central to the flag’s heritage.” (E.J. Dionne Jr. 6/22 Washington Post).
There are counter balancing facts about Charleston; one being that Religion was never a biased issue.
Jews were welcome at the founding of the colony and has one of the oldest Jewish congregations in America, temple, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, founded in 1749,
Although Catholics were not welcomed n the founding colony as a result of Europe’s religious conflicts it boasts the oldest Catholic Church in the South, St. Mary’s
“It is the city of the internationally respected mayor, Joseph P. Riley, who beginning 40 years ago named black Charlestonians to every top position in city government. Chief of Police Reuben Greenberg, a nationally renowned black and Jewish police officer, was a member of Synagogue Emanuel, a Conservative congregation.
It is the city of the only black United States senator, Tim Scott, formerly a Republican member of the Charleston County Council” (per Adam D. Mendelsohn)
One final note as to Charleston’s place in history; it was the site of one of the worst earthquakes in American history on August 31, 1886.
Sept. 1, 1886 Charleston
Doc, I just want to add in the domestic terrorist bombing in 1995 in Oklahoma by Timothy McVeigh (and others), which killed 168 people--the worst act of domestic terrorism ever in this country. McVeigh, a Republican and NRA member, was not a "card-carrying" member (so far as is known) of any white supremacist groups, but he did quote from the white supremacist novel "The Turner Diaries"--pages of which were found in McVeigh's car after the bombing. Oklahoma has a long history of racial violence--lynchings, riots, terrorism--against black people--it is not surprising that McVeigh's hate was fomented there.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
Rebecca, thank you for the above .I had omitted the Oklahoma City bombing of the Federal Building because I was concentrating on recent events that readers might remember. The Oklahoma City act was he worst ib our history by our own citizens, not foreigners such as 9/11. The danger is that there will be more acts of terror. I should have included the Boston Marathon.
Delete"It is the city of the only black United States senator, Tim Scott.."
ReplyDeleteWhat about Cory Booker? What's he, chopped liver?
Contrary to the popular and oft-repeated belief, McVeigh was not a right-wing evangelical Christian. In fact, McVeigh was raised Roman Catholic, but professed agnosticism. His political beliefs were libertarian which is far different from Republican.
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