The Correct Response

The shooter in Charleston had stated that his aim was to start a ‘race war.’ He was going to do that by killing black people in an historically black church. Unfortunately for him (fortunately for Charleston), he didn’t take into consideration the character of the people in that church and the character of the people of Charleston.

This is a time for mourning and for soul searching. How did that kind of hatred fester and lead to the death of good people? What was the source of his ideas and do we have a way of eliminating that source?

But this is also a time for celebrating. Celebrating the love that has poured out toward the people who lost loved family members and also toward the other members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church who are also feeling the loss. The response to this tragedy by the people of Charleston has been inspiring.

Yesterday the U.K. Daily Mail posted an article about the prayer vigil in Charleston that took place yesterday.

Here are two pictures from the article:

Packed: Thousands crammed themselves into the College of Charleston Arena on Friday night to remember the nine slain churchgoers

As mourners walked in they were handed roses of all different hues to hold or lay down in honor of the victims

My favorite quote from the article:

Mayor Joe Riley said ‘If that young man thought he was going to divide this country… he miserably failed.’

What happened in Charleston was horrible, but the people of Charleston are an example of how to bring peace in the face of violence. I am so impressed by how the leaders of Charleston–the political, spiritual, and other leaders–have handled this situation. The leaders of Charleston have truly acted as leaders.