Normally in this blog, I write about Lowcountry events and happenings, things to do if you’re coming to stay in one of our SC vacation rentals, be it a luxury house on Isle of Palms or a Folly Beach house Charleston. Or maybe it’ll include tips to help make your stay in a Charleston beach house even more enjoyable. Well, Charleston has been all over the world headlines these last several days, and it’s for a very sad reason. I’d be remiss if I didn’t address it here. Charleston of course was the scene of one of the most horrific hate crimes in recent history, the massacre of nine innocent and wonderful citizens as they met for Bible study in one of the nation’s most historic churches, Mother Emanuel AME.
It was an act of domestic terrorism, a crime that shocked us all and brought us to tears, disbelief, and instense grief. There is truly something amazing about the Holy City, about Charleston, the Lowcountry and its people. I have never been more proud of Charleston than I have been in the days since the tragedy. What was meant to divide us, has only brought us closer. What lead to riots and violence in other cities, has resulted in people coming together, holding hands, hugging, praying together. Helping each other. Healing. Reaching out in love, not hate. Witness this past Sunday night -- when all ages and races and faiths - 20,000 strong, held hands across the Cooper River on the Ravenel Bridge, in a giant “Bridge to Peace.” Late last week the world watched, transfixed, as accused murderer Dylann Roof made his first court appearance - and family member after family member of the innocent victims expressed forgiveness - and grace. It was an amazing thing to behold.
Wanda Simmons, the granddaughter of Reverend Daniel Simmons (one of the nine victims) so beautifully expressed it this way: “Although my grandfather and the other victims died at the hands of hate, this is proof, everyone’s plea for your soul, is proof that they lived in love and their legacies will live in love. So hate won’t win. And I just want to thank the court for making sure that hate doesn’t win.” Peggy Noonan, one of the best presidential speechwriters of all time, who coined such political expressions as “a kinder, gentler nation,” and “a thousand points of light,” wrote a truly poignant blog about our city for the Wall Street Journal that I’d like to share here: http://blogs.wsj.com/peggynoonan/2015/06/19/a-bow-to-charleston/ It’s entitled: “A Bow to Charleston.” It is definitely worth reading.
If you have been to one of our luxury beach house rentals SC before, either Isle of Palms vacation rentals or Folly Beach rentals Charleston, and you know something about the Holy City, this will probably have extra meaning for you. Here’s another story I found particularly touching --- it’s about a little local Mount Pleasant girl who was inspired to make a couple drawings in memory of the victims. It’s taken social media by storm, for good reason.
And lastly, I took the above video this past Sunday morning… when at 10:00 a.m., all the churches of Charleston rang their bells in a show of love and support for Mother Emanuel AME, the martyred victims and their families. It was a really beautiful. This is St. Michael’s Church on Meeting Street, one of a very few churches in the country that still does the beautiful practice known as “change ringing” heard here. It was a goosebumps moment. So come to Charleston, and feel the love. If you are looking for rental homes South Carolina, namely beach house rentals Charleston SC, contact Exclusive Properties. Our Isle of Palms luxury rentals are the very best. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger