Charleston blues….

The wind out of my sails…

   Our last day in Charleston we rode bikes. We have discovered having bikes is just the best asset to traveling in a van. You can see a city in one day on a bike what would take you two days at least walking. You can pedal off the beaten path and see more unusual or local things than you would walking or even on a tour bus. I truly love the architecture in Charleston. Its like stepping back in time.

  We stopped off in a cafe for our morning coffee to utilize some WiFi so Jimmie could catch up on work and I could writes some letters, so because of that we were in the coffee shop quite a while. We couldn’t help but over hear the conversation at the table across the room. A group of older distinguished looking men all sat around sipping their coffee and discussing the removal of a monument. From what I could tell they were all in agreement that this statue should not have been removed. They spoke of the man behind the statue as being one of the country’s greatest leaders. Then I heard one man say something to the effect like he was for the unification of races but why remove a piece of history. Of course my ears were peaked with curiosity. I immediately got on my phone and googled this “great leader” who these old men spoke about with great reverence. A quick google search and the answer was clear as day, he was a confederate soldier, a slave owner who was known to brutally whip three slaves who ran away then wash their backs with brine to secure a more excruciating torture. He was known to have separated all but one of the families working on his plantation. From everything I read this man was the poster child and still is to white supremacy, yet these men felt his statue should be preserved. I was shocked they would speak so openly about this and without any shame at all. It was unfathomable to me in this day and age that it wouldn’t be common sense to get rid of a statue that would cause so much pain and sadness to a huge portion of the population and really should strike grief in all of us. Charleston took a turn for me there in that coffee shop. 

  We left to meet up with our carriage ride history tour. About half way into the tour the guide brought up General Lee, the same man that was talked about in the coffee shop that I had googled. He apparently had  some history in one of the houses. Jimmie stated out loud “oh that’s the guy of the statue they FINALLY took down.”  Sitting in front of us was a group of three women who I assumed was the grandmother, the daughter and the granddaughter. Little granny who was celebrating her 93rd birthday piped in..” Well for us, its not a finally its a UNFORTUNATELY!.” … Jimmie said something  I don’t even recall what. Granny spouted off about how upset “they” all were about its removal and how he was a good man. All I said was “why would anyone want that statue around?” Granddaughter spun around. “ well its UNFORTUNATE it was taken down.” Then granny spouted off “ He is buried under there and now they have to figure out what to do with his body.” “I thought about all his poor slaves that didn’t get a proper burial”.

  Next to Jimmie and I sat a very cute couple in which the girl happened to be black. She said nothing, just sat quietly and I felt so bad for her and wondered how many times did she have to listen to conversations like this and how did it effect her. I felt my heart suddenly pumping so fast I could hear all the blood flowing through my body, it sounded like a river inside of me. The rage I held in turned to tears which flowed down my cheeks like rain. Silent angry tears. At that  moment Charleston had lost all its charm. All I said before the tears choked out any more words was “well,  we are definitely in the south now.” 

  I was  in a funk after that. Ugliness can hide in pretty cities. I had to say lots of prayers that day to find peace in my heart, and to help me put my trust in Gods kingdom which is the only solution for this terrible problem of racism. I have had a hard time writing about all the fun and exciting and beautiful things. I haven’t picked up this journaling for a week. I think I don’t want to write about controversial subjects but this punched me in my gut and I can’t move on to writing about the great things until I express my thoughts about this crappy day. Ive got to keep it real. I can not solve the worlds problems that is for sure. I can only do my best to share the message of hope and love from the Bible that will solve this worlds problems. It is the only real solution. I am so glad I have it…