SC

The “Unity Rally” Is Being Held On This Guy’s Bridge?

HOW AN ICONIC SPAN IS ABOUT TO BECOME … AN IRONIC ONE || By FITSNEWS || We’ve got nothing against Arthur Ravenel, Jr. – a.k.a. “Cousin Arthur.” We’ve always liked him tremendously – even when he chastised our founding editor for running his mouth about his 2007 affair with future…

HOW AN ICONIC SPAN IS ABOUT TO BECOME … AN IRONIC ONE

|| By FITSNEWS || We’ve got nothing against Arthur Ravenel, Jr. – a.k.a. “Cousin Arthur.” We’ve always liked him tremendously – even when he chastised our founding editor for running his mouth about his 2007 affair with future S.C. governor Nikki Haley.  And even when he made plain his views on the “late unpleasantness” between the Northern and Southern states (a.k.a. the Civil War).

We realize the former U.S. Congressman/ S.C. Senator grew up in a different era, and his Confederate sympathies (including his membership in the Moultrie Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans) certainly need to be viewed in that light.

When we saw the elder Ravenel last spring at his granddaughter’s christening, he was wearing a tie adorned with dozens of tiny Confederate flags – but at the time such a fashion statement was (and maybe still is) harmless.

Although as we noted, perspectives are changing … with good reason.

In the aftermath of this week’s “Holy City Massacre” – the savage, premeditated slaying of nine black church-goers by a 21-year-old white gunman – a unity rally has been scheduled on the iconic Charleston, S.C. bridge that bears Ravenel’s name.

Ravenel’s bridge is certainly an interesting venue for such an event given some of its namesake’s prior comments – including his reference to the NAACP as the “National Association for Retarded People.”  And his subsequent apology … to retarded people.

But this website has blasted the NAACP plenty of times … so what?

Well, there’s also Ravenel’s 1990 quip that some of his white colleagues operated on “black time.”  Meaning they were slow (or “fashionably late” in his words).  Then there’s his underlying rationale for switching to the “Republican” party – which was all about race.

“We didn’t leave the party, really, the party left us,” Ravenel told reporter Anne Hull in 2000. “Southern Democrats had always been very conservative.  But then Kennedy and the leadership of the party became more and more liberal.  The black influence in the Democratic Party is more and more pervasive.”

Ummm … Kennedy?  Liberal?  Not on taxes.  But it’s that whole “black influence” quote that’s probably relevant to this column.

Ravenel was also perhaps the most aggressive supporter of leaving the Confederate flag flying atop the S.C. State House dome (and inside the state’s two legislative chambers).

Take a look at this old news clip …

(Click to enlarge)

ravenel

(Pic: Provided)

Yeah …

Ravenel has publicly insisted for years that he isn’t a racist – and we’re not going to try and climb inside his heart and pass judgment.  Furthermore, it’s obvious anyone in possession of a heart categorically condemns the sort of hatred that would prompt an individual to go into a house of God and kill nine people in cold blood.

We have no doubt Ravenel vigorously repudiates such violence.  Hell, the 88-year-old may even show up at the unity rally being held Sunday night on his bridge and state his opposition for the record.

But Ravenel’s history on the issue of race – like the history of his home state – is clearly conflicted.  In fact the retired politician’s son – former S.C. Treasurer/ reality TV star Thomas Ravenel – reportedly fought with producers of his Southern Charm reality TV show in an effort to keep any references or depictions of the Confederate flag out of his father’s 2014 cameo on the program.

Like any good son, the younger Ravenel was trying to protect his father … which we respect.

But isn’t that a metaphor for South Carolina’s struggle with its past?

In a larger sense, the unity rally on the Ravenel bridge isn’t – or shouldn’t be – about race.  It’s about people standing together to acknowledge the fact that nine souls were brutally deprived of their most basic human liberty – and to affirm the sanctity of liberty for all people.

Maybe Ravenel is ready to be a part of an event like that … if he is, it would certainly make for a powerful statement in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy.

***

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55 comments

The Buzzman June 20, 2015 at 1:24 am

Be the first to comment.

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Quietus June 20, 2015 at 2:01 am

2nd

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Henderson June 20, 2015 at 2:25 am

The unity rally is about race! You might not like it but South Carolina tolerates racism and allows displays of racism including the Confederate flag which these days flies above all other flags. It’s an ugly picture which includes Ravenel and all the other good ol boys. This was terrorism which the declared goal to start a race war. If this kid would have been if Muslim faith the drones would be flying now looking for a strike to appease people. But it’s just a ‘misguided, crazy loner’ – nothing to do with the everyday racism in South Carolina and elsewhere in the US.

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Daniel Boome June 20, 2015 at 8:30 am

Can you give an example of where this state “tolerates racism”? Please do not use the flag as an example, that’s not an example, merely a display, as you stated. Give me a real example of where we tolerate actual racism. I’m tired of these vague and generic statements that people make regarding race where presumptuousness reigns and facts are nowhere to be found.

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willblogformoney June 20, 2015 at 11:46 am

Don’t hold you’re breathe waiting a response from that jerk.

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erneba June 20, 2015 at 4:17 pm

This person will not debate you.
A typical debate with a lefty:
1. Pick a subject to debate.
2. Start the debate.
3. There is a valid disagreement.
4. Lefty calls his non-liberal debate opponent a “racist,” “asshole,” etc Lefty declares the debate is over, states he is the winner, and walks away.
Identifying you in a demeaning manner alleviates the need for any debate,
which they would lose.

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truthmonger June 21, 2015 at 5:37 pm

Carter. Strange.

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It's 'I' June 20, 2015 at 9:32 am

Why does Will always refer to himself as ‘we’? We know he is the only person running this blog.

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CNSYD June 20, 2015 at 10:09 am

He gazes into a mirror as he prepares his columns, thus it is, in his puerile mind, we.

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Squishy123 June 20, 2015 at 9:48 am

Is this racism one way? Is it only white on black racism? Is there such a thing as back on white racism? We rarely hear about that when white people are attacked by black people.

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euwe max June 20, 2015 at 3:03 pm

The reason that is, is racism when it is held by the powerful – is more destructive than the reactionary reflection of it held by its victims.

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FastEddy23 June 20, 2015 at 10:40 am

That’s the word I was looking for … Tolerate.

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LittleT June 20, 2015 at 12:31 pm

I stuck my dick in a fan…

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Fan Lives Matter June 20, 2015 at 1:03 pm

Poor Fan!

Did the fan consent or did you rape it?

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Slartibartfast June 20, 2015 at 2:06 pm

Isn’t that a C&W tune about Goveror Riley’s 1¢ education tax?

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SCBlues June 20, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Of course you are correct but the usual ones are going to be on here saying no – they were saying the murders were not even about race and that the murderer was merely mentally ill and/or on drugs – race had nothing to do with it.
Note the responder to your comment who always brings up those that are a “lefty” – this is all this commenter has to say regardless of subject matter – it is always right and left and apparently always black and white – that is ALL they see. Lots of really sad folks on this forum. This particular one has spent the entire week up-voting the most despicable and racist comments posted to this forum. Go figure, right?
And notice another responder to your comment who frames the debate by stating up front what they will allow to be discussed and not discussed – it is all up to them. A total waste of time to even try to debate folks such as this – you will never, ever make any progress – they will not allow it.
And see below the names you’ve already been called simply for making a comment to the forum. Only THEIR comments are allowed and only THEIR points of view are allowed – it is a farce to even attempt to reason with them.
But thanks for your comments – much needed on here with

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Harmony June 20, 2015 at 6:21 am

America does well with race when America is busy, working hard and enjoying life.

The minute we start a “dialogue” the whole thing goes to hell. The race haters, and race baiters, the do-gooders, the paid race pimps and the simply stupid come out of the woodwork to be on display. The gibberish espoused by the collected idiots is incomprehensible and distorts everything and everyone.

if you want better race relations, work hard, love your neighbor, enjoy yourselves and we will all live together happily. If you want strife, go to rallies, listen to people making money off the issue, and hang with the idiots.

It is your choice.

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Squishy123 June 20, 2015 at 9:50 am

That reads better if you play Michael Row Your Boat Ashore sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary in the background.

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FastEddy23 June 20, 2015 at 10:47 am

So? What’s wrong with that? (I might have chosen a better tune, but … How about Amazing Grace?)

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Squishy123 June 20, 2015 at 11:50 am

Did I say anything was wrong with it?

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Slartibartfast June 20, 2015 at 2:00 pm

Agreed. But if things get worse, we could always sing “John Henry Bosworth,” and change the dates.

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kirby June 22, 2015 at 2:12 pm

Yes, John Henry made his decision “late in 68…”

Slartibartfast June 23, 2015 at 6:29 pm

With apologies..

PAUL STOOKEY
John Henry Bosworth Lyrics (Suggested Update)

John Henry Bosworth, late Two-Thousand-Eight,
Decided that the time had come to settle his estate
The Government of summer’d turned Pirate in the fall
So he packed his family in the jeep
And chose to leave it all
Out on the open road with his elbow in the breeze
He pulled his woman to him
And he gave her heart a squeeze

With a song that he’d been singing
And they waved to the people that they passed
All along the highway they went winging
Headed for their paradise at last

John Henry Bosworth’s family on the farm
Elizabeth is sitting knitting from a ball of yarn
Koolaid’s in the kitchen, Button’s up in her bed
And John he takes a long pull on his pipe
And lays his head back in the easy chair
With the Good Book in his hand
He close his eyes and thank the Lord
For making him a lucky man.

With a song that he’d been singing
And they’d waved to the people that they passed
All along the highway they were winging
Headed for their paradise at last

John Henry Bosworth, Twenty-Twenty-Four
The city’s dead, the sky is red,
And there’s a knock upon the door.
Every piece of Scripture, ‘n’ every prayer he prayed
Had brought him to this moment
Of this particular day
“Open the doors” he cried,
“Let the brothers and the sisters inside.
I got everything to give now and nothing left to hide”.

With a song that he’d been singing
And they’d waved to the people that they passed
All along the highway they’d been winging
Headed for their paradise at last

And I was wondering if you had been to the mountain
To look at the valley below?
Did you see all the roads tangled down in the valley?
Did you know which way to go?
Oh the mountain stream runs pure and clear
And I wish to my soul I could always be here
But there’s a reason for living way down in the valley
That only the mountain knows

The Colonel June 20, 2015 at 4:38 pm

Amazing Grace was written by John Newton, an English slave ship master turned abolitionist preacher. After a violent storm off Ireland, he wrote the first verse while his slave ship was being repaired in celebration of God’s answer of his prayer for salvation from the storm.
Over the course of the next 4-5 years, he began to see the evils of the slave trade, quit his job as a captain and begun studying theology. Ordained in 1764, his recollections of the horrors of the slave trade in the pamphlet Thoughts Upon The Slave Trade was instrumental in getting Parliament to outlaw slavery in England in 1807.

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FastEddy23 June 24, 2015 at 11:24 am

… and one of my favorites. You should hear my niece sing it, country style.

Christopher Weber June 21, 2015 at 5:01 pm

Last time I checked we were all the same race,it is called human …
Do I need to check again?

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The Colonel June 20, 2015 at 8:19 am

I worked on a Ravenel campaign years ago. A genuinely nice man about twenty years behind the times.

T-Rav has a brother who has special needs and Arthur would not work a campaign event that conflicted with time that he had set aside for his son.

All of that side, I can’t think of a better place for the event.

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CNSYD June 20, 2015 at 9:26 am

Colonel, please do not confront Folks with facts. It disrupts his agenda, which in this case is perhaps nothing more than increasing “clicks”.

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21stconfed June 20, 2015 at 8:30 am

We should take down the flag because we all know that within a matter of a few years people will stop being racist and the crazies like roof will stop showing up. And furthermore, wages of blacks will rise by at least 50% of said time period.
It’s ahistorical monument about a war our state basically started. If the state house grounds didn’t include other historical monuments then sure move it, but it does.

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Squishy123 June 20, 2015 at 9:52 am

You could be an AME preacher.

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21stconfed June 20, 2015 at 11:45 am

So I will be assisnated?…How about while we are at it we get rid of all war monuments since the federal government is the only one that can declare war. And not stop there get rid of all the veterans affairs departments in the counties, and other special state privileges for service members. No sense in subsidizing national wars, how’s that for a libertarian argument for you fits?

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Squishy123 June 20, 2015 at 11:52 am

Go for it, see how it turns out.

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Nathan Bedford June 20, 2015 at 9:43 am

Cuzzin Arthur served a brief time in the SC House of Representatives in the 1950’s. It was during this time that he was the primary sponsor of a bill, which was adopted, condemning the the Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education. In the 1970’s he was an endorser and financial supporter of a domestic terrorist group called TRIM, a splinter group of the John Birch Society that published newsletters that described Martin Luther King, Jr as a communist agent and went into detail about King’s infidelity, calling him a man of low moral character. And let’s not forget the 1980’s when Cuzzin Arthur took the North Charleston Baptist Church choir to the floor of the SC State Senate to sing Dixie and celebrate Confederate Memorial Day.

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nitrat June 20, 2015 at 1:42 pm

John Birch Society…co-founder Koch daddy Fred KOCH.

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Squishy123 June 20, 2015 at 9:46 am

Black time… two speeds, slow and drive a stake in the ground to see if they’re moving. It got worse with the fashion statement of wearing your pant waistband around your knees.

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FastEddy23 June 20, 2015 at 10:50 am

You, sir, are an idiot.

There will certainly be children there. Hopefully.

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Squishy123 June 20, 2015 at 11:51 am

Children will be where? Will they know their baby daddy?

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euwe max June 20, 2015 at 2:58 pm

do you?

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FastEddy23 June 20, 2015 at 10:31 am

Me thinks there is way too much being spewed about past inequities and too little about future possibilities.

This outside observer is interested. This observer Is interested in how civilized the South will remain in the face of near term tragedies … such apparently diminished economic rumblings … such exposure to international “let it bleed” media back scatter and piffle … and the Southern actions taken … or not.

The one thing this observer will be looking for in the Unity Gathering will be respect. Respect for those who are deeply hurt by your recent events. Respect for past and current ideals, warts and all, and a hopeful, forward looking, civilized stance.

The South should not care one bit what this outside observer and others see or believe or comment about.

The South …. ….

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Taylor Brown June 20, 2015 at 10:50 am

Finish your drinks people. Will talked about his alleged affair with Nikki.

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The Colonel June 20, 2015 at 11:41 am

man I hate to start drinking this early in the morning

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euwe max June 20, 2015 at 2:57 pm

I know, right?

This is the time to be wrapping up for the night.

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lies lies lies June 20, 2015 at 1:42 pm

“even when he chastised our founding editor for running his mouth about his 2007 affair with future S.C. governor Nikki Haley.”

I didn’t see him say “alleged”. Wonder when she will have enough of this horseshit and sue him?

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???? June 20, 2015 at 2:39 pm

Probably never, do you really think she wants to answer questions in a deposition?

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lie lie lie June 20, 2015 at 6:11 pm

An incident like the church killings might make her change her mind? Fits appears to really have it out for her, in my opinion.
This thing has been on for years.

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The Usual Suspects June 20, 2015 at 1:20 pm

I wonder if the Republicans can use all these comments from their fellow party members for their “outreach ” program?

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Slartibartfast June 20, 2015 at 1:38 pm

True story.. Many years ago, I was a lay preacher for the Episcopal Diocese of SC. I preached and led services at both St. John’s and St. Mark’s. We NEVER started on time. Never. If you were not the correct shade of coffee, you were not welcomed in St Mark’s – they tolerated white folk. If you were the shade of strong, black coffee, you willingly went to St. John’s – They liked me because I spoke “morning talk.” All of these things added to a wonderful milieu in a city chocked full of them. I still love Charleston and these attitudes do not stop anyone from being welcomed in my home.

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Native Ink June 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm

You can’t throw a rock in downtown Charleston without hitting something named after an avowed racist. Where else should they have the rally? In Marion Square, under the statue of John C. Calhoun?

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CNSYD June 20, 2015 at 8:05 pm

Nor can you throw a rock in DC and not hit former slave owners like Washington, Jefferson, etc.

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Soft Sigh from Hell June 20, 2015 at 2:47 pm

Isn’t he just another Joe Wilson, a blustering moron? Isn’t he the jackleg fool that wanted the Air Force to shoot down any unidentified plane off our coast because it probably was delivering drugs. Pity the surgeon in his Beechcraft coming back from the Bahamas whose flight plan was misplaced.

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snickering June 20, 2015 at 3:45 pm

The Tie (confederate flag) is criminal as a fashion decision.

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SOB June 20, 2015 at 5:36 pm

I am a native Charlestonian and have never once referred to the Cooper River Bridge as the Ravenel Bridge. Nor have I ever heard anyone from Charleston actually refer to the Cooper River Bridge as the Ravenel. BTW: no one ever referred to the Grace or Pearman Bridges by name, they were just the Old or New Cooper River Bridges. The General Assembly voted to name the bridge for Arthur without consulting with the people. At the time, the majority of people I know wanted it to be a memorial to soldiers or to be called something positive like the SC Gateway Bridge.

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I regret helping Arthur June 21, 2015 at 8:22 am

Ravenel is a loose cannon on deck. He does more damage to South Carolina heritage than anyone else. Shut him up before he causes more damage.

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Jackie Chiles June 22, 2015 at 11:44 am

CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY HELD A UNITY RALLY IN A CITY THAT WAS FOUNDED WITH SLAVES!!!!!!!??/111/???

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