Regular readers of this news outlet are well aware that there is no love lost between us and South Carolina state representative Bill Sandifer.
But this is neither the time nor the place for a recapitulation of those disagreements … this is a time and place for expressing our shared humanity.
Sandifer lost his son earlier this week, and colleagues of the 73-year-old Aiken, S.C. native tell us he is inconsolable (and understandably so).
As our founding editor recently went through a serious health scare involving his own son, this news hit very close to home for him …
No details have been released as to the circumstances surrounding the death of Sandifer’s son. According to our sources, though, this is the second child he has lost in the past two years. We have received credible information from several of Sandifer’s colleagues in the S.C. General Assembly as to what allegedly happened (in both cases), but out of respect for the grieving lawmaker and his family we will not be the ones to divulge any of that information.
We believe it is up to Sandifer and his family what they wish to share with the public … and when.
(Click to view)
(Via Travis Bell Photography)
In the meantime, we would simply encourage our readers to join us in lifting up Sandifer (above) and his family in our thoughts and our prayers. We cannot imagine how difficult something like this must be for them, and we wish them God’s comfort, God’s peace and God’s love as they confront the difficult days ahead.
Whatever political battles we have with one other on this terrestrial sphere, they amount to nothing in the final analysis … which is when we will be judged by our creator based on the love we showed (or didn’t show) to those who inhabited that sphere with us.
Our job in the public arena is to hold Sandifer and other public officials accountable for their conduct. As human beings, though, our job is to recognize when we must suspend that duty and demonstrate compassion for fellow human beings who are suffering.
We have not always recognized that line in the past, but we do today … and will continue doing our level best to recognize it in the future.
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Banner: Travis Bell Photography