How Long Oh Lord? How Long?

[freshwest]

On the morning after the mass killing at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lisa Doctor joins a prayer circle down the street from the church. David Goldman / AP

The targeting of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal is particularly significant given its history and symbolism. One of the people killed was Clementa Pinckney, a South Carolina state senator and Methodist pastor at the church, and the youngest African African ever elected to South Carolina’s legislature. In a 2013 lecture posted on YouTube, Pinckney spoke about Emanuel A.M.E.’s significance to Charleston and the nation.

“Where you are is a very special place in Charleston,” Pinckney said in the lecture, addressing an audience of visitors to the church...

In a nutshell, you can say that the African American church—and in particular, in South Carolina—really has seen it as its responsibility and its ministry and its calling to be fully integrated and caring about the lives of its constituents and the general community... Many of us don't see ourselves as just a place where we come and worship, but as a beacon, and as a bearer of the culture, and a bearer of what makes us a people. But I like to say that this is not necessarily unique to us; it's really what America is all about.

Could we not argue that America is about freedom—whether we live it out or not—but it really is about freedom, equality and the pursuit of happiness, and that's what church is all about. Freedom to worship, and freedom from sin, freedom to be fully what God intends us to be, and freedom to have equality in the sight of God. And sometimes you gotta make noise to do that. Sometimes, you maybe have to die, like Denmark Vesey, to do that. Sometimes you have to march, and struggle, and be unpopular to do that."

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/06/shooting-emanuel-ame-charleston/396209/?utm_source=SFTwitter

State Senator and Methodist pastor Clementa Pinckney was future presidential material.

This phrase is the first one to come to me seeing that picture. A video this morning interviewed some of those who lost their loved ones yesterday. Asked what they were feeling now, they said they forgave the shooter. And they said that they felt a sense of overwhelming love. These are wise souls. Posted because myrna minx requested it.

[ladjf]

1. In my cynical opinion, "Longer than any of us will live". nt

[blm]

2. fresh tears

.

[pinboy3niner]

3. ...

Both photos from the Civil Rights Memorial at SPLC headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama. The Civil Rights Memorial, designed by Maya Lin, was dedicated on November 11, 1989.
http://www.splcenter.org/civil-rights-memorial

[sheshe2]

4. thank you for posting this freshwest.

Many of us don't see ourselves as just a place where we come and worship, but as a beacon, and as a bearer of the culture, and a bearer of what makes us a people. But I like to say that this is not necessarily unique to us; it's really what America is all about.

I am having trouble even crying, my eyes are dry. I just feel hollow.

Beautiful tribute, freshwest.

[Hekate]

5. KnR

[Control-Z]

6. K&R.

No words.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Sobering but beautiful compilation, freshwest.

Thanks for putting it together.

[myrna minx]

8. Thank you for making an op.

The agony and heartbreak makes me weep every time.

[brer cat]

9. Thank you, freshwest.

K&R

[malaise]

10. I was watching the singing

We Shall Overcome
and thought when?

What a Friend we have in Jesus - indeed - four hundred plus years of this shite

Amazing Grace - the classic slave masters' hymn of choice.

How long? Not until we wake up

[raouldukelives]

11. K&R nt

[myrna minx]

12. .