(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
Let’s kick the week off with an ugly truth.
The gun violence in our community is —or is getting—out of hand. Just recently we have had two separate incidents, both with large crowds, that could have ended a lot worse than they did.
ICYMI
This weekend two serious incidents happen on school property that didn’t involve students of the Richmond County school system. So before we go blaming our school system for these incidents, let’s make sure we address the real issue and that’s culture.
As long as our community condones this type of behavior, we will continue to be plagued with stupid decisions.
A board member about the incidents made it very clear that safety was a factor when deciding to have some homecomings on Saturday afternoons – not to pick and choose certain schools but to make best use of the resources available and not to have personnel stretched out all over the place.
Venus Cain said to me, “Mike, my primary concern is safety! Not just at events, but everyday—for our students, staff and families.”
Cain continued to express her disappointment over the events that unfolded over the weekend and we did come to one conclusion together—this starts at home.
No matter how many gun control laws are put in place; no matter how much security you have, until there is a level of self-control, we as a community will be stuck with idiots who lack concern for other human beings.
The days of finger-pointing are over. We need action that will put people away for senseless crimes. There need to be real repercussions and serious consequences for repeat offenders.
There is no place in our society for violent crimes, and until we are willing to set examples of some people who behave in this manner, we will continue to struggle with this problem.
With that being said, we still have to address levels of inequalities in our community. Whether it’s in the criminal justice system, education or employment, all of these things play a part in our culture. So make no mistake about it, culture involves ALL OF US. So as a community we must work together to fix it.
Let me also address some falsehoods that are being spread.
The school board is not or until this point has not canceled all upcoming homecomings.
The sheriff can’t cancel homecomings.
There should be more police presence at games and events. If more individuals wanted to work there would be. Most people don’t want to work with the children.
On a better note, Arts in the Heart was an extreme success.
The Arts in the Heart Festival hosted to 18 different countries in the International Food Village this year. Over 130 artist vendors were set up along Broad Street. It was expanded this year to include the 600 block of Broad Street. The festival which now stretches from 10th street to 6th street.
We had a tremendous showing from the Augusta community. With the combination of great weather, this was the first full Arts in the Heart event since the pandemic, and the milestone 40th anniversary of the festival. Early estimates are showing that there were over 100,000 attendees at this year’s festival—making it the largest ever. Not a single incident.
I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on the passing of longtime legal scholar — Pete Fletcher.
His death came as a shock to the entire community. Pete will be missed by many. His knowledge of law, and especially school law, was second to none. He was the foremost expert in education law and would lead seminars all over the state to help communities far and wide be better at school board law.
It will take our community a long time to recover from such a loss. (Although the buzzards were already circling for his position before he could be laid the rest.)
The audacity to already be calling about what firm will be taking over! I can understand wanting to make sure work can keep going; however calls coming from…here I go getting ahead of myself again.
Here’s a story I told in my latest sermon that I hope you will enjoy.
I recalled a pastor friend of mine telling a story about his daughter, Trinity. She had been begging him to take her to the pool and teach her how to swim.
Being the only swimmer in the house, he thought he would have been excited about doing this. Needless to say, after trying and trying, he got a short fuse. Like most men, he did not have a fair amount of patience.
So, because she wasn’t getting it and was scared, he asked her, “Don’t you trust me?” She said, “Yes Daddy.” He said to her, “Then go ahead and float! I got you, Trinity!”
She tried, but immediately became afraid. In disgust, he told her to get out of the pool.
Fearing he would never let her come back to the pool, she begged. “Daddy, give me one more chance!”
As she lay back in the water with his hand under her, she was whispering something to herself. As he let her go, and he leaned down to hear what she was saying, he heard these words… “I trust Daddy, I trust Daddy.”
Even when we’re fearful, we can float in deep waters if we can just tell ourselves, “I trust my Father. I trust my Father. I trust my Father.”
I just pray that we have Grace to trust Him more.
Michael Meyers is a columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
