In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, something remarkable happened: the tone and content of community-based social media pages and sites quickly shifted from often tedious, argumentative, and petty content and commentary to an explosion of people desperate to provide charitable service. Keyboard warriors showed a willingness and readiness to step away from their phones and computers to help their neighbors in any way possible. The community called on that place within its heart that for many had taken a back seat and shifted its thoughts, feelings and efforts to the sense of humanity in one another. The shift was breathtakingly refreshing to observe. It’s enough to cause one to wonder: “what if it was like this all the time?”
Many of us are old enough to remember the strong sense of unity and patriotism we experienced in our country after the attacks of 9/11. And regrettably, we remember how it faded over time. What if it remained? What if it didn’t only appear in moments of crisis?
A lyric in a favorite song says: “We’re one, but we’re not the same. We get to carry each other.” It is a privilege and an opportunity to serve one another. Some of us “believers” see it as a calling or something born within us. Our area is blessed with many organizations that exist for the purposes of serving and connecting: consider the rotary and optimist clubs, the District 5 [school] foundation, and so many faith-based institutions. They provide a strong backbone of service and charity in our area: often overlooked and yet persisting in their noble missions without craving praise or high profile from the general public.
Despite the best efforts of many in technology, there is still no substitute for human connection. A bumper sticker with good intentions would rightly encourage us to “Coexist” with those who may be of a different faith or belief or religion. But coexistence is just the first step in the right direction. We should strive to actually connect via the core values that make our country great and then together build and advance and enrich our individual lives and our communities. If we really look, we will see that there is common ground to build upon.
When we fall victim to temptation to focus on a sense of negativity in our differences instead of the goodness in variety, we play into the hands of those both foreign and domestic who would destroy the foundations of our freedoms. Remember the sage words of President Reagan when he said “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance, it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.”
I saw zero hints of discrimination by race or religion or political affiliation in the outpouring of offers to help in Helene’s aftermath. Those offers to provide water, food, helping hands, cell phones charges, and wash laundry were judgment-free and made from the heart. As the Midlands moves closer to recovery, the Upstate, Augusta and Western North Carolina are still reeling and will be for months or more. So let’s keep the momentum of judgment free offers of relief and service. The opportunity is knocking. Open the door. See what you find. Don’t look away.
Jason Branham
Richland County Council, District 1
