What happened to the traditional Southern Values of Charleston?

By Mark A. Leon

Last week, there was an targeted active shooter at 3 PM on a Friday at the Northwoods Mall

Tonight, there was an active shooter in Huger as well as a shooting at the Citadel Mall parking lot.

While getting my haircut, one of the stylist walked outside and witnessed an accident in the parking lot.

On the “I Love Folly Beach” Facebook group, whose mission is love, acceptance and good will, a member posted the mug shot of the now infamous Folly Gras girl and his choice of words were a little less generous.  Is that respectful or just a cowardly way to get a few second of fame.  In some circles, that is slander.

A pedestrian was hit on Maybank Boulevard on January 29 and one on Rivers Avenue, February 27th; both dead.

So what happened?

The immediate comments will naturally be to blame the Northerners and forcibly tell them to go home.  The issue there is, Charleston praises its annual Conde Nast award and welcomes the new residents and tourism explosion.  Northern money is fueling much of the development. And growth as well. 

We find ourselves at a crossroads

Once again, the question remains, what happened to true Southern values in the Lowcountry.  The genuine smiles, welcoming generosity, the tip your hat and bow approach to chivalry?  It is certainly not a question that will be answered with one article or many comments fueled more by emotion than rationale.

Change is Upon Us

Change does have its setbacks as well as its advantages.  Change is not just an evolution of new development, higher class shopping and dining, but an introduction of new ideas, new ways of thinking, new approaches to conducting life and business and most importantly, cultural change. 

It is part of the package and the part that so may have resisted.  Cultural change is bringing alternative lifestyles, diversity, ethnicity and a real shot at the Southern establishment.

The culture is changing.  No amount pushback will change that.  We got the merry go round moving and there is no sign of stopping. 

• Growth
• Gentrification
• Price increases
• Pressures on traffic
• Pressures on cost of living
• Increased tourism
• Diversity
• Increased violence

The quiet and simple Southern world that Charleston became in its post-Civil War rebirth is now undergoing a renaissance.

Are you willing to accept it and how can we maintain a balance between the new Charleston and the traditional Southern values?

That is the debate we should bring to the spotlight.

The answer isn’t black and white, nor is the blame.

It is easy to simplify this and blame the unwelcome new residents or the government greed allowing the expansion and growth to go without limits, but we all have a responsibility.  We all have a roll in the direction we go.

Does Charleston Have the Will to Fight?

Charleston is not known for organized protest.  It is known for recreation.  We choose a beach and mimosa over a sign and a march.  That is who we are.  We hide behind social media and fret our grievances to whomever will listen, but we aren’t organized to bring positive change.

At the end of the day, we must come to accept our culture is evolving and the only way to slow it down or retain the “way it was”, is to take action; structured and collective action.

We each have a small voice, but together, we can move mountains.

That is food for thought.