Letters: Pride Parade made me proud of Columbia

I walked in the Pride Parade earlier this month in our “famously hot” city.

We’re famously hot because we’re nestled in the scorching Midlands, because of Sherman’s fiery visit in 1865 and because to say something is “hot,” of course, means that it’s “cool.”

I walked the Columbia streets surrounded by waving, supporting, cheering Carolinians. Sadly, there are those here in South Carolina who are not at all welcoming; there are those across our nation who thrill to hate; injustice is present around the globe

To each person and to every generation falls the task of fighting injustice. Those who teach hate, intolerance and bigotry will not soon give up their quest; neither can we.

Still, I have hope: In this place, at this time, people could walk with pride: black, white, gay, straight, singing, waving, dancing. Not so long ago, this couldn’t have happened in my city. Indeed, seven score and eleven years ago, to those watching the burning heat of that day, this would have been unimaginable.

I’m proud to be a Columbian. Turns out this town really is cool.