A couple of amusing items in South Carolina news this week:
(both courtesy of articles at SC Daily Gazette, a good, non-paywalled site for South Carolina news)

1) Because DEI hysteria has replaced CRT hysteria, South Carolina now has at least one anti-DEI legislative effort making its way through the SC House of Representatives. This article notes that the bill would prohibit “state agencies, local governments and universities from using diversity, equity and inclusion,” but later we learn that (emphasis mine): 

“Most state universities have already gotten rid of diversity statements and DEI division names in preparation for a law change. The bill only prohibits offices that use the words ‘diversity, equity and inclusion,’ McGinnis said.

For instance, Clemson University changed the name of its equity and inclusion office to the Division of Community Engagement, Belonging and Access. Under that name, the office would not violate the bill, legislators said.”

Ever since this iteration of the CRT/DEI panic-revenge tour began, I’ve wondered if organizations would simply change the name(s) of programs and then continue to go about doing the terrible business of diversifying applicant pools and fostering inclusive workplaces/universities. Clearly if this was such a serious problem our dedicated state legislators wouldn’t simply ban the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and leave it at that?

But it sounds like Clemson changed the name of its office and that was fine. Chalk up another victory for the SC House Committee on Performative Nonsense.

 

2) South Carolina has split up the Department of Health and Environmental Control, and SC Gov. Henry McMaster has nominated a pretty reasonable-sounding guy to lead the newly created Department of Public Health. Why is this amusing? It’s way too normal, and of course that means somebody’s getting death threats.

I often marvel at the speed with which South Carolina politicians wallow around at the feet of our new Orange King. People like Nancy Mace (SC-1) seem to spend most of their time trying to get attention for outlandish acts, as if that will gain them a new position in DC if only they can get noticed. So when Gov. McMaster had the opportunity to appoint a top-level public health official, I halfway expected him to choose someone peddling essential oils, horse dewormer, and measles parties on TikTok.

Instead, we get Dr. Edward Simmer, who formerly oversaw Tricare for the military after working for years as a naval doctor. Dr. Simmer appears to believe in things like science and research; because this is 2025, that also means he has received death threats from anonymous “patriots,” and ludicrous questions from top notch state legislators who spread lies about vaccines.

Perhaps the funniest part, though, is Gov. McMaster’s bewilderment:

 “He’s enormously qualified. He’s enormously talented,” McMaster said. “I don’t know why it is that people are criticizing him, because I don’t think anybody can put a finger on something he’s done that’s either unethical or wrong.”

 

I don’t know why it is that people are criticizing him…

 

Hmmm… I can’t imagine why in the world people would think they can invent worm-brained criticisms of established public health policies, and also think that they can threaten or intimidate anyone who responds with facts and logic.

Let’s take a moment to think about where we are at this point in time – in terms of community, society, culture, as a nation facing nearly infinite problems requiring serious inquiry, research, and consideration.

After reading this article and learning about the threats to Dr. Simmer, my first thought was that I expect he’ll drop out after continued threats to his, and his family’s, safety. I respect his pushback on the lies and his refusal to be intimidated by threats…but the forces at work here are strong, and they don’t let up. I hope that I can believe in people like him – that there are still people willing to stand up to this collective bullying – but we’re not starting off 2025 well in that regard.

So that’s where we are: We have somehow reached a point where it’s acceptable to threaten harm against public health officials whose work is backed by decades, if not a century or more, of established science.

In a way, I share Gov. McMaster’s bewilderment, but I also hold him responsible for helping to create this social-political environment that is slowly punishing any form of critical thought. We are collectively sticking our heads in the sand and we’re all going to drown.

Yet…this is Friday, and I want to end the week on a positive note. In a strange, very very small way, both of these situations could provide a microscopic glimmer of hope if one were inclined to believe in such a thing. I think there’s a decent number of people who understand what is performative, and what is right. We’re in an historical moment where seeing the “right” part materialize is like spotting a rare, nearly extinct bird, and I’m not saying that’s happened here, but at the very least we’re seeing some bad ideas’ momentum stalled by the mundanity of bureaucratic processes.

Of course, Gov. McMaster is term-limited and won’t be running for re-election…he doesn’t have to do as much performing these days. I do wonder how he’d be talking about public health if an election was on the line. My guess is that the aforementioned TikToker would be front and center.

Okay, okay.

Positive note.