Negotiators approve flag compromise (GA State Flag)

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 04/04/03 | Jim Galloway

[WhiskeyPapa]

Negotiators approve flag compromise

By JIM GALLOWAY

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

Proposed new Georgia state flag.

Georgia's state flag would be changed immediately, with a public vote to follow, under a plan endorsed by a key House committee today.

The new flag would resemble the first national flag of the Confederacy -- three red and white bars, with a blue field in the top left corner. The state seal would be in the blue corner, and the words "In God We Trust" would be written to the right.

The bill adopted by the House Rules Committee calls for the Legislature to change the flag to the new design immediately. Then, in March 2004, a public referendum would be held to let voters decide whether they want to keep that flag.

Only if the new flag is rejected by voters would a second referendum be held, this time in July 2004, asking voters if they want to return to the Georgia flag dominated by the Confederate battle emblem, or the flag that flew before 1956. The current flag would not be on the ballot.

The Rules Committee proposal now heads to the full House for a vote next week, although the bill may be amended there and still requires Senate approval.

Gov. Sonny Perdue, who had proposed a statewide referendum on changing Georgia's flag, is endorsing the proposal.

"We believe this represents a compromise," said Rep. Glenn Richardson (R-Dallas), the governor's floor leader who sponsored Perdue's flag bill. "This will bring this to a conclusion."

The Legislature, led by former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, voted in 2001 to shrink the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag, which was added in 1956 as Georgia schools were being ordered to desegregate.

[mac_truck]

As a son of the South, I think maybe this is a good compromise.

Agreed. As long as the confederate battle flag is not represented, then no problems here.

[DoughtyOne]

Do I also take it that you dislike the old battle flag as well? I'll have to state that don't see things that way. I believe this has been a mountain made of a mole hill.

[HELLRAISER II]

Walt doesn't like anything Southern, at least that is the way i've alway's taken his posts. Some have some validity, but there mostly just Confederate/Southern bashing in General.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the explanation. I didn't read the whole article above. If this is the plan, I'm actually for it. I thought the old Georgia flag was beautiful.

Look the old Georgia flag had been around for 45 years. Because some special interest groups made a bunch of noise, it was done away with. I don't see it as intrinsicly racist. I see it as a throwback to the old south, but realize that there was much about the south that wasn't realted to slavery that folks could reasonably desire to remember.

Obviously I don't approve of slavery. I don't approve of sending a message to remind folks of slavery. I don't see the old flag in those terms, and feel that some do just to make a point and prove that they are relevent, when they probably aren't.

[DoughtyOne]

I think there are actually valid viewpoints on both sides of this issue. I still come down on the side of allowing the old battle flag. I explained why one to a few posts before this one.

I just don't agree with those who see the old battle flag as a in your face insult to blacks.

Thanks for the comments.

[HELLRAISER II]

Opposing view points are what makes the world go around, but I would have to agree that I don't think the Confederate flag is an in your face insult either. I'm not so far right of the subject to not realize that some older blacks may view it this way, but hell the Klan's been a mediocre group at best for years. I know for a fact that the Klan is not and has not been active in the little town I live in S.E. Georgia for several decades.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Do I also take it that you dislike the old battle flag as well? I'll have to state that don't see things that way. I believe this has been a mountain made of a mole hill.

I never much cared one way or the other about the flag. It is easy to see the battle emblem as a symbol oof individuality and free spirits. But then you see these hateful heritage purveyors and their message is pretty plain. They hate equality and freedom. They hate the equality mandated by the federal government. So they spread their lies about the history of the war.

Walt

[stainlessbanner]

I actually like the propsed flag! I share both of your sentiments. My only concern is that even if the state flag is changed, those people with still complain about it. They won't be happy until the colors are black, green, red, and yellow.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the additional comments.

[HELLRAISER II]

Unfortunately your statement ring's to true, no matter what happens some people are still going to whine. That's why I think that a state vote on the issue is so great, the Majority of voters win and the rest of them can hit the highway if they don't like it.

[Michael.SF.]

Besides, most of the people complaining about the "Stars & Bars" don't have a clue as to what the Stars and Bars really are.

Which is exactly what the people who selected it are counting on. Course once thet find out, then suddenly they will be offended again.

[HELLRAISER II]

You see that's what I mean about your statements Walt, you always refer to most of us as hateful heritage purveyors. I have never thought that way, I fully understand that some of our history in the South is not very nice but that doesn't mean the rest of it is hateful. Afterall the U.S.A. are the ones that brought back the slaves to the south to begin with. By the way I love the USA, I truly believe in equality & freedom for everyone so do me a favor and just realize in your own head that were not all ignorant dumb@ss racist rednecks.

[HELLRAISER II]

I agree, anything that is associated with the Old Confederate South will be hated from the start.

[Hacksaw]

Walt doesn't like anything Southern, at least that is the way i've alway's taken his posts. Some have some validity, but there mostly just Confederate/Southern bashing in General.

You are correct - but let's not forget his groupies mac_truck, illbay, #3fan, and ditto. They are know as the "Wlat Brigade" - where they will immediately disrupt any post having to do with the Civil War and slander people as Nazis and such (which is Saturday Night Live material).

Wlat Brigade members, I pinged you out of courtesy because I mentioned you.

[Michael.SF.]

I wonder how long before some people begin to complain that the Calif. flag,which honors the "Bear Flag Revolt" and the period of freedom that was enjoyed in between separation from Mexico and joining the USA, is also offensive. After all we stole California from it's 'rightful owner': Mexico.

who stole Mexico from Spain.

Who stole Mexico from the Aztecs.

[mac_truck]

You're late. See my 41

[HELLRAISER II]

Some people don't realize just how many Mexican groups living in California are preaching exactly what you posted. They want whites gone and they want the U.S. to give Mexico back to the Mexicans. I don't have anything against Hispanics period but if they have that attitude I say send them back across the Border, California's ours and I say it's time to take back our borders and keep the illegal immigrants out especially when their preaching this kind of $hit!

[#3Fan]

You are correct - but let's not forget his groupies mac_truck, illbay, #3fan, and ditto.

Groupies? Walt never pings me.

They are know as the "Wlat Brigade" - where they will immediately disrupt any post having to do with the Civil War and slander people as Nazis and such (which is Saturday Night Live material).

I've never called neo-Confederates Nazis. About the only things I've said about neo-Confederates is that they don't see slavery as that bad of a malfeasance and that they make things up. You have proven my point by claiming that I call them Nazis.

Wlat Brigade members, I pinged you out of courtesy because I mentioned you.

Out of courtesy, could you apologize for saying false things about me? [not holding my breath]

As an aside, I don't have any problem with the Confederate flag. It was a soldier's flag and represents the American fighting spirit and national duty more than the actual cause of the Civil War.

[Michael.SF.]

They hate the equality mandated by the federal government

Do you realise the absurdity of that statement?

The government has no authority except that granted by the Constitution, which in turn was essentually, a contract between "We the People" and the government which was formed as a result.

Any authority taken beyond that which is granted in the Constitution, is by definition, unconstitutional.

What "equality" are you refering to?

Is that the equality that determines a maximum asian student population at some Universities and schools because Asians are too smart?

Or is it the equality that determines we need lower standards for Blacks and other minorities?

Or is it the eqaulity that has determine to lower our standards to allow more women to become Firemen?

Or is it the standard of equality that allows 10% of the population to pay about 60% of the taxes?

Before you make references to the Civil War, you may also want to review the 10th Amendment.

[Ditto]

Wlat Brigade members, I pinged you out of courtesy because I mentioned you.

I have told you neo-confederates a thousand times that I don't give a damn about the Rebel flag one way or another. You can fly it, bow down and worship it, or wipe your butt with it. It doesn't matter to me one way or another. I also don't care one way or another about "Southern Culture". You can eat all the grits you want (yuck), sing all the country music you want, (I even like some of it) and tell all the world about how superior you are to "damnyankees" and any other culture you feel an need to bash. I don't care.

I only jump in when you start distorting our common history.

So don't bother pinging me for this flag nonsense. Georgia can flay any flag they choose. It's none of my damn business. But please ping me every time you feel like trotting out your Lost Cause historical mythology concerning the Civil War and I'll be more than glad to stop by and do a Sherman on y'all.