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.

[Hacksaw]

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

If you have not made vieled references (or unvieled in Wlat's case) to Southern Heritage supporters as Nazis, then indeed I apologize.

[tet68]

They still don't get it.

It could be the best design in the world,
if they don't let the people have a say in it,
THEY are toast.
Vote'em out.

[mac_truck]

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.

Since 1973 huh?

Halleulah...

[Hacksaw]

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.

Delusions of Grandeur. Don't inflate yourself beyond your ability. Secondly, I pinged you out of a courtesy - you would have popped up sooner or later anyway.

BTW, feel free to repost any myths I have posted.

[rattrap]

OK, here's one of the biggest deals. the crap going on over the flag is costing atlanta one of its biggest businesses, conventions. sonny purdue waffles on every issue he can as much as he can, he was on royal marshall's radio show one evening and dodged every question like it was a big red ball in 7th grade gym. i won't vote for sonny again unless he grows a pair and starts to stand for something.

onto the 'heritage' issue. there is no heritage except the heritage of thumbing your nose at the civil rights movement in the '56 flag. it was adopted by bigots for the express purpose of promoting just what the hate groups who wear the flag today adopted it for. for heritage see the pre-'56 flag. then i can understand the argument. i have nothing against the confederate battle emblem or the stars and bars, but the '56 - '01 flag is not a 'hertiage' i want to celebrate or be a part of. i will vote against any flag resembling the '56 flag in the referendum.

[goldstategop]

I love the design. And the words in God We Trust will drive the ACLU theophobes NUTS. Go Georgia!!!

[HELLRAISER II]

I love the South, I love Georgia but I don't consider myself a Neo Confederate. I might disagree with what some of ya'll say and I don't mind telling you about it. But in all honesty these threads are alway's bombarded eventually by Damn Yankees (quoting you of course) telling us how superior they were and are to our way of life. Quite honestly i'm a patriotic American who loves the Country I live in, i'm somebody you would want watching your back in combat when the shit hits the fan. As for historical/mythology coming up when the subject is brought up, well I've seen it work both way's by both sides.

[HELLRAISER II]

Look you can't have it both way's, I never said it didn't happen. I only said that it has changed and for the better, the way you people act is that just because we support the flag that we would just assume go out and hang us a few blacks and that is Bull$hit!

[Ditto]

But in all honesty these threads are alway's bombarded eventually by Damn Yankees (quoting you of course) telling us how superior they were and are to our way of life.

Not by me. Frankly, I don't see much difference between the North and South today --- everyone has the same strip malls, high taxes and crooked politicians. And if you are talking 140 years ago, yes, I damn the slaveocracy but that does not me I think the "North" was superior. All I do is try to understand what caused the war, and why people fought it and there is no doubt that slavery was the cause.

[#3Fan]

If you have not made vieled references (or unvieled in Wlat's case) to Southern Heritage supporters as Nazis, then indeed I apologize.

Thanks. (If I'd known you were actually going to apologize, I wouldn't have asked for one. I was mostly making a play on words in your "courtesy" statement. These Civil War threads are naturally hostile, so I'm not actually offended by what people say about me. I do like the truth to be known though about the people involved at the time. The level of honor was much greater then than it is now. Some of these people on these threads that revere General Lee and his associates don't really have much in common with Lee as far as dignity goes. I've never seen your posts so I'm not including you with those that I'm talking about. Bottom line: I wasn't actually offended by what you said and that's the first time I remember actually asking for an apology here.)

[rebelyell]

I see that you are new to dealing with wlat and his South-hating minions. Your post is too riddled with truth to make any sense to them. Our "so called" country is the second most noble experiment in North American history.

[GaConfed]

OK, here's one of the biggest deals. the crap going on over the flag is costing atlanta one of its biggest businesses, conventions

Frankly rattrap, I don't give a rat's A$$ about Atlanta, or how much business Atlanta loses out on. It's the most soulless place on earth because it tries to be everything except what it should be; a SOUTHERN city. It can evolve into one big ole rust heap as far as I'm concerned. Atlanta has nothing to do with my life out here in the REAL Georgia, and that is the way I like it.

[spodefly]

This new design is fine, we'll take it. Now can we please shut up about it? We have spent way too much time and effort on this nonsense, and it can't be justified as pragmatic in any way, shape or form.

I understand why people are offended by the post '56 design. I understand why people hate how King Roy changed it in a secret back room deal to the baby blue nonsense we have now.

But enough is enough. This design is fine, or the pre-'56 will work too. Good to go. Now move on.

FYI -- I was born and raised in Georgia. My ancestors have lived here for the better part of 200 years. I have framed on my wall the land plot for my Great-Great-Grandfather's farm in Shriven country that was pillaged by Sherman as he moved to SC. I should have some passion on the flag issue, but mostly I think it is a wasteful tempest in a teapot.

Carry on.

[xp38]

The red star certainly fits these days. As far as the Georgia flag goes is a non political flag completely out of the question? How about a plain field with a peach in the center?

[Michael.SF.]

Our "so called" country is the second most noble experiment in North American history.

Being born in California, I cannot claim to be a Southener, however my family does have deep southern roots. Including a move from North Carolina, in the post war era, after losing everything.

I have always considered the South's side to be the more noble cause, although seriously tainted by the issue of slavery. It was indeed unfortunate that the South was not able to implement the plan, which would have allowed for the freeing of the slaves in a much more orderly fashion.

On the other hand, look what the North wrought. Certainly the Blacks, who fled to the northern ghettos where essentually economic 'slaves' beholden to their 'New Masters'. Their new found 'Freedom' was not all that it was cracked up to be. The War also was the first major step towards power eminating from a central government, rather then coming from 'We the people'. A government which thrives based on making the people dependent on them.

This absurdity, is such that even some, like Walt, actually believe, that rights come from the Government and not from God, or as agreed to by the citizens.

And you are right my friend, it is my first dealing with this man. We shall see what follows.

[rattrap]

the money in atlanta still goes into the economy in (ahem) real GA

big picture man, big picture

[rebelyell]

Excellent post! There are several FR apologists for the war criminals and tyrants of the north...Wlat is just the dullest knife in their drawer. No doubt you will be finding that out soon. He trolls for just these types of threads.

[Michael.SF.]

As far as the Georgia flag goes is a non political flag completely out of the question?

To be honest your talking to the wrong guy. I for one do not find the Confederate battle flag to be offensive, it is a part of history.

But I also think those who are offended by it, are always going to be offended by something. Next they will want "Land of Dixie" to be banned, or Robert E. Lee's name to be removed from all public buildings, UNLV 'Runnin Rebels' to change their mascot name etc. etc.

But on the other hand, I also think that those who are adament about the emblem, are not doing the Conservative cause any good.

[GaConfed]

Your statement shows just how shallow minded and materialistic you and other carpetbagger and scalawag minions of Atlanta really are. You'd sell your soul, and that of your mothers, for a dollar. We in the REAL Georgia will be here, living our lives the way we see fit long after all y'all have slithered up the north bound lanes of one of the two verticle interstate highways that grace our great state like a cheap wig on the most beautiful lass in the world. Being a slave to the bottom line is being a slave nonetheless.

[mac_truck]

GA Flag ping