(GA) Legislature approves new flag; no chance for vote on Confederate emblem

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 4.25.03

[mhking]

[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 4/26/03 ]

Legislature approves new flag; no chance for vote on Confederate emblem

The Associated Press

The Georgia Legislature approved a new state flag Friday and removed any chance that the Confederate battle emblem could be restored to the state banner.

If approved by the governor, the new flag will echo a Confederate national flag, but without the familiar Dixie cross, which black lawmakers called a symbol of oppression.

Next March, Georgia voters will choose between the temporary flag and the current Georgia flag. But there will never be a vote on the old state flag and its Confederate battle cross.

Black lawmakers cheered and some wept when the proposal passed. The Senate approved it 33-23, and the House approved it by the narrowest margin, 91-86, with the speaker casting the deciding vote. The 91 votes were the minimum needed for passage.

"This gives the people a flag based on history, but yet looking to the future," said Democratic Sen. George Hooks, a white Democrat who helped design the temporary banner.

Southern heritage advocates, who have been calling for a statewide referendum on the Confederate battle emblem flag, called the new flag a betrayal.

"We'll be making our displeasure known in short order," said Rusty Henderson of the Heritage Preservation Association.

Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue had called for a yes-no vote on the temporary flag. Then, if the temporary flag lost, voters would have had a chance to vote on the Confederate battle emblem flag.

But the flag bill sponsor, Rep. Glenn Richardson, R-Dallas, indicated the governor likely would be willing to sign the bill as approved by both chambers.

"It was as tight as it gets," Richardson said. "Georgia's divided; it's obvious we need to have a vote on this."

Civil rights leaders had denounced Perdue's initial plan and promised an economic boycott if the bill was not changed to remove any chance to vote on a Confederate emblem.

Georgia's flag was changed in 2001 to shrink the Confederate symbol partly to avoid economic boycotts like the one aimed at South Carolina, which flies the rebel banner on state Capitol grounds.

Business leaders in Atlanta have warned the boycotts could cripple tourism, Georgia's No. 2 industry, credited with bringing $16 billion a year to the state.

The civil rights groups said they may call for a boycott if any referendum on the flag is approved. The temporary flag also has Confederate roots, they said.

"This is a heinous proposal," said NAACP member Michael Bond, who is the son of NAACP chairman Julian Bond. "It's still a Confederate flag. It's completely objectionable."

Any boycott would be announced Saturday after an NAACP meeting in Macon.

[Eaker]

We have had six (6) flags.

We are going to stick with this one. Period.

Do a little research, the Texas flag is the ONLY state flag that can be flown at the same level as the American flag.

Above the Georgia flag.

[wardaddy]

They do not want a vote because they would lose.

[billbears]

LOL!!! Oh, how I wish that day was the one chosen. Jesse might just have a coronary standing at the rest stop

[mhking]

Hey seeing you're safe and all, I take it the storms weren't too bad? We're going to get them here in the next few hours

They actually missed my place by a few miles. Most of the damage 'round town was limited to some downed trees/branches and hail damage. There was one freeway that was closed by standing water and accumulated hail.

With the heat of the day gone, you all shouldn't be too awfully bad off. Now that the cold front is through here, it's gotten much less humid and cooled off a bit.

[billbears]

Does TX still have that deal on the books about the right to break up into 5 separate territories? I remember reading something about that a few years ago

[billbears]

Good to hear. Although I'm not so sure about that hail. I just got a new truck two weeks ago

[mhking]

I'm just glad it's all over with. I was opposed to the way Roy Barnes ramrodded the "Georgia History" flag down everyone's throats, but I am also opposed to this process. It's a waste of time and money - not only that, now the state House and Senate will have to meet in special session this summer, costing us even MORE tax money, to do things they should have done this session while wasting time on the damn flag.

That being said, I can live with the new compromise flag. Just get them the heck back to work on more substantive issues (and I don't mean crap like making grits the official state food!).

[mhking]

I just got a new truck two weeks ago

By time it gets over in your neck of the woods, the hail should (knock wood) slack off quite a bit.

[Arkinsaw]

Odd that this revered symbol of honor for the confederate dead just happened to pop up "randomly" 90 years after the war, during the height of the civil rights movement.

Of course I had nothing to say about that since I wasn't born. Nor can I do much about the KKK marching with the US flag as much as I detest it.

However, if you are willing to let racists define what all historical symbols and flag means I can't stop that either.

I've always considered it odd that a bunch of yahoos carrying the flag in 1948 and the KKK and the NAACP have more say in defining the flag and how their abuse of it is so much more important than its original historical meaning on the battlefield and the meaning it held as a symbol of the soldiers up until 1948. I often wonder if 200 years from now the flag will be primarily defined by Jesse Jackson and you or by the men who carried it into battle. I suspect that Jesse Jackson and Strom Thurmond will be footnotes or less in the history books whereas the Confederate soldier will still be on the main page. Political correctness and the KKK may define its meaning for this short time, but history is another matter.

Of course the only people authorized by the Union soldiers to speak for them, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War agree with me and not you. Your side has the NAACP, the Democrats, Al Sharpton, the media, the KKK, and liberal intellectuals. I like my birds of a feather better than yours.

[eddie willers]

It's the only STATE flag to have flown over that beautiful land.
(I lived in Austin 1980-82)

[billbears]

That's what I'm hoping.

[Arkinsaw]

Geez and you're not even FROM Georgia, why are you involved in theis at all?

I've got a keyboard and a 1st Amendment. All I need.

[Eaker]

Good question. I don't know.

I did notice that nobody here noticed my presence but you even though I have made several posts.

[Arkinsaw]

They do not want a vote because they would lose.

Not on the two stage vote. A straight up vote they would lose. But the two stage was, IMO, a pretty good bet for them. They just don't want the issue solved. Its hard to go against a real vote at the ballot box (see Mississippi).

[mhking]

Good luck with it -- I'm gonna turn in before I fall asleep at the keyboard...g'night...

[Amelia]

to do things they should have done this session while wasting time on the damn flag.

Are they going to get the voting districts straightened out? Have they even finished the budget? All I've heard about for the last 2 weeks out of Atlanta has been the flag.

[billbears]

Just wait 'till tomorrow :) The Walt Brigade will swarm to this like bears on honey

[mhking]

Are they going to get the voting districts straightened out? Have they even finished the budget?

Nope and nope. Like I said, there's a special session coming.

[Arkinsaw]

to do things they should have done this session while wasting time on the damn flag.

This is funny. At least you have a legislature that you WANT to meet and do something. Here in Arkansas we DREAD the legislature meeting and doing anything. We had a legislative session here a few years ago that was officially called "GrabFest" by the press.

[Eaker]

First your quote speaks volumes:

It's the only STATE flag to have flown over that beautiful land.

But WE have not forgotten how we got here. WE have had six flags, but WE are going to stick with this one.