Critics of new flag heckle governor on campaign trail

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 09 June 2002 | Jim Galloway

[Squantos]

Seems like (from my position on the couch here in Texas) these polidiots have only made the CSA part of the flag "smaller" thus placating only those whiners with bad eyesight.

I believe it's still "legal" to fly any flag you want. If the "market" for the original is greater than the PC-BS flag then money and walk will talk louder than this polidiots-presstitutes balk..........

Stay Safe !

[billbears]

If Georgia these days is anything like North Carolina, many Georgia whites don't have Confederate ancestors and are anti-Confederate or simply don't care

I don't know what part of NC you're talking about unless you're thinking of RTP, Charlotte, and Asheville. Pretty much everywhere else, most of the folks I know have been in this state at least 150 years

[Constitution Day]

For far to long it was freely associated with the Klan and other hate groups with nary a protest.

The same can be said for the US flag:

---

KKK rally, unknown date

Early KKK poster.

Ohio, 1924.

Virginia, 1925.

D.C., 1926.

Long Island, New York, date unknown.

D.C. again, 1952.

Wow! This one's in color; must be recent!
(BTW- what a crowd they have, huh?)

Klan initiation. Where *is* that Confederate flag, hmmm?

Check the sign out.

[NationUnderGod]

A misguided cause. Fighting for the right to keep human beings enslaved is not noble by any stretch of the imagination. When we were in the deep south not long ago we saw those flags flying over the capitols. And how are black Americans in those cities supposed to feel about it? It was an oppresive feeling to us who were just passing through.

[ned]

Actually the GOP is distancing itself from the GA state flag issue.

That sounds sensible. It has been the tradition in Georgia has been to change the state flag every few decades. I think that the current flag is the seventh state flag since the Civil War.

I see nothing wrong with that. Here is a site with a description of Georgia's colorful flag history.

[NationUnderGod]

Of course, not the point. Bash America all you want, but try sticking to the point. The Confedrate flag specifically represents fighting to keep slavery. No way around it.

[FreeAtlanta]

I get the feeling that the flag wasn't much of an issue in the 70's and early 80's. A few people who make their living on division, found it a juicy target, and the rest is history.

IMO, if the flag is the last of the civil rights complaints, then there must not be any more civil rights issues; however, that is what Jesse Jackson said in the 70's when he still had a little integrity.

[NationUnderGod]

We all, post 9/11 support AMERICA and AMERICANS. Those who see that flag and are black Americans feel divided from their own cities who fly it.

[billbears]

And how are black Americans in those cities supposed to feel about it? It was an oppresive feeling to us who were just passing through

First off, why don't you ask the Black Confederates who support this cause. You know, those that have researched the history and found their relatives who fought for the South proudly? The ones you ignore. Oh, but I forgot. They haven't bought into your lame 'blame the flag' game. As for the 'oppresive feeling just passing through', I've got a good suggestion to avoid such feelings. Don't pass through. Matter of fact, don't even go to any of the old Confederate states. Avoid 'em all!!

[NationUnderGod]

Men fought to keep our nation unified. They died for it, and in so doing added their blood to the freedom of slaves. Like it or not, America haters.

[bvw]

You were looking for the bad in that flying of the flag. I understand how that is, and suspect how difficult it may be to get beyond.

Yet there is a beyond that view, and that beyond view is a more honest and fair one. The flag is flying as a reminder as the noble cause of State's Rights.

Look for the good.

[Phantom Lord]

We could go back and forth all day with pictures. But the point is that the public perceives the flag as being associated with the Klan and other hate groups. That can not be disputed.

[Psycho_Bunny]

"The sound bite was fashioned spontaneously by the governor days after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the months since, it has been found to work well with focus groups"

That statement so entirely stupid, and bereft of sincerity, that it makes me want to slap someone.

[NationUnderGod]

Nasty, aren't you? Civilized discussion make you feel compacted? Chill.

[flyervet]

Actually, the Confederate battle emblem was added to the Georgia State Flag in direct response to the Brown v. BoE decision as a symbol of defiance against integration. Georgia should have gone back to the pre-56 flag, which would have honored both history and all Georgians. Plus, it's pretty spiffy looking.

[Constitution Day]

But the point is that the public perceives the flag as being associated with the Klan and other hate groups.

"Perceptions" rank right up their with "feelings" in my book.

The fact is that the U.S. flag was associated with the Klan equally as long or longer than the Confederate battle flag.
The Klan's membership numbers & public acceptance were at an all-time high back when they only used the U.S. flag, as well.

[ned]

Georgia should have gone back to the pre-56 flag, which would have honored both history and all Georgians. Plus, it's pretty spiffy looking.

This was Georgia's state flag between 1920 and 1956:

You're right, it was kind of spiffy.

But I think it's kind of neat that Georgia changes the flag every few decades. It's a neat tradition.

[NationUnderGod]

Agreed. And it is a good looking flag pre 1956. Perceptions matter when a country at war stands together. The Confederate flag divides and with reason.

[Salman]

That's transplanted Yankees, immigrants, and people descended from post-bellum immigrants.
And they have caused 150 years of uninterrupted rule by democrats how?

They didn't. But the Democrats were something quite different for most of that time. I'm talking about now.

[Salman]

I don't know what part of NC you're talking about unless you're thinking of RTP, Charlotte, and Asheville. Pretty much everywhere else, most of the folks I know have been in this state at least 150 years.

Those happen to be the three areas I know well. Not a representative sample then, though not close together. The first two are big cities. With a majority of the state's population maybe? BTW there are quite a few Pakistanis in Charlotte, too.