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March 02, 2004
Which flag?
Let it not be forgotten that removing the 1956 flag from the courthouses and schools of our state was a noble goal.
Some have sentimental feelings for the blue Barnes flag. The Barnes flag was a compromise flag, borne of rural legislators concerns that they couldn't be seen as turning back on the '56 flag. Under state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland's (R - Sharpsburg) "leadership" most Republicans refused to take part in any vote changing the flag, and the black caucus's support of the pre-'56 flag by itself was not enough to change it. Their desire to rid the state of the '56 flag led them to endorse a compromise banner that included a miniature confederate emblem.
It is ironic that many African-American legislators and Georgians have adopted the blue banner as their own. Though they initially supported a flag similar in design to the 2003 flag designed by state Sen. George Hooks (D - Americus) they now disdain it in favor of the blue one. In that regard they resemble the grateful widow of a soldier who gave his own life for a noble cause.
I have mixed feelings on the issue. On the one hand, I feel strongly for the blue flag. To me it represents the governorship of Roy Barnes. Barnes came into office reading a mandate for change -- no longer should Georgia be last in the nation in education, traffic planning or getting over the Civil War. And yet, Georgians upset at their last in the nation rankings fought him tooth and nail whenever he tried to do anything about it. Even now those same rural school boards who keep us last in the nation lobby against smaller class sizes, ostensibly to save money but ultimately to save our reputation as the 51st state.
On the other hand, endorsing the red white and blue Hooks flag means burying a contentious issue for Democrats once and for all. An all Democrat legislature in 1956 adopted a hateful flag and we have come full circle. It took two tries but Democrats removed the confederate banner over Republican objections each time. As I have written, I have mixed feelings on the issue. That is why I recommend that you Abstain from voting on a flag.
Regardless of which flag you support, the notion that the people of Georgia should vote on the flag or any other contentious or trivial issue that otherwise should be left up to the legislature is incorrect. Perdue was wrong to promise a flag referendum when he ran for governor. And even though this referendum thankfully does not contain the 1956 flag implicit in Perdue's campaign promises, it is still a divisive timewaster. By leaving your ballot blank you send a powerful message to the legislature that this and other "social" issues should not be dealt with at all and should definitely not be put to a popular vote that only increases partisan tensions and inflames feelings on both sides of any issue.
Posted by Chris at March 2, 2004 02:11 AM
Comments
I feel the same, but i'm not sure what i was going to do. I was leaning towards the denny's placemat as a pro barnes - anti Perdue statement (and in my view it's the less confederate of the two), but my mom pointed me to that Andrew Young stuff, and convinced me that supporting the 3 stripe flag is a vote to close the debate. so I'm either going to vote for the 3 stripe or abstain. regardless it was hugely irresponsible and cowardly for Perdue to ever propose this referendum in the first place.
Posted by: stress at March 2, 2004 03:33 AM
I didn’t realize that there was the flag vote today for you Georgians… (I’m an Illinoisian, though I have family in your state).
Posted by: Aakash at March 3, 2004 02:02 AM
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