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.

[WhiskeyPapa]

This is a bad flag also.

[ladtx]

No no no. Looks too much like Confederate flag, it's got God on it, that's a no go in itself. Maybe just a plain ol' white flag.

[curmudgeonII]

I'd expect to see litigation from the ACLU over the word God in a state flag.

[DoughtyOne]

Georgia introduced this new state flag on January 31, 2001 following
objections to the previous design's emphasis on the Confederate Battle
Flag.

It never ends folks.

PC KILLS Historical accuracy

[DoughtyOne]

This is a compromise, as someone states? ROTFL This is what is commonly called a surrender.

[itzmygun]

Why white? You're racist!

[ladtx]

See from your homepage you're from WV. My Mama live SW of Charleston and my brother lives in Parkersburg.

[WhiskeyPapa]

This is a compromise, as someone states? ROTFL This is what is commonly called a surrender.

Replacing the current flag with a copy of the rebel flag is about as bad as they can get; of course most people are completely ignorant of the "first national."

Walt

[Michael.SF.]

Now why would any body think the new flag reminds them of the old Stars and bars? Actually, since most of the people complaining are probably victims of the public education system, they won't know what the Stars and Bars looked like:

Confederate Stars and Bars
The First Official Flag of the Confederacy.

Although less well known than the "Confederate Battle Flags", the Stars and Bars was used as the official flag of the Confederacy from March 1861 to May of 1863.

[DoughtyOne]

Sounds like I'm ignorant of it as well. Give us a brief background. Thanks.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Sounds like I'm ignorant of it as well. Give us a brief background. Thanks.

The first flag of the so-called CSA looked just like this proposed flag except where the state seal is now were seven stars in a circle. It was adopted before the last 4 states approved secession documents.

Walt

[HELLRAISER II]

It's not a bad flag but I would prefer our old State flag the way it was before this nonsense started with King Roy. However I would accept the majority decision of the people of the state of Georgia if & when we the people get to vote on the issue.

[lugsoul]

Do you mean the old state flag, or the 1956-2001 state flag?

[HELLRAISER II]

One color you won't see a good ol'boy from Georgia flying is a White flag.

[DoughtyOne]

So what you're saying is that this flag should be as much or more offensive than the one they are trying to abolish? Interesting. Thank you.

[ladtx]

Don't want to step on any toes here. But, from one southern boy to another, if you're gonna change from the flag you have, which is a perfectly good flag, then it might as well be a white flag.

[HELLRAISER II]

One thing that ya'll are right on is the God issue, it amazes me that a Country made from such Religious convictions have fallen into such God hating people. What in the hell happened?

[WhiskeyPapa]

So what you're saying is that this flag should be as much or more offensive than the one they are trying to abolish? Interesting. Thank you.

Yes; this flag is just a little bit less "in your face", but it is, or should be, just as offensive.

It will be a disgrace for Georgia if they pass it.

Walt

[HELLRAISER II]

You bring up a valid point and one that I'll try to explain my point of view. First off I never surendered the way I felt about the flag, that was King Roy & his Kangaroo Court that pathetically gave into minority pressures. I will alway's love our prior flag and I want it back, but if we get to vote on it and we as a state vote against it. Well i'll live with it because we made our decision, not a bunch of politicians. But in my opinion, that's not waving a white flag that's America at it's best.

[flying Elvis]

The mention of God is a smart political move. It will flush out the ACLU types in Georgia, exposing the left as it really is.