Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Flag support is based on respect for South's past

I would like to take this opportunity to point out to the community just where the racial antagonism is, was, and will continue to come from in the Georgia flag debate.

The Speaker of the House, Terry Coleman, raised concerns that "human rights" must be considered in the debate. This overt act of racial fear-mongering is deplorable, makes no sense, and is simply pathetic.

Did the Speaker mean the human rights that were afforded Georgians from 1879 to 1956 under the pre-1956 flag, or did he mean the human rights that were obtained, and secured under the Confederate battle-flag dominated 1956-2001 flag?

Every school child knows the history of civil rights during this period, and knows that no one in Georgia supports a flag in hopes that someone's rights will be lost, or restricted.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans and other Southern heritage groups have never fought for the 1956 flag, or any other flag, based on any motivation other than our love, pride, and respect for the Southern fighting man who fought and died for his country, state, family, and home.

Scott K. Gilbert, Jr.

Commander

Gen. Lafayette McLaws Camp #79

Fayette County