On
the morning of March 3rd of this year Georgia's Lt. Governor, Mark Taylor,
boarded a slow-moving train in Rossville, Georgia. The train then wended its way
south, making several whistle-stops along the way, eventually ending up in
Summerville. It was here that the Lt. Governor was to then link up with the
Governor of our great state where they were to speak on several women's issues.
However, due to inclement weather, or a more pressing issue, the Governor did
not make it. What DID happen was that a small contingent of, as Representative
Barbara Massey described them, "peaceable" Real Georgia State
Flag-waving ladies and gentlemen, met the train at the first stop. Interestingly,
this contingent of flag-bearing folks grew with each stop along the way. By the
time the train reached Summerville, a heavy rain had set in. However, the rain
did not deter this small contingent of Real Georgia State Flag supporters, which
had now grown to 300.
When
Lt. Governor Mark Taylor stepped off that train in Summerville, what those 300
people saw was an official of our state government stepping into a rain storm.
What he actually stepped into was a microcosm of the real Georgia. He stepped
into an opportunity to listen to what the people of Georgia really wanted and
how they felt. Unfortunately, our Lt. Governor did not listen. The ladies who
had set up their tents to publicize their most important issues such as
osteoporosis and breast cancer listened to the contingent of flag-wavers. But
our Lt. Governor did not listen. With the Georgia Bureau of Emergency Management
watching carefully, the orderly, flag-waving group of ladies and gentlemen heard
our Lt. Governor speak on important women's issues. Everyone agreed with their
importance. But our Lt. Governor ignored what his constituents felt was an issue
just as important. They heard him ... but he did not hear them.
When
he finished his speech, rather than walk the gauntlet of Real Georgia State
Flags that lined both sides of the red carpet that led back to the train, our
Lt. Governor elected to slog through the mud and muck to a waiting limousine.
Sadly, the only comment our Lt. Governor made in reference to their presence was
in response to the question asked by one bearded, gnarled flag-bearer: "Why
weren't we allowed to vote on the flag?" to which our Lt. Governor replied,
"What kind of question is that?"
We
members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans are proud to be able to stand up for
what is right. We are proud to be able to say, "We have had enough, and we
aren't taking it any more." We have taken the torch, a torch that just
weeks ago was almost completely extinguished. We have held it up, and walked
forward with it. We are now raising the torch and passing it throughout Georgia.
And everywhere the torch goes, people are saying, "I'm glad someone is
trying to do something." This torch is hope. Hope that, with God's Will,
and with the good people of Georgia coming together as one, we will sign our
petitions, register to vote 20 months from now, and get back our Real Georgia
State Flag.