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Column
By
Frank Gillespie
The Madison County Journal
August 16, 2000
Frankly
Speaking
 King's anti-South bigotry
has back fired
Martin Luther King III caused quite a
stir in Atlanta last week when he wrote to the NCAA asking them
to move all postseason tournaments from Atlanta unless the Georgia
flag is changed. Among the scheduled events are several final
four basketball tournaments. Objections to his demand came from
many sources, including the other so-called black leadership.
King's action creates problems for both the economic and political
plans of Atlanta's black community. Those who hate all things
Southern know that they are in the minority in their effort to
wipe out Southern culture. Their plan was to keep their efforts
quiet until after the November elections, then pressure the Governor
and the legislature to abandon our beautiful flag. They know
that if the flag becomes an issue in the election, they will
lose big. King greatly increased the likelihood that the flag
will be a major issue in the election.
Atlanta's black population contains a large number of wealthy
and powerful businessmen. These "money men" are not
fools. They have seen the figures from South Carolina where the
NAACP boycott was a failure. South Carolina set new records for
tourism during the boycott. Only those black-owned businesses
that depend on tourists suffered any damage. A boycott of Atlanta
by sports events will only harm wealthy black businessmen.
Threats of a boycott of the Atlanta area would have little political
effect on Georgia. The majority of political power remains outside
the city of Atlanta. These people will see no economic effect
from such a boycott. And they would care less whether the NCAA
tournaments are played in Atlanta, Chicago or Dead Horse, Utah.
Last Sunday on the Georgia Gang Program on Channel 5, host Dick
Williams commented that if King and his allies succeed in changing
the Georgia flag, their next project would be to blast the carving
off the side of Stone Mountain. The two black members of the
panel immediately responded that such a demand is already in
the works. Recently, black protesters forced a new school to
change its name. Another school refuses to fly the Georgia flag,
using a rigged election to say students did not want the flag
in their schools.
Anti-South actions of this type are creating strong response
from pro-South Georgians. Thousands of people are signing petitions
to the state legislature to not change the flag. Traditional
Southerners are using the Internet to organize flag-waving demonstrations
on highway bypasses. Letters to Georgia's legislative candidates
have produced pledges from a majority to protect the flag.
Martin Luther King III's anti-South bigotry is backfiring in
his face. He has made it unlikely that the Georgia flag will
be changed anytime soon. He deserves the thanks of all traditional
Southerners. Thank you, Mr. King!
Frank Gillespie is the founder of The Madison County Journal.
His web page can be accessed at www.mcga.net.
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Column
By Margie Richards
The Madison County Journal
August 16, 2000
For my daughter
as she turns 18
Dear Miranda,
This coming Monday, your first day of college classes, will also
be your 18th birthday. For the first time you'll be living "on
your own," away from home - away from me. But you're ready
for this, you've been ready for some time.
But then again, wasn't it just last week that you were starting
kindergarten - on your fifth birthday?
You were so little, but you insisted on riding the bus to school
the second day. Your legs were so short your daddy and I and
the bus driver all chuckled as you hoisted your little backpack
ahead of you up the bus steps. I wanted to help you, but I knew
it was important to you to do it by yourself.
Your first real streak of independence came even earlier than
that, when I dropped you off at "Ms. Debbie's" pre-school
for your half-day.
Barely 3 years old, you insisted on getting out of the car yourself
and walking through the gate to the door. I watched your little
red-stockinged head bob across the lawn and fought a sudden urge
to cry.
I never let you know I followed you, watching until you were
safely inside the door.
You laugh at me still for crying every time I tried to read you
and your brother "The Little Match Girl." Just the
other night you were laughing about that. The reason I cried
(still do) is because the picture of the little blonde match
girl looks like you. And when she dreams of her grandmother,
who has died, it makes me think of my mother. The combination
is just too much.
I feel so proud and blessed to have you for a daughter. I know
my mama would be proud of you too, although she never got to
meet you on this earth. I have tried to teach you some of the
things she taught me and in doing so, it has made me realize
why our children are the only real legacies most of us have.
I stare at you and am amazed that someone so lovely (inside and
out), so level-headed and wise, not just "smart," ever
came from me.
And I'm staring too, trying to keep these memories and these
days in my heart, because I know our time together is short and
growing shorter. More and more, I'm no longer going to be a part
of your everyday life. There's college now, and work, and old
and new friends. Someday there'll be a career, a husband and
most likely children that will keep you busy, involved in your
own everyday world.
I find myself wondering if I've covered all the bases, done right
by you, told you all the things I wanted you to know. And most
important, although I've told you every day of your life - do
you really know how very much I love you?
All those midnight (and after) talks - will you remember them?
Sometimes we've giggled - sometimes we've cried, and sometimes
we've done both. We've talked about everything, and I've always
tried to be as frank and honest with you as I can.
And in the process I've learned as much about life from you,
my baby, as you have from me.
Have your dad and I given you an example of what "real love"
is - not just infatuation - but someone who is there for the
bad times, as well as the good? Have you taken to heart what
I've told you about liking, as well as loving, the person you
choose to spend your life with?
The world you've grown up in is consumed with material things,
where the motto is "to have more is to be more."
But I believe you know we are all precious and unique in God's
sight and I think you know what I mean when I tell you that in
difficult circumstances to "remember who you are."
Looking at you makes me feel I've not done a bad job as a mother
- but I can't help wishing there were more time. If I could go
back, I'd clean house even less and spend more days going on
picnics or bike rides. I'd have lost my temper far less and "not
sweated the small stuff" like dirty dishes or unvaccuumed
carpet - but instead spent more time kissing grubby little faces
and hands.
I'm not that great a cook - I have no great recipes to pass on
(I've forgotten most of my mother's), I've never sown you an
outfit like my mother did, or stitched a quilt.
Forgive me for the things I didn't do or did wrong, Miranda.
But these things I promise you: no mother could be more proud
of a child and no one, besides God, could ever love you more.
Margie Richards is a reporter and office manager of the Madison
County Journal.
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