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Column
By
Frank Gillespie
The Madison County Journal
April 25, 2001
Frankly
Speaking
 Jessie Jackson's rhetoric
isn't working
Our so-called governor Roy Barnes and his fellow Democrats are
near panic. They thought that we the people of Georgia would
accept their treachery once the flag change was a "done
deal." Now that the reaction of the people is becoming apparent,
they are seeking anything they can find to repair the damage.
Barnes is, or was, planning to speak in the state capital when
the refurbished picture of Robert E. Lee is unveiled. His friends
in the Atlanta media are actually reporting on Confederate Memorial
Day, an event that they have totally ignored in past years. But
none of this seems to be working.
Now comes Jessie "the Adulterer" Jackson, the principal
force behind the late-night, behind closed doors move to further
diminish Georgia's heritage by forcing a change in our beautiful
state flag. Jackson is making a grand tour of Georgia, visiting
up to 25 cities, to tell us how we should vote.
Obviously, the Democrats realize that they have lost the vote
of all traditional Southerners, as well as many of our brighter
newcomers.
Their only chance of holding power is to collect the few left
wing liberals in the state and combine them with a massive black
vote.
It won't work. Many of our black voters are beginning to realize
that they are being misled by the likes of Jessie Jackson. The
majority of them don't care one way or another about the flag,
and many of them support our heritage. After all, much of the
best of our Southern culture was contributed or modified by our
black citizens, including food, music, religion and our legendary
hospitality.
Jessie "the Race Monger," Jackson came to Georgia to
promote his divisive politics. He is not interested in simply
getting more blacks to vote.
He insists that they vote as he tells them to. Jessie is trying
to expand his personal power so that his racial terrorism against
the people and businesses of America will generate ever greater
levels of cash and power for himself.
The result will not be good for the Democrats. The more Jackson
blackmails Barnes and the other scalawags into adopting his radical
left agenda, the more resistance he will generate among Georgia's
voters. Clearly, the people of Georgia are angry with Barnes
and his allies. Jackson's visit will only intensify that anger.
Therefore, we will send the same message to Jessie Jackson that
we send to all other Yankees who attempt to impose their ways
on the South. "We don't give a damn how you do it up North,
especially in Chicago!"
Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison County Journal.
His web page can be accessed at www.mcga.net. His e mail address
is frankg@mcga.net.
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Column
By Ben
Munro
The Madison County Journal
April 25, 2001
In Other
Words
 Diamond Raiders learning how to roll with the punches
It's a totally unrelated sport, but I can't help but liken this
year's Raider baseball team to a championship prize fighter in
the middle of a 15-round slugfest.
The team has been bruised, bloodied, blindsided, stunned and
sent to the canvas this year but, despite the rocky road in 2001,
still finds itself in the thick of the fight.
In fact, the diamond Raiders are starting to throw some knockout
punches of their own.
After sputtering in the early "rounds," the team has
admirably strung together six consecutive wins - all in region
play - and has moved from "also-ran" status into a
tie for second place in the wide-open Region 8-AAA.
But postseason aspirations seemed a far cry during the first
half of the season - the Raiders seemed to be on the ropes and
reeling.
Just look at the tumultuous turn of events.
By March 23, the team, already in a rebuilding year, had five
players on the disabled list - one with appendicitis, of all
things - and the day ended with the Raiders dropping a 4-2 contest
to Monroe Area (a school I can't remember Madison County losing
to in recent memory).
Then the plot turned even more morbid April 6 in Toccoa. Madison
County was no-hit through five innings by traditional rival Stephens
County and only mustered two hits in the 2-0 loss.
The team stood at 7-8 and looked wobbly. The clutch hitting was
gone, runs were scarce and the pitching had the chore of carrying
the team. This was not how things were done on the diamond in
Danielsville.
So why the sudden turnaround?
When you're backed into the corner sometimes the only natural
reaction is to come out swinging and the team has, literally
with their bats, scoring an average of eight runs per contest
in their six-game spurt.
But I think it goes further than that.
The "Raider pride" element came into play, in my opinion.
For a Madison County baseball team, the turnaround is almost
inherent. The school hasn't had a losing season since 1990 and
history is a strong motivational factor. With the decade of the
'90s decorated with 20-win seasons, region crowns and state tournament
appearances, no Raider squad wants to stray from that excellence.
Look no further than the 1998 squad. The team rebounded from
an unthinkable 4-8 start and ended up with state runner-up honors
at year's end.
Winning has become contagious over the years in Danielsville
and even expected, even in rebuilding years.
Now with a 9-4 region mark in the books and four of five players
off the disabled list, the team heads into the final five-game
stretch looking to make 2001 a state tournament campaign.
And if the past two weeks are any indication, this gusty group
certainly has the tools to advance the school to state for the
first time since 1998.
The blue-collar outfit seems to be gelling just at the right
time. There are no stars on the team, unlike squads of recent
Raider past but the team seems now to be following the template
that has made Madison County baseball a benchmark of success
- solid starting pitching, timely hitting and sound glovemanship.
The final two weeks of the season will have a pennant race-feel
team as 10 region teams make a mad scramble for those elusive
four passes to the state tournament.
And a crucial round is up next as region heavyweight and 8-AAA
front runner Loganville awaits at home today (Wednesday). I'm
sure the Raiders will be ready to rumble.
Ben Munro is a reporter for The Madison County Journal.
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