FLAGGERS, YANKEES AND OTHER SIGNS OF HOSTILITY
Okay
boys and girls, let’s dip into the ol’ mailbag and see what readers have
to say regarding my recent opinions on anything and everything.
My
column suggesting that flaggers have no chance of getting a public
referendum on the old state flag drew an unusually muted response from a
crowd that has been anything but muted in the past. I did hear from a
couple of saber-rattlers – one claiming that powerful Speaker of the
House Glen Richardson is a “one-termer.” My bookie, Vito, says he will
take all the action on that bet he can get.
A
number of flaggers, who asked not to be quoted agreed with my assessment
of their current situation. Several lamented that there is no one voice
to speak for Southern heritage and this hurts efforts to get broad-based
support for their cause. Some flaggers intend to support Ray “States
Rights” McBerry, an independent advertising contractor, in the
Republican primary in hopes of hurting incumbent Governor Sonny Perdue’s
chances in the general election against either Democratic candidate, Lt.
Gov. Mark Taylor or Secretary of State Cathy Cox. The respondents
admit that neither Democrat will support a flag referendum, but this is
the only way they can think to get back at Perdue who they feel reneged
on a pledge to hold a public referendum after they had supported him in
his first campaign. They also hope to piggy-back on any general
discontent other special interest groups may have with the governor. If
this is their political strategy, flaggers are in for a long cold spell.
My
recent column on Yankees coming to Georgia and dumping off on us and our
Revolutionary War history drew a strong response from Southerners across
the state who are weary of the know-it-alls. Interesting, even a number
of transplants said they, too, tire of listening to their ungrateful
brethren who don’t understand how good they have it here. I also
received a few brickbats. One reader who moved from Georgia to Ohio,
likes it there (insert joke here) and told me to “kiss her grits.” What
do they know about grits in Ohio?
A
former Iowan now living in Georgia says Iowans aren’t “Yankees”, but
“Midwesterners.” She took strong issue with my contention that
Revolutionary War Gen. Lachlan McInstosh, of the Great State of Georgia,
left the Ohio territory in 1777 because he was afraid he would end up
stationed in Cleveland, or worse, start talking loud and acting like an
expert on everything. Not so, she says. McIntosh left Ohio because
“he did not have the manpower or resources necessary to complete his
expedition against Detroit to destroy British power in that area.”
Well, knock me over with a corn stalk. Her comments remind me of the
shortest book ever written: “That Keen Yankee/Midwestern Sense of
Humor.”
One
reader fretted over my “pent up hostility against Northerners” and
opined that he thought “counseling would help.” I told him I loved
Yankees. As a matter of fact, I am married to one, the infamous Woman
Who Shares My Name. That is when I showed her the reader’s note,
stomped my foot, waggled my finger and said that my perceived hostility
is her fault. If she fed me less broccoli, I would not be so hostile.
That was a mistake. She shoved the broccoli in my ear.
My
column on the latest sightings of our Ambassador to Outer Space Cynthia
McKinney got the most response of any column of mine in a long time –
some from as far away as The Philippines. The question I got most often
from readers was “Why in the world would anybody with a modicum of
common sense send this bad joke back to Washington?” Two reasons: One,
most of her supporters don’t have a modicum of common sense and, two,
she gives people from Ohio another reason to claim we are dumb as a
rock.
As
always, thanks for writing. I appreciate hearing from you. Now if you
will excuse me, I need to close up the ol’ mailbag and see what I can do
to get the broccoli out of my ears.
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