First Friday; Special Edition: The Mississippi State Flag

Tonight's first Friday flags special features a representative sampling of the views expressed by Mississippians at the five public hearings dealing with the future of Mississippi's flag. The hearings were sponsored by the 17 member flag commission that was appointed by Governor Ronnie Musgrove and now an opening statement by the flight commission's chairman former governor William Winter. The program which will follow shows segments from five public hearings which the Advisory Commission on the state flag recently held in five different communities of our state. They produced some highly emotional and perhaps extreme statements but at the same time they afforded every citizen a right to be heard. We did not exclude anyone. And we listened to everyone within the time frame allotted. In addition to that we heard from over twelve hundred students in Mississippi public private and parochial schools. We also received hundreds of written statements petitions and letters from citizens of Mississippi. Our process was as open as we could make and what this process clearly

demonstrated is that our old state flag is the source of much controversy and division. As the chairman of the Advisory Commission I hope that we Mississippians can come together to diminish that controversy. I believe that there is a way to do that. In the interest of our state we must do that. We do not need to dismiss the old flag and renounce the history that surrounds it. Rather we need to call it official status as the historic flag of our state. Let it be flown with other flags that have flown over our state and by ethnicities and accorded proper honor and respect. At the same time though we will propose another flag that would portray an evil old a part of our history and that would truly represent all of the people of Mississippi. This

would be the official flag of the future of the 21st century that would invoke all of our hopes and dreams for the progress and development of our state. It will be a flag that all Mississippians could look at and say with one voice. That is my flag. I hope that we Mississippians will commit ourselves to achieving that result. I am what I have here. Union representative cities of murders in my. Here there are people like 200 years before you got here. The Confederate flag because it is Beauregard's verify the people in this audience don't do any research whatsoever. They no longer have confusion in

battle between the Confederate flag in American flag and they got confused to the point that he had to commission somebody like he was confused. He wasn't talking about the law and he was about some other. Kochhar just so important that they took home. Oh croaky. That is the only thing we have got to worry about. It was our job and it was our job. That would be my biggest loss. If we're not proud of who we are we were not proud of our flag. We are. Work you got to go with an argument.

About the Christian problem. There's nothing wrong with that. It's fashionable people use this to hey hey feelings. There are other people who like force and it's just it's up to us to look at that and have another reaction to those who have lost their lives. Like. I said Black and Blue Cross is a black man really. He changed from the message hey. We're going to look at that. There's a lot. And say by any means necessary in the spirit of love. That's the case right now.

OK. I mean it's. Let's get rid of racism in Harlem motion. But that necessary housing how necessary let's fly a cross to make all this crossing. Sure it is the greatest love that we have and use it to get our minds it is how we respond to those that make us do the things we do. I have

no hope for change in our. Life. The same as a race of people. A group of people working together and races and this is what all this in this movie that we're seeing here and. Other groups or. Other parties. Great great great. Great God. Well I don't see why not go. And.

I recommend they play like the display. Issues for which the stars and bars do you think a civil war just for a patchwork like this from Iraq let's give them the same courtesy given to everyone else. We must realize some of our friends. Some are praying for no way good play hey we stood back. KKK why

citizens in the area used the flag to represent the. So make it sound of a mission or just stop the death of then they are now. Ninety percent of the people in the United States at this point are. We can we do that. Stay here. Thank you. Ladies and gentleman. Co-founder of the 2nd Brigade that the federal government speaking on behalf of their party.

For absolutely no change you may and the flag of Mississippi is now. Stay. With. Us. We all feel like you know a lot already saying I'm just going to play the Flyers or homes businesses schools. That are afraid to say no goes horses. And always beautiful. So Gloria what are the ethical issues. You need

to. Expand here. No no. No. Oh I wish I had thought before. This has been hard for me to do because I'll get on both sides. I'm also finally realized oh oh oh gee. I know you'll be writing. The show when it comes to somebody this is there. And

when they say there you are. You know because if you don't next time you say you're in where you can. Like to say this entire process will we're called the governor's office the day this commission was appointed and bake sales associates. The goal here is not to appoint a commission let the people both. My message evidently did not get through. So what do we have we have hardened racial feeling that we should not have to resort to this process.

What a mess we're in. The extremists are continuing their attacks on our Confederate heritage unrelentingly predictably. There will be retribution. There will be retaliation if these attacks continue. The majority of Mississippians I believe are not in favor of the journey to the Mississippi State blaming the Mississippi flag is not about hate. It's not about racism here. It is under attack. Who's next will be our German-Americans are Japanese Americans are taking Americans when we return to the days of attacks on African Americans. They should be prevented. Urge you to seriously consider your actions and recommend no change to our state flag. Dissolved yourself. I am not running for no political office. So I really don't care about it says anything.

I'm not going to stand here and lie to you. I'm going to shoot straight from the heart. Now I have a steady behind this flag I'm not going to be you know history lesson tell you I'm going to tell you what I think and feel about it. But now when I speak I do not speak for all black people I speak for me me personally not for everybody. So I'm not the voice of the black race. Now this battle flag of the Confederate States. These are the things that I have brought. To me personally. It represents the history of the past. Now there is history for both black and white. Southerners alike but the difference is this. For most blacks it's a history of oppression and slavery and for Southern whites a history of being a full time a dominant race I am not for abolishing the state flag. What I hope to do so the flag is a part of our history whether it be good or bad. I believe the flag is old and have reached the age of

retirement. It no longer represents anything positive for the state. I am for memorializing. The old. Flag and I will vote for the birth of a new flag that will carry us away from our differences of the past. I love our flag. I love our state. It's something about this state that fits me. Hurtful to me to the poor and I could live with it. I really. Want to know tonight. I'm not a racist. We have a political group and we have rallies and meetings. And someone told me that I was going to know when the Klan ran and I saw what you're talking about. I said we're not having a planned rally. I said if

you've gotten hatred in your heart or any one because of the color of their skin and I said I'd rather you not come. And I'm I'm very tired of the media trying to paint me as a racist simply because. I'm a Southerner. And I'm proud to be a Southerner. I'm an American by birth. But I'm Southern by the marvelous wonderful grace to. Be. Black. And I suppose the one thing that others may see another thing when I look at the single most beautiful state flag in these United States of America I see something different and I see that St. Andrew's cross that Southern Cross what many refer to as the battle flag. I see the spirit of a people that refuses

to submit to that oppressive authoritative intrusive government. No. More for slavery then these days black people that are here tonight. Slavery is not right. And no one here has been able to return to that. But I am I am for the spirit that this flag stands for. And when I think that. It just stirs my heart. And I think that we need to send a message to the media and to the political leaders of our state. If the flag changes the politicians will change the law. I don't think anything is going to be accomplished. I think we're all set in all ways. People who play the hate the play

continue to play. I hope I don't have to pull me out. I just don't mean the one it's a good thing. All the more stupid thing to do is talk and be all. Law. Like I was saying if you put it to the people this weekend is the one that has the most votes. That means it's going to be right. So what I like to say is I hope I've given my heart to say something that might change someone's mind. You're fighting in the Middle East right now. Palestinians just want what's what what happen when that war is over. And please sir if they want to stay state look our flag is beginning to flounder. There's going to be two if one is going to force them to fly. They going to have to come to a neutral ground together. And we're going up to the side.

I was not born in Mississippi. I was born in the south. I moved to Mississippi to raise my family. I'm proud of that decision. My personal opinion about this whole situation is all sheer ignorance. Absolute ignorance and willful intellectual dishonesty. This is not a hate. It used to be people who say it's a freedom freedom from all people. Slavery was a horrible place when our nation took the Confederacy. We flew this plane before the United States to. I have a personal stake in this way. It's actually died.

I had family photo shed blood for me to see that we were here fight over this symbol of not only white and blue ribbon fighting for every nation but black men also. Why did the black people know the dream to be born with this band. You people do great when you're old people worry. Now the flag as is in Mississippi is going to come down. We. Will. Have an opportunity. If it comes to that. Mississippi is going to make some kind of look like a Sunday school. The. Flag in Mississippi at some point is going to come down. So let's take the opportunity why we

have to develop another flag that everyone in Mississippi can honor and be proud of. Thank you very much. There were 80000 Mississippians that served in the war of Northern Aggression and only 20000 of them came home. My ancestors and yours. I tell you what the difference is I want to honor my ancestors while the scallywags want to spit on the grave of my ancestors were told over and over again that the issue is over slavery. How many of those poor Mississippi dirt farmers owned slaves. Some say that they're offended because of the battle flag. Can't. Well I'm offended. I'm offended. We've got a cowardly governor who will not tell us what his position on the flag. I'm offended that we have a stat commission. I'm offended that the people are being denied the vote.

You see it's not just about the flag. And where's it going to end. Our present flag is the only flag that any of you here has ever known. It will always be my flag no matter what these people do to it. When I'm elected governor in 2003 it will be the flag that stands in my office. You may take the heart out of the flag but you can't take the flag out of the heart. My suggestion is for those of you that do not like our state flag. There are 49 other states in which you can move. My name's Jim Giles. Mr. Blackmouth should over a thousand dollar suit I live I live in a trailer in the woods.

You might have more money than I've got. You might have more power than I've got but you don't have any more self-respect and I've got the civil rights movement is over. It ended when you started when you stop trying to help your people and you started trying to put me down. You don't. You don't speak for all blacks in this state. You don't speak for all the blacks in this state. I love black Mississippians. There are real problems that blacks face that you won't address will not address the prisons are overflowing they're not learning in the classrooms are 1894 historic state flag of Mississippi represents honor integrity and courage.

Our state. Flag represents gallantry character and duty. Our state flag represents bravery backbone and valor. Our state flag represents heart heroism and honesty. Our state flag represents grit guts and coldish. I state. Our. State flag represents pride principle and reputation. It represents self-defense self-esteem and self. Our state flag represents freedom independence and states rights our state flag represents death.

Destruction and sacrifice our state flag is not where our state flag represents sweat and tears. Of countless southerners who are far sight better than any of y'all. Now listen up Mr. Warner you are despicable. You are in a net. You will. Never. You say hey hey hey hey hey no no no no no. That's life. You have been nothing but a parasite your entire career. You are sorry lawyer you're gutless. You are worthy of being tarred and feathered and run out of the state. I must say it's got to hard to come behind that space there. But I have to say. A little something here and I dare everyone and growing up in Mississippi I'm proud to

be from Mississippi. I am very proud to be from Mississippi. I'm a school teacher been a football coach for 27 years and I want to go into work and I have no intention of going anyplace else. This is my home. And I have. That's right man. I don't this. I don't feel like I have to go anywhere. This is a very special place and I'm glad we're able to come here and all get together at night. Now I think that's very special. The flag now has the Stars and Bars. I think now has a very different meaning in what it did years ago. I know it has a different meaning because when I asked my children in school I said what does that flag mean to you. You know and they say everything but slavery. They don't they don't say those things. But I have to say what it meant to me as a small boy and what it meant to me over the years and I do it I know it doesn't mean that to everyone but I just have to say this about 40 years ago when I'm forty eight years old I was between seven and eight years old when I was out in my yard and I kept seeing a little flag on the front of the

cars go by and I said I don't you. And she got up to like my grandma. And my mother's mother died and she three years old. So don't you. What does that flag mean because I thought it was a cute little fly. Then she said it means kickstands. Hey now you know she didn't say it like that and she didn't say she didn't take a breath. But I've grown past that and I think we all have grown past that because this is special day and I hope that that we all get together and put up a flag that our commission recommends whatever they come up with recommend all of us will be very special. And I hope we come up with a flag if we happen to change a flag. Something is very special for all of our people. I'm proud of my home. I'm very proud of my home. I just hope we do what's best for everyone. And this is my home and I love it very much.

Changing our state flag will not eliminate racism in Mississippi or anywhere else. It will serve as a clear sign that we want to claim the stain of racism from my beloved state our state flag should be one that everyone in the state can be proud to fly. Whites in Mississippi showed that we're more concerned with the past than the future are that we're more concerned with things than people changing in our flag to include every one will show that Mississippians are finally ready to put the past behind us to heal the sickness that once held the state captive to be the Christians that most of us claim today. I would like to read from Matthew 22. I know this is a public meeting maybe you will forgive me. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it Love your neighbor as yourself and the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. This was Jesus word

and I would like to ask that everyone on either side please as they basically discussed this issue civilly without bullying or writing or shouting down people who disagree with you. Otherwise we'll never come to any agreement. And when you do it shows the lack of Southern courtesy and it dishonors your courageous ancestors. Thank you. This is not a speech I brought up here. I'll be glad to know I brought it up first. If this is from the Greenwood common loyal to care you will leave our flag alone supporters tale panel. This was the meeting over at Meridien you hit 350 people over there. Three hundred and twenty five were part of the flag to stay like these. OK the first meeting was in Tupelo that was nearly 500 people. They are flag supporters outnumber opponents. There were only three people I believe all were Tupelo that wanted a change of flag. The rest of them want to leave it like it is.

I think that the main criticism of this panel is being that a lot of came on here. You already had your mind made up or you don't do that what you don't do is come out here and listen to the rednecks and everything and then you going to go back and tell them exactly what you want to tell them. All right to die all live here. That won't change this flag let me hear from you if you want change. Oh you ought to leave it like it here. Let me hear from you. Gentlemen last year if you don't go back and tell the truth that's all you have to do. Thank you. Remember my grandbaby is five years old as I was getting out there picking cotton with his hands today. So I mean this is stupid. I'm a registered voter and I'm just and I don't care what nobody says about me. I believe that flag should stay

there. Call it either right or wrong with it. That is so so much in a state that is positive in so many ways to go. But if if something is offensive to a lot of people then I think we should be willing to consider a change. We had beautiful symbols and seal of the Mississippi. We had the Magno we had many things and he said the flag has been taken up and used hurtfully by groups such as the Klan and they use the battle flag.

My husband was in the Marines for nearly four years during World War 2. He was a fire person. My father was fire. I could remember when I was about 10 years old which has been 60 years. Little Bo I came to class and said and this is bad it took the side of a colored man over a white man and it was the right thing to do when he was canny agent and handing out checks. The guy that won the check was made out too. So I've been used to hearing things like that. And I try to work with sadness and justice and harmony for everybody. Thank you. Mr. Warner said he was from Grenada Canada. I am too. I'm not a politician and I don't give much for a public speech. If you people have any political backbone allow it to go to the

people for a vote. That's all we. Have. I was one of the kids who were the first group of children in integration. The flag was always there as a reminder that we were not wanted there. Football games pep rallies whenever anything went down. That was bad. You would have something to do with that flag. All of those. All of those are reason enough for me not to. One of the most important reason I think for the state of Mississippi not to have the Confederate battle flag on the state flag is because it is the flag of the enemy of the United States of America. It would no more be justified to have a swastika on our state flag. It

is the enemy of the United States of America. Until that symbol of the division of America is removed we will not be one nation under God. My whole appeal is this. The governor and the state legislature does not have to cause division because you know what. It's their turn to step up to the plate. It's their turn to put things on the ballot and let democracy roll throughout the state. Governor. Governor the real concern the reason I wanted to know because I was handed a handout concerning really a position statement. You can call it what it is but it's a position statement because there's only one option one option according to this committee is we don't listen to you folks but we've already made our mind up. And you know what really should make the mind of the same folks who put them in Jackson that put statewide

offices and put the president on a stage in office local folks in office and put it to a vote of the people let's live with it. Let's get on beyond it for someone is really injured in this state. First of all I'm standing here Jeff Davis auditorium having this conversation. I feel like a Jewish Porsche's get off get lost or junior college and Uni is going to. Be. Yeah. Davis who had five thousand American people and. Why get the point that I want to say there certainly is not an issue for you. Not she said. I want they incorporate it in my play as American as a Mississippi that would say someone else I would not want a swastika incorporated in my play

because I realized that it would be Jewish people. I would not want a gay symbol incorporated into my flag because I really want the gay people. Why does good white folks that you want to incorporate something into your play. You know me. Here. We. Go. This. Flag. Just like why. Did. We say something in this country. And if being asked kindergarteners you begin to teach children. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the

republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. That's what the nation. Everybody OK. This symbol of the Confederate flag the battle flag itself does not represent unity is just common. It doesn't just because the payoff for years doesn't mean we need to keep. It was wrong then it's wrong now to be wanted here. If you make a mistake they made a mistake. In this in this state at this particular time. I think all is so obvious. The divisive nature of this thing white black hole right now party lines and any vote that was held would would hold whites voting for the flag the way it is blacks voting for something else. It doesn't make any difference what it is which you can count on the fact that we will never vote on this for a multitude of reasons. First of all they'll never get thousand qualified

signatures to put this on about that in and of itself is crazy. Second of all a Democratic administration who owes its livelihood to black voters are never going to let them get to a situation where every red neck in the face of the earth comes to the pole and gets an opportunity to vote for Republicans and overturn the whole situation in Mississippi. I grew up right up here. Johnson dropped 34 Street. Single mom will fare best friend and just about every one of my friends happen to be blacks never looked at him any different. I go there. I felt almost ashamed to be around a certain group of people I was around just all outright hate just hate for no no reason just hate just I mean I would have

probably wanted to commit suicide if I lived in that time you know. And I'm not coming here to be apologetic to black people. I just don't understand how come we can't let that pass go and move forward as a new messiah. I just don't understand the flag to me has never represented hatred. Never. I've never organized it rallied around it for any kind of hatred cause it has been in my history and in my state since I've been alive. I'm used to it. But like I said this is a new Mississippi. And we do need a good change. The real issue before us tonight is as Mr. Mitchell said very simple and that is do we the registered voters of Mississippi have a voice in this matter. It has been said as I understand it that the people of Mississippi should not be allowed to vote on whether or not to change state flag as it would be too divisive. Ladies and gentlemen we are

gathered here tonight. We still do not know who our president elect is due to the closeness of the vote. Now that is a divisive issue. So there are those among the commission or among the audience that say the American voter should not decide who our next president should be because it's too divisive. And if the commission recommends I ain't changing the state flag can they guarantee that it will put more dollars in Mississippi pockets. Can the commission guarantee that the change will bring more prosperity through better jobs better schools less crime less incidences of disease and an overall improvement in the standard of living for all Mississippians. In recent years the Saturn automobile manufacturing company chose Tennessee over Mississippi when it built its plant. Was it because of our state flag. The Chrysler dimer automobile manufacturing company more recently chose Alabama over Mississippi when it built its plant. Was it because of our state flag. And now what about Nissan. It is my understanding that it has been announced that Nissan will build an automobile manufacturing plant

here in Mississippi providing up to four thousand jobs 4000. And that Mississippi was chosen over Alabama. Now what is the significance of Nissan's decision Alabama years ago remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of its capitol. And it didn't help convince Nissan to come to their state the end result therefore ladies and gentlemen is that those Nissan dollars are coming into the pockets of Mississippians and it was done without the need to change our state flag. Members of the commission please recommend that the people of Mississippi be allowed to vote on this issue. Let me see by standing applause who was opposed to keeping. The.

Members of the commission. This is not Tupelo this is not. Going to. Go to the clock. Tick tick tick tick tick. Tick tick

tick tick tick. Tick tick that. I have seen hatred and racism. I saw it here tonight. Unfortunately unfortunately I saw racism on both sides of the aisle. Racism is tearing this state apart. Once again we've got to do something to bring the people of this state together. We've got to do something to set aside the hatred and bigotry some of which we've seen tonight. I believe that the Confederate flag the Confederate battle flag is a source of land and I think we need to change it.

I don't. I don't say that the band would be in great shape because it is a fact of life. It is perceived not only by the black community here in this state by some of the other communities in this state but more importantly perceived by people away from here to be the symbol of that hatred. We need to do what we need to put it behind us. Our future is in the future. It is not in the past. During the civil rights movement the Southern Cross was overwhelmingly used to symbolize defiance to equal rights. Profanities were shouted as the Confederate cross was proudly waved when black children tried to integrate white

schools the Confederate cross was proudly waved as a statement. Segregation now segregation forever echoed throughout the south. The truth must be faced. A flag represents more than one day the same flag that represents heritage to one group represents the institution of slavery and segregation to another. On this issue Senator John McCain said my ancestors fought for the Confederacy but I don't believe their service needs to be commemorated in a way that offends people whose ancestors were once denied their freedom by mine. In conclusion I would like to ask you to imagine that you are an 8 year old girl in Crystal Springs Mississippi in 1962. Your father a Methodist minister is one of the few black citizens to fight any quality as he helps FBI agents investigate the murder of a black man for looking at a white woman. Your family is constantly harassed. Are obscene

phone calls burned crosses and white men who drop by while waving the Southern Cross. Imagine the fear and the hopelessness that surrounds you and you wonder if your father will be the next to be murdered. Now almost 40 years later that 8 year old girl mother is a citizen of the state of Mississippi today she sees a flag with the same Confederate cross that haunted her before flying atop her state capitol. Is it pride that she feels or is it the same here that she felt so long ago. Does she feel that this flag truly represents her as a Mississippian or a time when she was in fear your bible again. Mississippi I asked Is this the heritage that you are proud of. Who wants to have this flag taken down. I'll tell you it those people intent on marginalizing American culture and ridding us of the rich cultural experiences of any culture that cannot be bought sold and controlled on Wall Street. These people.

These people see independent culture as a threat to are bought and sold national government having this flag makes the people of our state think about our past. It makes us think about how racism is possible and how people can change. This flag is dangerous to those in power because it makes us think those of you say the racist wall to keep the Mississippi state flag. To this those who want to take down this flag of the state of Mississippi are the racists. They're the ones. They're the ones that think so little of minorities that they will have to give them handouts like for want of action. They've engineered. They've engineered an economic system that works in collaboration with the so-called justice system to keep those people that are in poverty either poor or in jail.

When they give the poor their meager welfare wages they don't need to feed them they intend to keep them in line. These people do not want Mississippians to remember the past of racism because that is the future that these people want to engineer. Forget the flag of the state of Mississippi. I am waiting for the flag of the United States of America to stand for equality for everyone. This flag is a deliberate slap in the face to the black people of Mississippi. It conveys the message from white Mississippi to black Mississippi that we are citizens and you are wrong that we are your superiors at least in numbers and that we frankly do not care that we are hurting you by flying this as a symbol of the state. Friendship and simple courtesy. All values do matter. The state flag is nothing but a visible symbol of the government of the Commonwealth and it should be a symbol for all of us not just some black people also have a

Southern history and Southern heritage and we should try to look at this flag for their state flag should not cause pain to a song. Now let me say that I am a young girl. Working in a grocery store environment. I do work with blacks and I have several not just one day. But several friends who are black. Some say they didn't care. Some say take down some say leave it the way it is because that's the way it's been for over 100 years. We need to leave the past in the past and move on. One person said where would the slaves in America be today if it weren't for slavery. They probably still be in Africa. It's like. All other European nations. Not all of the African American rice living in America today got their last name from their masters. Are you prepared to give up your name. I don't think you

are. Because if you get my point I will get your. Band together once more. It is an honor we have left so that you have to kill me before I will give up the inheritance. This is not my southern pride. If you. Stay there 40 other states in this country. Ladies and gentlemen I must tell you me with all that one. Does with a military. This is in fact when the war is over. You Pearl your battle with you here you bury you and you go. No we do know if we think that somehow or another our heritage

is more important than my great great granddad then I want you to know that you made me go. But to be or if it is if it is in fact. Your heritage your birthright to put the to put the better of your great great grandfather ahead of mine is mine here it used to be visited with every fiber of my being. And what would you vote on that will not make a difference. Have the battle flag is there but creation by definition can't be by definition most. Of all you said that the flight is advisory. What is free advise is this. Has the lady carefully orchestrated Saul on the King here which is merely the latest chapter. It. Started with

schools. And mascot's and Dixey which incidentally was one of Abraham Lincoln's favorite songs. Then it continued to the state. Why the gap the flags over the capitals of Alabama and Mississippi then the Confederate flag no matter where it lies in a public place. Now the State Winds in Georgia and Mississippi what's next. What are we going to change next. The name of my county is named for far as far as county I'm sure that's all fancy. Jeff Davis County. That must be all fancy Jackson name for a slaveowner let's change that. Let's tear down the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. Let's change everything. Where does it stop. So we are tired of this onslaught against the Confederate heritage. It needs to stop but it needs to stop right now. I think I'm a typical Mississippian. I don't live in a fancy house. I go to church and I vote in every election. I am a voice

for middle ground. Mississippi not left not right. I am here to say that Mississippi should have a symbol that represents a bright shining future not an honor but Dad passed quad to grow tired of the overextension of political correctness. A new flag for Mississippi is not only correct politically but economically socially and morally. I personally have a simple declaration of being part of America's future. I want a new symbol to show the world that Mississippi truly is a great state that brings all people and all talents together. We cannot do that with a divisive symbol from the past. I think we need to change our hearts and that we can begin to talk about the external expression of that. In a flash.

I would really suggest personally that one of the things that perhaps we have to do is have a moratorium on it. We're not ready to change a flag a symbol of our unity as a commonwealth and as a people today because all this we're talking about is the past in black and white. I serve in a parish a little parish up in central Mississippi in Carthage. We have. Blacks and Whites and Indians Native Americans. We have Filipinos. We have South Koreans and we have a multitude of Hispanics. Do you think many of them are worried about our insularity in black and white. That's not the future of Mississippi. The future of Mississippi is multitudinous. Let's face that. And let's do it.

When we have settled our hearts for two nights First Friday a flag special featured a representative sampling of the views expressed by Mississippians at the five public hearings dealing with the future of Mississippi's flag. The hearings were sponsored by the 17 member flag commission that was appointed by Governor Ronnie Musgrove.