Commissioners, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
"What a wonderful power there is in the flag of one's
country, how mysterious the influence by which it sways and
moves the hearts of men. The colors of an army have carried more
strongholds than the bayonet and battered down more fortresses
than artillery. Even in Holy Writ we find the expression. 'As
terrible as an army with banners'".
Lieut. Col. H.D.D. Twiggs, CSA Augusta.1892
In America we see many flags because of the diversity of
Heritage and Culture in this country. The Stars and Stripes is the
Flag of our country and true Americans love it. But those who fought
under the Stainless banner were American Veterans too. The
Confederate States of America now exists only in our past, it will
remain a part of America's and Augusta's History, Heritage and
Culture as long as we do not give in to Heritage Terrorists who seek
to change history and commit cultural genocide for political power
and monetary gain.
Martin Luther King never maligned the Confederate flag that
flew so prominently in his day. He was more concerned about
tolerance, inclusion, and acceptance--not exclusion, historical
revisionism, and unfair demands. The NAACP creates controversy by
attacking the flag enabling them to attract members and gain much
needed funds. Politicians, like Mayor Young, readily give in , for
fear of being labeled the worst word in America today--the word
"racist."
I wonder if the Irish Republican Army were to hold its
convention in Augusta would Mayor Young remove the British flag from
the display, for the Irish suffered 800 years of British
subjugation. If a group of Jews held a convention in Augusta, would
they demand that the Spanish flag be removed because of its
association with the Inquisition. If a group of radical Native
Americans did the same, would the city cave into its demands to
remove the US flag?
What's the use of having a historic flag display if the city
officials are going to "sanitize" our history while pandering to
radicals? If one flag is to be removed, why not remove all of them?
The 2nd National Confederate Flag was an integral part of a display
of flags that together constitute a public monument, the removal of
the two flags from the group and covering of the inscriptions at the
base of the 2 poles effectively defaces and alters the monument as a
whole. We wonder if the Commission has thought this out. There could
be some embarrassing consequences here.
We believe the Mayor did not have the authority to remove,
alter and deface a public monument and violated Augusta City
ordinance 1-2-26. When the Mayor had the Flags removed and had the
inscriptions erased he violated Augusta City ordinance 1-5-44:
DEFACING, ETC., MONUMENTS, ETC. and 1-5-46: REMOVING ARTICLES FROM
PARKS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any article of
whatever kind from any park of Augusta-Richmond County. Is the Mayor
above the Law?
He has violated the Master-plan for Downtown. The
Mayor's actions have also violated Georgia Law 50-3-1, this has
been confirmed by the Augusta Solicitors office.
We believe the Mayor's actions violate City and State Law. We
ask the Augusta Commission to return the flags that were removed and
repair the inscriptions at the base of the poles that were defaced.
A letter has been sent to the First Lady and
Preserve America questioning Augusta's recent special
designation as a Preserve America Community, which recognizes
communities that:
- protect and celebrate their heritage;
- use their historic assets for economic development and
community revitalization; and
- encourage people to experience and appreciate local
historic resources through education and heritage tourism
programs.
Augusta was one of the first cities to receive this
designation, will it be the first to have it taken away?
All we ask is that error and injustice be excluded from the
Riverwalk, that the truth be told, without exaggeration and without
omission. Truth for it's own sake and for the sake of honest history
Truth for the generations that come after us.
I would like to thank the Commission for your kind
consideration.
Woody #158 Augusta
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