Rabun County’s Confederate Controversy Comes to a Close

Last night’s Rabun County Commissioners meeting took place in front of a packed courthouse. A request by Clayton resident Steven Woodall, to remove the Southern Cross from courthouse grounds was the reason for the standing room only crowd…

“When one set of the center plants it’s flag at the seat of government, and it stays there without question, there’s a strong impression that the centers are in control of the government. It’s not I who created the deep divisions over the Confederate Battle Flag, my desire in getting involved is to try and lessen these divisions; see if there is someway that there is a middle ground where there are no winners and losers.”

Woodall keyed in on the fact that many residents of Rabun County were not at the meeting, and went on to say…

“and I wounder what they would want us to do. I imagine many of them think that there ought to be a middle way, a way to remember and honor the personal hardships of soldiers in all our wars, including yes the Civil War, while avoiding the suggestion that this is a county in which non-whites do not belong.”

With both sides being given equal opportunity to speak during the meeting, J.P. McVicker supported keeping the Southern Cross on Courthouse grounds, comparing the situation to controversies from the past…

“During the Vietnam War, some people expressed their frustration with the war by burning graphic arts and flags, and further vented their anger by jeering and spitting on Vietnam Veterans as they returned from combat. These people were grossly misguided in their actions, and our nation suffered for many years thereafter.”

McVicker claimed the current controversy is no different…

“Now similarly misguided people want to vent their anger by removing Confederate Flags at the war memorials of another group of Veterans, the Confederate Veterans. In my view, removing flags at a Confederate Soldiers War Memorial, is the moral equivalent of spitting on a Confederate Veterans Grave long after he has returned from combat.”

After an overwhelming response from the crowd gathered at the meeting, and hearing both sides speak, Commissioner Bob Fink was the only Commissioner to truly address the matter, opening with an attempt to lighten the mood…

“I’m the token Yankee on this Board(Laughter from the crowd), I was born an raised in Philadelphia. Well Mr. McVicker, you said it best, a veteran is a veteran is a veteran. It gets me very emotional, this is a memorial to a veteran, and I promise you i will not vote to take it down!”

Commissioner Fink then made the motion to keep the flag on Courthouse property. That motion was seconded by Commissioner Kay Darnell, and passed with a vote of 4 to 0. Commissioner Stephen Arbitter abstained from the vote.