To: Honorable Governor Roy Barnes

For some time now, I have been trying to obtain your official position on changing the Georgia flag to remove the confederate battle emblem. Your media representative, Jocelyn Butler, has consistently given me the runaround and refused to answer the question. She has dodged, and we have played this cat-n-mouse phone tag game for far too long, so I am forced to appeal to you directly. Allow me to apologize in advance for interrupting your hard creating commissions to solve Georgia's problems and the important business of drafting your state of the state message for January. We hope you will include in that message some indication of where you stand on the Georgia flag issue. Moreover, we hope you will encourage the honorable men and women in the General Assembly to undertake the symbolic gesture of changing the state flag to show Georgia is a state for all its citizens.

As a member of a growing number around the world, I want to know what is your position? As Georgians, we believe your response will greatly affect the perception of Georgia around the world, which can impact its economic viably. Either Georgia is a state that welcomes and includes all its citizens or it is not. Sporting things which represent the Confederate side in the Civil War, which fought to preserve slavery and the KKK does not show Georgia embraces its ethnic diversity enough to recognize that these symbols are offensive to approximately 40% of its citizens.

We believe changing the flag is in the interest of all Georgians. According to Georgia 10^th grader Crystal Clemons, "When adopted by a state, a flags is supposed to be inclusive; it should symbolize every Georgian." We stand behind her 100%. It is time our state adopted a symbol that is not divisive, but rather a symbol around which all Georgians can rally.

We anxiously await your position statement on this important question. A heavily Democratic voter turnout in DeKalb County played a crucial role in your victory. Those opposed to Georgia's flag believe just as heavy a turnout can be mustered to usher in someone who will work to change the state's flag. Please be advised we publish all such requests for information and policy statements as open letters in The DISH.

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