(Decatur, Georgia) -" I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO) for their unanimously adopted resolution. GABEO saw fit to question the appropriateness of comments made by U.S. Senator Zell Miller in reference to myself, and they authored a resolution to that effect. GABEO's resolution is especially significant in light of the turn of events that now sees other members of the U.S. Congress receiving accolades for raising the exact same questions that earned for me nothing but criticisms."

[The following resolution was authored by The Reverend Henry Ficklin, Macon City Council and Treasurer of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials. It was unanimously adopted during the recent convention on June 22, 2002.]

WHEREAS: Senator Zell Miller has long enjoyed the overwhelming support of the Georgia African American vote in his races both for Lt. Governor and Governor of our state; and

WHEREAS: Both his appointment and election as Senator from the state of Georgia also were unquestionably and heavily supported by the African American voters of our state; and

WHEREAS: Senator Zell Miller has been the epitome of the southern gentleman in all his public dealings, especially as it relates to ladies and his colleagues from the state of Georgia; and

WHEREAS: Senator Miller in his book, Corps Values, states that "the only basis upon which diversity can coexist with commonality and all people can pursue individual goals for themselves while contributing to the general well-being and advancement of society as a whole" is the core values he learned during his 90 days of basic training for the Marine Corps on Parris Island; and

WHEREAS: "Core values" include respect of others (particularly females) and the fundamental Christian teachings of diversity and inculcation of the Golden Rule; and

WHEREAS: Senator Miller has recently made scurrilous comments and excoriating remarks regarding Representative Cynthia McKinney, the first African American female elected to the U.S. Congress from the state of Georgia; and

WHEREAS: His comments and remarks seek to impugn the integrity of Representative Cynthia McKinney's coexistent diversity in the U.S. Congress as she pursues individual goals for herself while she contributes to the general well being and advancement of society as a whole; and

WHEREAS: Many news revelations and public sentiment have regarded Representative Cynthia McKinney's political acumen as clairvoyant and prudent, Senator Zell Miller has refused to temper his continuous flay towards Representative Cynthia McKinney.

THEREFORE: The Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO) resolved that Senator Zell Miller is urged to remedy the dissension resulting from his remarks of difference and regain the friendship status that he has long since enjoyed with a constituency that was offended by his comments by offering Representative Cynthia McKinney the same respect given to other elected leaders in the state of Georgia, thus returning to the core values that make it possible for all of us to coexist with commonalty despite our diversity.

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