GABEO Calls U.S. Senator Zell
Miller to Repair Damage with Georgia's Black
Electorate
June 28, 2002
(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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