The Red and Black

Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Opinions

MELISSA WEINMAN

If there's one thing Georgia's good at, it's perpetuating a stereotype. There are plenty of people out there that think Georgia is a backward state full of rednecks and Jesus freaks. And as a whole, we haven't done too much to convince them otherwise.

I've lived in Georgia all my life and I always try to defend my state, but let's face it - it's difficult amid the shrapnel of embarrassments flying around during the last few years.

Remember when we had three state flags in two years? The argument over the state flag, a major issue in Gov. Sonny Perdue's first campaign, spun out of control and revealed how reluctant we were to give up the confederate emblem.

And who can forget the hearty belly laugh the nation had on our behalf after the evolution incident in the Cobb County school system?

To cap it all off, Tuesday morning Perdue held a public prayer vigil for rain on the front steps of the state capitol. The event was also hosted by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Representative Melvin Everson along with leaders from various religious institutions.

A public prayer vigil is an inappropriate way to deal with the problems we face from the drought and is a cheap political tactic.

Separation of church and state is a founding principle in America.

Though they often bleed together, we at least try to project that we have a secular government.

As an elected official, Perdue disregarded the principle of separation of church and state by organizing a religious event, and had the brass to do so at a government building.

I firmly believe that religion is a personal matter and always have respected people with strong beliefs. If the governor wants to pray for rain, he has a constitutionally protected right to do so.

However, as an elected official he should do so with members of his church - at his church. Prayer has no place on the steps of the capitol.

Georgia is home to a diverse and progressive population that deserves better from our politicians.

Tuesday's vigil was a slap in the face to anyone who has worked hard to find practical solutions to help Georgia during this drought. Instead of praying for rain, Perdue, Cagle and others need to spend their time and resources on more immediate and realistic solutions to the drought.

Recovering from our water deficit will be difficult, and it will take time to get out of a drought state.

Conservation needs to become a way of life. The state needs to offer incentives to those who install water saving devices, like toilets that use less water and receptacles for collecting rainwater.

There also should be strict financial penalties for water wasters. We can pray until our knees bleed, but only when we come together and work to conserve our remaining water will we be able to get by until the skies finally open up.


- Melissa Weinman is the associate news editor of The Red & Black.

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