Group Discussion Questions
Faith And The City Forum: Interfaith Dialogue on Public Issues

Topic: The Georgia State Flag -- Building Community on Controversy
Recorded: March 24, 2003
First Aired: March 25 at 7:30 AM and March 26 at 7:30 PM

Faith And The City Forum is one of several initiatives by Faith And The City, a nonprofit organization that works to encourage a sense of community throughout the 20-county metro Atlanta region by amplifying the voices of the many religious traditions represented in the region.

Panelists:

Dr. Miriam Burnett
Director, Faith And The City
Interdenominational Theological Seminary

Dr. Laura Sugg
Lecturer
Columbia Theological Seminary

Ms. Tisha Tallman
General Counsel
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Mr. Harold Kirtz
Chairman, Community Relations Committee
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

The following questions are offered to encourage discussion of "The Georgia State Flag."

1. Should there be public debate on the state flag? Would such debate be divisive or unifying? Is such discussion currently as civil as it should be? How civil should it be?

2. In general, can public discussion help to nurture unity -- a sense of community -- rather than division? Are there parallels between the flag debate and interfaith dialogue?

3. Is the state issue really a race issue?

4. Do you support a referendum? Would you support a referendum if the symbol were not the Confederate battle emblem but a swastika? Is that a fair comparison?

5. What is the appropriate role of faith communities in the flag debate? What role or position has your faith community assumed, if any?

6. Does our democratic system demand a referendum or does it merely require that elected officials make decisions on behalf f those who elected them?

7. Can the discussion about the flag increase understanding of the various views and, in that way, nurture a greater sense of community? Or will discussion simply increase tension and encourage disunity?

There is a quick and easy way to express your view on any public issue to our elected and appointed leaders: You can find email addresses for hundreds of leaders from the local to the national level by visiting the "contacts" section of our website at http://www.faithandthecity.org. Why not email your views to your representatives in city, county, state, or federal government? You can do it now by clicking here.