How fitting for Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue to announce his referendum to reinstate the confederate flag Wednesday — on Lincoln's birthday. I also recall Bush unfolding his administration's plan to begin the process of tearing down affirmative action policies on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

How apropos for them both.

Politicians definitely have a way of literally driving the nail into the coffin. Despite the historical significance that may or may not have influenced the moment he chose to announce his plans, it is troubling to hear that Perdue wants to revisit the old glory of the Stars and Bars two years after the new flag unfurled atop the state capitol.

This issue is arguably one of the main reasons Perdue was voted into office after Democratic incumbent, Gov. Roy Barnes signed a bill to replace the Battle Flag of the Confederacy with a new flag that hoped to neutralize the tensions between staunch advocates of the old version, and those in support of a change.

The new flag design is a sort of compromise, featuring a prominent Georgia seal with the history of Georgia's past flags located beneath, including a much smaller image of the old confederate version.

Intended to satisfy those who want to honor the history of the state as well as those who are not comfortable with the confederate emblem, the new flag attempted to arrive at a middle ground.

Interestingly, Georgia adopted the confederate emblem during the civil rights movement in the 1950s that most definitely attempted to deliver a message to those who pushed for change. It was certainly a call to remember the past — one that included a reminiscent Old South proud of its role in subjugating an entire race.

And now, when the long-time controversial issue seemed at a rest, Perdue wants to rile everyone up— the majority, rural constituency of course. Perdue plans to ask voters if they would like a return to the old version or keep the new one as a vote up or down question on the 2004 presidential primary ballot.

Amid talks of dissolving affirmative action, Trent Lott, and Illinois remaining the only state to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, it seems as though our country is undergoing a regressive trend regarding race relations. But it's a downward turn that began perhaps long before the current Bush administration and one that may continue for some time to come.

• How the south was lost