Elected officials, whether they are Republican, Democrat or from a third party, should work with the future in mind rather than the past; they should try to unite rather than divide.

Unfortunately, that might not be the case in Georgia, where Sonny Perdue became the governor-elect after running a campaign that chastised state lawmakers there for altering the state's flag, which prominently portrayed the Confederate emblem.

The GOP leader has since appeared unsure of changing back the flag, which could cost Georgia millions of dollars in lost tourism.

But the fact there still appears to be such a tremendous support of the red-and-blue Confederate battle cross is disheartening. Political analysts say that votes from many rural, white Georgians who supported flying the old flag were key in Perdue's triumph over Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes on Tuesday.

Supporters of the old flag say the Confederate emblem is historic, but they should be reminded of the fact that the flag's history came from a period of dehumanizing slavery and racism.

Additionally, there doesn't seem to be much wrong with the current flag, which was created under Barnes' leadership and depicts the gold seal of Georgia on a blue field with small images of Georgia's historical state flags along the bottom - including the colors that contained the Confederate battle flag within them.

The dilemma over changing the flag is comparable to the controversy that surrounded South Carolina, when the Confederate flag flew over its state Capitol.

Essentially, government leaders should embrace symbols that unify rather than divide.

Reverting back to a state flag that was created in 1956 at the height of southern segregationist defiance is a brutal slap in the face to those working toward the ideals of future racial harmony in Georgia.

It would be worse for Perdue to continue pushing the issue to re-adopt Georgia's old flag than it would be for him to go back on his promise to voters.