Resident’s plea leads council to consider other gestures of peace
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Despite a resident’s impassioned plea, Whitewater municipal leaders will likely not move forward and fly a flag in support of the United Nations.
But other gestures demonstrating the city’s support and desire of world peace could soon be adopted.
Whitewater resident Betty Refior came before the Common Council on June 17 and requested officials uphold a decision made by its predecessors more than four decades ago.
On Oct. 24, 1971, the council adopted a resolution that read, in part, “As a symbol of our obligations as world citizens, we proudly display the United Nations flag with the United States flag near the main entrance of the city hall and urge other cities to do the same.”
Such a flag is not believed to have ever flown in front of Whitewater’s municipal building.
“Waging peace is not for sissies,” Refior said as she spoke to the incumbent council about what she considered unfinished business.
Several members of the council responded to Refior’s request, but ultimately determined another symbolic gesture might be better suited for Whitewater in these modern times. In general, support toward the United Nations has waned.
“I support your overall philosophy and goals for world cooperation,” said council member Lynn Binnie, who asked that the item be placed on the council’s most recent agenda. “But I believe we’re in a very different setting than we were in 1971.”
Council President Patrick Singer and council members Stephanie Abbott and James Winship also weighed in on the issue and expressed sentiments similar to Binnie’s.
“Frankly, it is a little bit of a partisan issue,” Abbott said. “Ideally, everyone wants peace. I don’t think this is a controversy Whitewater wants or should create.”
The council is expected to revisit the issue at a future meeting. Other alternatives under consideration include flying a UN flag during United Nations Day, held each year on Oct. 24, or erecting a monument known as a peace poll within one of the public parks.
