Local author hoists delicate issues with 'George's Flag'

Nashville author Edward Ronny Arnold has observed plenty of interesting cultural and social events and happenings over the years. He’s also long wanted to dip his toe into the waters of political and historical fiction, and his current book George’s Flag offers a very intriguing, though also potentially controversial scenario.

Shifting gears between the past, present and future, Arnold’s work imagines a time when Latinos have become the dominant force in American politics, and are now set to elect one of their own as President. It chronicles the four-decade long struggle to elect George Pilar, America’s first Latino President.

Adding extra spice is the fact that Pilar is female and was born to an illegal immigrant who worked in Florida’s citrus fields. As a newborn she receives the gift of an American flag, and this is the beginning of what becomes a monumental campaign for the nation’s highest office.

“I wanted to look at a lot of different issues here, and I think I chose several that are now hot button topics,” Arnold said. “But it really wasn’t so much based on what I think will happen, although trends show that Latinos are now both the nation’s most populous minority group and fastest growing one. From what I’ve seen the time will come when they do want to elect one of their own, because if you look at the country’s history in terms of other immigrant groups, that’s been the pattern. But the really funny thing is that I wrote this long before the whole Obama campaign emerged, and that wasn’t even in my mind when I created the book.”

Interestingly, Arnold’s account is as much a story of political organizing and activism as ethnic pride. There are secondary tales about culture, family traditions and intrigue that also find their way into the narrative, as well as some quite sinister machinations enacted by those opposing Pilar’s rise to power.

While he doesn’t spare the behind-the-scenes political details and focuses on the day-to-day necessities of fund-raising and speech making, Pilar’s emergence also depends on charisma, interaction and the excitement of getting people involved in a historic event.

“In my view, the book is as much about what the established political parties will do to prevent anything new from emerging as much as it is about the growth and evolution of Latinos as a political force,” Arnold said. “I think that the current election has gotten people excited about politics again, and now there may actually be a chance in the future for a new political party or parties to emerge. There’s plenty of dissatisfaction with the way things are going in the country, and I do feel that people are now at least willing to hear from new voices and give fresh faces a chance.”

Arnold acknowledges that the issue of illegal immigration, which plays a major role in George’s Flag, is a divisive one, and that he didn’t try to make his book an advocacy novel.

“My main goal was to tell a good story, look at possibilities and raise some issues,” Arnold said. “The government hasn’t yet been able to get a handle on illegal immigration, but it’s certainly something that the next president and administration will have to address.”

Arnold’s done some impressive research into American history as well, and many of the surprises and shocking events revolve around unearthed documents, clauses in state laws and other political maneuvers, but mainly George’s Flag is an entertaining, exciting tale about something that may take place long before many Americans are ready for it to happen.