Which should judge you? U.S. Law or Foreign Law

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 22, 2012
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. For at least a decade, several bills have been introduced in the Georgia General Assembly to affirm English as our official language, but not one of them passed! So, what’s the problem? Are we afraid to look patriotic or proud or protective of our own country or do we fear offending someone if we express the obvious truth? After all, we are English-speaking people, who expect everyone to conform to our laws when they’re in our country.

Can’t we, as American citizens, honor our Constitution as the basis for laws, regulations, rules and policies? Must we allow foreign law and foreign influences to weaken and neutralize legal authority and American sovereignty? Let’s encourage our legislators to pass bills, such as S.B. 51 and H.B. 242 that required American law to be used in Georgia courts. Both bills were introduced in 2011 and both died at the end of the 2012 session, despite the fact that other states have passed bills to protect themselves against the use of foreign law.

S.R. 926 is an outstanding bill that should have passed and, hopefully, will be reintroduced in the 2013 session. But it was, also, held in committee. A Senate leader told me they were “waiting for one of the other bills to pass the House into the Senate,” but it never happened.

No doubt, serving in public office as law-makers is a very difficult and trying task, especially, in the politically correct climate and international pressure of today. However, I would love to see our General Assembly follow the lead of Kansas that passed a bill to keep its government agencies and courts from basing decisions on foreign legal codes. I would love to see our governor do what Kansas Governor Sam Brownback did and sign it into law.

The Kansas law takes effect July 1st and we could’ve had the same thing here if S.B. 51 or H.B. 242 had passed. But, now, we’ll have to wait at least another year for that to happen. If S.R. 926 had passed, Georgia social standards would have been protected, as well as Georgia law, but it died, too.

Since issues such as American law for Georgia courts should be on the front burner for every candidate, voters should ask House and Senate candidates to pledge to introduce and pass three bills – one declaring English as the official language, another to prevent the use of foreign law in our legal system and another to protect Georgia’s social standards.

In January, those who are elected to the General Assembly will pledge to uphold the Georgia Constitution, the U.S. Constitution and laws of the land! Let’s ask them to make that pledge now and uphold it after they’re elected. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.