Life is Precious

By State Rep. George Faught
Guest Column in the Muskogee Phoenix, January 22nd, 2009

Our Declaration of Independence contains the following words in the second paragraph – “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that are among them Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  It then begins to lay out the case for protecting these Rights and what should be the people’s role and that of government.  I wonder if we as a society still believe in these rights the way they positioned in the Declaration of Independence.

January 18th-25th was ‘Sanctity of Human Life Week’, which brought into focus the preciousness of all life; from the elderly to the most innocent of lives, those of the unborn.  It is important to note that of the three unalienable Rights listed in the Declaration of Independence, ‘Life’ is first mentioned.  I believe it is no accident that our forefathers listed it thus, because it is the most important.  Yes, we have personal ‘Liberty’, as long as it does not interfere with the Life of someone else.  Yes, we may engage in the ‘pursuit of Happiness’, as long as it does not interfere with someone’s Liberty.  But it all starts with ‘Life’. The Bible has a lot to say about life; in Psalm 139:14 it says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  God’s Word speaks volumes of how precious the gift of life is and how it should be protected.

Our society has turned upside down those rights in the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the pursuit of happiness, rather than Life.  The common thought is, “If it makes me happy, then it is okay, regardless of the consequences.”  Our personal desires are selfishly elevated above the liberties of others.  Is there any room in this equation for Life? Only for convenience sake, if it fits our schedule.  Our society has judged those babies who have come at an inconvenient time, or whose medical condition shows an abnormality, to not have value, and says that they can be discarded with a simple procedure.  When the elderly become weak and feeble we seek to place them out of sight so as to not cramp our lifestyle.

We as a Nation stand at a crossroads; who will stand up and become the voice for those who are yet to be born and the elderly?  The unborn did not choose their parents or circumstances surrounding their birth.  Our elders spent their entire lives caring for us.  Don’t the weakest and most vulnerable in our society deserve the same rights guaranteed the citizens of this great Nation, of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”?

We have placed a greater value on our personal happiness and liberties than we have the God-ordained gift of Life.  All life is precious, and must be protected from conception to natural end.

George Faught, R-Muskogee, is the state representative for House District 14, which covers portions of Muskogee and Cherokee counties.

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What Does the Fourth of July Mean?

By State Rep. George Faught
Guest Column in the Muskogee Phoenix, July 4th, 2009

What does the Fourth of July mean to you today? To children it is a time to shoot off fireworks and watch the huge displays across this land. To many families it is a day off work to be spent with friends at backyard barbeques or long weekend at the lake.

But to a group of courageous citizens in 1776, it meant survival of the very freedoms their forefathers braved the ocean to cross. They remembered the hardships of making a future for themselves and their families. They had started farms and businesses, contributing to the economic growth of all those around them.

Have you ever considered the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence? They were farmers, doctors, businessmen, ministers, sailors and teachers.  They saw that what they had worked so hard for was being chipped away by an all-consuming government whose appetite could never be satisfied. Everything they had worked for could eventually be taken away. They had had enough and felt no other course but to declare independence.

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

“…Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Those words meant something in 1776; I am not so sure that a pledge from someone today making the same statement would carry as much weight as that one did. Where have we gone wrong?

As a country we have looked too long in the mirror of our own reflection so that we can’t see how a single individual’s contribution can make a difference. We are so wrapped up in gaining a fortune that we don’t care what we have to do to attain that wealth. Fifty-six individuals signed their names to a document and then pledged everything they had. Did they have a guarantee of a successful outcome? No, but they were convinced it was worth the risk.

The liberties that we enjoy come with the responsibility to pass on the fire of patriotism to the next generation. When we become lazy and think someone else will step up and tackle the problems our country faces, we are doomed to fail. Can these United States become the chain that attempts to snuff out the light of liberty? It can, if we let it. Could our livelihoods be altered by a government with such out of control spending that it must take from our futures? It will, if we don’t speak out.

Fifty-six men sparked a revolution that set others free. They were men of vision and conviction. They had sacred honor that was worth fighting and dying for. Where are the visionaries of today? Are they too busy looking at their own reflection to notice the situation around them? We need leaders with conviction of heart to make decisions not because they are easy, but because they are right.
How will you celebrate the 4th of July this year? Will you dare raise your voice against all who threaten Liberty? Will you be named among the few that give generations a brighter future?
It is time for the next generation of patriots to say, “Enough is enough!” Let’s give this country back to the people, not the powers in Washington, DC.  We are each individuals, but if we lift our voices in unison we can be heard from ‘sea to shining sea’.

George Faught, R-Muskogee, is the state representative for House District 14, which covers portions of Muskogee and Cherokee counties.

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RIED Releases Legislative Scorecard - Area Rankings

The Research Institute of Economic Development (RIED) recently published its annual legislative scorecard evaluating legislators' actions regarding issues and legislation affecting business in Oklahoma.

RIED evaluated legislators’ votes and positions during the 2009 legislative session on dozens of bills that affect economic growth and job creation in the state – such as tax relief, lawsuit reform, workers’ compensation reform, and small business issues.

Below is the report card for all of the Muskogee and surrounding area legislators.

To see the current scores as well as those from past sessions earned by Oklahoma Representatives and Senators click on this link: http://probizok.com/RIEDINDEX.asp

The Institute is non-partisan. It does not lobby issues and it does not endorse candidates.
















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Thoughts on Thanksgiving

by State Rep. George Faught
Guest Column in the Muskogee Phoenix, November 26th, 2009

America is a blessed nation, and this Thanksgiving season we have many things for which to be grateful. We have one of the highest standards of living; liberties and freedoms that other people around the globe can only dream of and the goodness of heart to not keep these attributes to ourselves but to spread them around the world.

But don’t think I am merely being a “Pollyanna”.  I do see the struggles and strife around us.  However, we cannot let that blind us to the possibilities that lie ahead.  We as a people and nation are shaped and formed by the pressures placed upon us and it is our attitude and actions that form our character.

The pilgrims were confronted with a harsh wilderness when they landed on this continent centuries ago. They came for a purpose - to build a community where they had the freedom to live and worship without the persecution they had previously endured. But it was the Hand of Providence, some friendly Indian neighbors and their own fierce determination that forged a colony that survived. 

Our Founding Fathers, likewise broke free from the same type of tyranny under a harsh king to nurture a new land under a new type of government, one that gave freedom to its citizens. America remains free today, but defending that freedom comes with a high price.

Today, our country faces many struggles with our economy and the continuing war on terror. It might be easy to become discouraged and difficult to think of many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  But it is all a matter of perspective.

If we think back to the times we struggled the most through one of life’s circumstances and how we made it through, we realize that the struggle itself develops our character. Only under the stress and weight of those times do we truly know the mettle we are made of. It is the fire of the trials that proves our character.

If we were to take stock of the road we have traveled and the obstacles we have overcome, then we can truly be thankful for the journey. It is only when we get to that place in our lives that we can be free to observe the world around us in a different light. 

When you are gathered around your table this Thanksgiving with family and friends, take into account the journey and what it has proved in your own character; then take a hard look around the table and your community and see who’s life journey you might make a little easier. The rewards of reaching out a helping hand are never truly calculated in money but in the strengthening of someone else and in the end growing in your own character as well. Have a blessed Thanksgiving this year.

George Faught, R-Muskogee, is the state representative for House District 14, which covers portions of Muskogee and Cherokee counties.

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