"In God We Trust" -- a more fit & fair motto needed.

A great editorial from the May 25th issue of the Colorado Daily:

snip...


On May 17, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals held that it is constitutional to post the nation's motto, "In God We Trust," in a courtroom. In its decision, the Court held that a portion of the "Lemon Test," which is used to determine if a law violates the First Amendment prohibition against establishing a religion, is a "low hurdle" that only blocks laws that are motivated solely by an intention to establish a religion.

This would be a "low hurdle" indeed - one that no theocratic law could fail. Those who seek to enact theocratic laws argue that they are necessary to boost the moral character of its citizens. Since moral character is not a purely religious concern, the establishment of a national religion itself could not be deemed unconstitutional on this interpretation.

However, it is not my purpose to discuss the constitutionality of this issue. I am concerned with its moral quality, and the moral character of those who would support it.

It is not truly the word "God" that makes this motto problematic. It is the word "We." If there is a "we" (or an "us") who trusts in God, then there must be a "they" (or a "them") who do not.

"We" versus "They."

"Us" versus "Them."

The motto asserts that there are two classes of people. There is a group of first-class "we" citizens - included and accepted - that share a trust in God. There is also a group of second-class "they" citizens to be thought of as outside of civil society who do not trust in (the same) God.

Making this the nation's motto says that there is nothing more important - no idea greater, no cause more worth fighting for and dying for - than that of dividing equally peaceful citizens into groups of "us" and "them" based on religious belief.

Is this really what America stands for?


more here:
http://www.coloradodaily.com/articles/2005/05/24/opinion/opinion01.prt

It is god we trust, its organized religion we dont trust

Any reference to god is offensive to me and violates the principles the country was founded on.

We had a good motto -- E pluribus unum -- and the theists replaced with an un-American one.

Wisdom-Courage-Freedom

Since Fundies are G-d's direct link to the people, we might well just trust everything they say.

Everyone else pays cash.

(sign in an auto shop I use)

It was good enough for the 'founding fathers', it's good enough for me.

We'll get people together and stop this foolishness. If the fundies hate it, they can move to a nice theocratic nation....I think it's called Iran.

connotes many ideals:

1. Do a good job; don't be like Ford and GM where quality is job last.

2. A woman's has a right to choose.

3. No pre-emptive wars.

4. Pay as you go government

5. No phony impeachments over personal matters

6. Take responsibilty.

NB. According to Paul Harvey's "Rest of the Story," "Mind your business" was taken off of the money and replace by "In god we trust."

...in direct defiance of the Biblical injunction (attributed to Jesus),
"Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's."

I am surprised that the majority religion allows its deity to be demeaned in such a fashion.

They are themselves busily besmirching the name of their g-d in every way they can think of. None of them seem to have any concern for the honour of g-d. Disgusting creatures!