I know that this has no real significance, since laws aren't enforced by what the people actually want in this country anyways...but, I figured I'd take an opportunity to encourage you all to vote the same as me (except David, of course;) Actually, I'm surprised that I feel this to be so important - especially considering how it came to me - by a forward - I hate forwards!!!! Anyways, basically, some athiest somewhere is petitioning to get "in god we trust" taken off our legal tender. So, MSNBC started a poll to see what America thinks. The athiest says this establishes Christianity as the official religion and does not seperate church and state. The other arguement is that this phrase has cultural and historical significance and does nothing to establish one religion above the other. I agree. Therfore, lets all go cast our vote in this pole - I know, silly, but I figured this is an acceptable place for me to make my plug. Kay, I 've wasted enough words on this silly debate. here is the link.
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Wow, I am honestly shocked that the vote is that close.
OK, well, I may be laying my head down on the guillotine for this one, but here goes:
I prefer the original United States motto, "E Pluribus Unum", which is Latin for "One From Many". The official change to "In God We Trust" was made during the Cold War and McCarthyism, a time when atheists were being equated with Communists by the federal government. While Communism is atheistic, not all atheists are Communists, and atheism is not unpatriotic. [Full disclosure - as a former atheist I have what some might term extreme sympathy for the causes of religious tolerance.]
I don't disagree with you, Rick, that the motto has cultural and historical significance, and I don't object to the motto per se, but I think "E Pluribus Unum" is more representative of what we as a nation are about and, yes, more politically correct. Therefore, given the option, I would opt back to the original motto, just as I would opt back to the original Pledge of Allegiance (sans "Under God"). This is never, ever going to happen - no politician can be perceived (however incorrectly) to be against God - and I'm ok with that.
Check this page out for some more information.
So given the poll options:
"Should the motto 'In God We Trust' be removed from U.S. currency?
Yes. It's a violation of the principle of separation of church and state.
No. The motto has historical and patriotic significance and does nothing to establish a state religion."
... my answer is no. :)
wow, mike. I didn't know that. Hmmm....interesting. I love E Pluribus Unum, and was aware of what it stood for. I didn't realize the shady history of "In God We Trust" though. I didn't realize it was in anyway tied to McCarthyism. If that is indeed the case, I may have to rethink MY feelings on that (I loath MCarthy and his wichhunt more than anything in US History - - almost). Thanks for the education there.
Great job on this one, Mike. You totally nailed it.
As a matter of principal, I'd say "In God We Trust" should be removed from the currency. Sticking a finger in the eye of the nation's atheists is just not a legitimate government action. But as a matter of practical politics, atheists should just leave it alone. Makes 'em look petty. Nobody's really hurt by the phrase, and it's probably a loser of a court case.
--David
I am with Mike, I will also vote no. I feel it's just another issue that has no real influence on peoples actions and is just an excuse for whiners to whine about the minority not getting their way. It says "in God we trust", not, "in the Christian God alone we trust", if that were the case maybe I would rethink it. The MAJORITY of people believe in a God and therefore it should remain as is.
I'm sorry to say it, but I guess we have to disagree sometimes, Rick. ;-)
I think that "In God we Trust" unconstitutionally establishes Christianity as the national religion, and I find such a violation of the Constitution offensive.
"God" does, without question, refer to the Judeo-Christian Yahweh. Otherwise it would say "In god we Trust" or "In Allah we Trust" or Zeus, or Vishnu, or Buddah. The phrase is religiously insensitive and establishes one religion over the others. It also establishes theism over skepticism, agnosticism, or atheism.
When government gets involved in religion, it taints both.
Has anyone here seen Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance? I know it is slightly different than the words on our coinage, but I thought it was an interesting point, especially since when I was in elementary school I remember everyone standing each day to say the pledge, but by the end of middle school we had stopped doing this.
I agree with Anon. David said - it should be removed out of principle, but as a practical matter, it's not really worth arguing over.
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