"IN GOD WE TRUST": IN THE SCHOOLS, YES OR NO?

The American Center For Law And Justice ^ | 1/24/2002 | CNSNEWS

[DNA Rules]

Virginia Bill Would Bring National Motto into the Classroom (CNSNews.com) - The Virginia House of Delegates is expected to take a final vote Thursday on a bill requiring every Virginia public school to post a sign bearing the national motto, "In God We Trust." The bill received preliminary approval on Wednesday. Del. Robert Marshall (R-Prince William), the bill's sponsor, says it is particularly important after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to post the motto invoking God in Virginia schools. But on the opposite side of the argument, people who consider the motto "religious graffiti" don't even want it on U.S. currency, never mind in public schools. The current bill, unlike one that died last year, would allow schools to accept private contributions to defray the cost of the "In God We Trust" posters. The motto was placed on U.S. currency, beginning with a two-cent coin in 1864, largely because of increased religious sentiment during the Civil War. In 1865, Congress passed a bill allowing the motto to appear on all gold and silver coins; and it appeared on all U.S. coins starting in 1938.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"Its on our greenbacks & coins. It ought to good enough for our schools." There are trace amounts of cocaine and feces on bills and coins. Maybe you want to rethink that inference?

[d14truth]

"IN GOD WE TRUST": IN THE SCHOOLS, YES OR NO?

Sure beats "In the NEA we trust" or "In the ACLU we trust" or "In the GOVERNMENT we trust" or "In MEN we trust"

Of course trusting in nothing is always an option. < /sarcasm >

[d14truth]

"Maybe the worry is that if kids go several hours without hearing mention of God, and everything is still OK, they'll start drawing inferences ..."

like He is there 24/7 whether we 'choose' to acknowledge Him or not, but the 'choice' to acknowledge Him according to the desires of our heart is not an option because public schools are the only option for many of 'His children' and they are not allowed the freedom to bring Him to school with them as the Lord of their life. Government must be 'King', or that which we have might be given freely to the kingdom of God, and the government of men would then have to trust in Him, as well they should---because it is IN GOD WE TRUST!!! in all things unknown, whether we call Him by name or not.

[stuartcr]

Are you sure, and why?

[ConsistentLibertarian]

But many people on FR _do_ place their trust in government, so long as it's run by like minded folk. The distinction between the institution and the people playing a role in it often goes missing. Worse: you hear people talk as if the distinction between Rule of Law v. Rule by Men has no point provided they're Good Men. It's vulgar.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Reminds me of Monty Python, "Help, help! I'm being oppressed!"

[d14truth]

""People have to be reminded" Ahhh ... So it's all about government paternalism. Interesting."

No, it's about the 'complete history' of our nation. You can not separate a people from their culture, faith, and religious heritage. Now if one has no culture, no faith, and no religious heritage; they can always pick one up at the local 'politically correct' institute of higher learning, the public school.

Let's promote condoms(if they fail, abortion),racial equality(if it fails, affirmative action/profiling), saving the planet(if it fails, take away property rights), 'Thou shalt not murder', using different non-religious words(if it fails, take away 'tools' that could be for killing)

I know you are a 'Consistent Libertarian', but before I can espouse that which you do, I would ask what are your 'core' values?

[ConsistentLibertarian]

So the idea is that religion is something like a condom for the mind, preventing impregnation by politically correct ideologies? If that's it, I think we shouldn't be passing out that sort of condom in a public school and should preach abstinence instead.

[realpatriot71]

Maybe the worry is that if kids go several hours without hearing mention of God, and everything is still OK, they'll start drawing inferences ...

LOL

It's been a long week. Thank you. :-)

[realpatriot71]

I personally do like like to see the mention of God in government and in government run instituions. This is not because it offends me. I'm a Christian - how am I supposed to be offened by God. I just think allowing God into these instituions like this is similar to the government giving a nod and a wink at Christianity. People pay lip service to the fact that the God in "In God We Trust" does not say necessarily mean the God of Christianity. However, I wonder how people would feel if the motto were changed to "In Goddess We Trust" or "In Shiva We Trust" of "In the 8 Fold Path We Trust" or "In Allah We Trust".

[billbears]

This is at a state level, not federal. I suggest you read a few of the state constitutions before federal intrusion. Elected officials were REQUIRED to profess a belief in God, or God Almighty as some of the constitutions say, before holding office. And then check the words of the writers of those state constitutions, many of which were peers of the Founders. And please no quotes from Thomas Paine and his group. There were 54 other men that signed the Constitution and their words still hold true today

[BikerNYC]

How about: "In God Some Of Us Trust"

[Eddeche]

How about: "In God Some Of Us Trust"

How about: "In Cheese We Trust"

[BikerNYC]

No, it can't be any kind of cheese. We don't want to acknowledge the kinds of cheese they eat over there.

It would have to be: "In Cheddar Cheese We Trust."

[Eddeche]

It would have to be: "In Cheddar Cheese We Trust."

But everyone knows the only REAL cheddar cheese is Wisconsin cheddar cheese.

"In Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese We Trust"

[BikerNYC]

Whole milk or part skim?

[Pistias]

Ugh, save the isms, I don't have the patience today for hiding behind little words. People do need to be reminded of anything to remember it, especially when it runs contrary to their desires. But the reason (IMHO) they're gunning for it isn't "paternalism" by the government or by anybody. It's a desperate attempt to counter the flood of secularity their kids are required to ingest every day.

[d14truth]

"So the idea is that religion is something like a condom for the mind, preventing impregnation by politically correct ideologies?"

So the idea is that religionSOCIALISM is something like a condom for the mind, preventing impregnation by politically INcorrect ideologies?

When Karl Marx proclaimed religion as 'opiate of the masses', was he proclaiming it as a good thing, a bad thing, or just proclaiming it as 'truth'? For those who would foment revolution, godlessness is a pretty good bet to achieve it. No law of man can ever stop 'evildoers'. Nor can the 'Law of God'; however, God's eternal law is the only law with justice guaranteed, and, for believers, gives a hope that maintains a civilized society on earth--where there is one.

[d14truth]

Is ConsistentLibertarian the same kind of libertarian you are, OWK? I'm sensing degrees of libertarianism just like there are degrees of 'religiosity' with varying types of morals and immorals within each.

[Ligeia]

House vote advances national motto bill

RICHMOND - Without debate, the House of Delegates on Friday voted overwhelmingly for legislation requiring that the national motto, ``In God We Trust,'' be posted in every Virginia courtroom.

Del. Robert G. Marshall's bill passed on an 88-11 vote a day after his companion bill requiring that the same motto be posted in public schools advanced to the Senate by a similar margin.

Civil liberties groups oppose the legislation as the state forcing religious expression onto its citizens.

Marshall, R-Manassas, said he believed that inscribing the motto that appears on U.S. currency in courthouses would make proceedings more solemn, provide an expression of hope and promote good citizenship.
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
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