NEW ATTITUDES: Slogan on flag [In God We Trust] sends message of exclusion

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 4/15/03 | Greg Woods

[madprof98]

I owe an apology to some people. I want to say I am sorry to all the minorities, descendants of slaves or anyone else who was hurt or offended by our old state flag, adopted in 1956, that contained the Confederate battle emblem.

I did not take the fight seriously. When people started fighting for a change in the flag many years ago, I was on their side in the way I'm on the side of anyone who fights for equality. But I didn't care because I thought the fight did not concern me.

I grew up around the offensive version of the flag, but I didn't have a lot of personal feelings invested in it because I'm not visibly a minority, plus I never really cared that much about the Civil War. I supported change, but halfheartedly. No matter which way the issue ended up, it wouldn't really change or affect my life. Or so I thought.

Now, I'm in the minority. Our possible new Georgia flag is going to have "In God We Trust" emblazoned across the center of the design, a dark stain on what would otherwise be a decent and acceptable emblem of our state.

Although "In God We Trust" is also on the current flag, adopted two years ago, the words would be displayed much more prominently in the new version under consideration by the Georgia General Assembly. It is presented literally as the primary focus of the flag, and figuratively as the primary belief system for everyone in Georgia.

I have learned a lesson in apathy. By not caring about someone else's plight, I have now been put in their position.

Some people like to say that the religious words of the flag do not specifically relate to Christianity, but to all religions. However, I doubt that those people would be comfortable with "In some deity we trust" or "In Gods we trust." Even if the statement is intended to cover all religions, it still does not apply to those with no religion.

Aside from the separation of church and state arguments, there is the matter of respect. Why must we have a state flag that blatantly pursues disrespect of a specific group of people? "In God We Trust" is a direct statement of disrespect toward all those who believe differently.

I like to think that supporters of this atrocity don't really mean any harm to others. However, I also know from experience that religious focus in the public eye breeds prejudice against dissenters, at least subconsciously.

Nonreligious people feel disconnected from the very place that they were born, raised and still live. Proselytizing your religion to others is admirable and understandable. But forcing beliefs into the lives of others is cruel, spiteful and evil.

I am ashamed of myself for being so apathetic to those who fought our previous flag. They had an issue, and I chose not to care. Now I can only hope that they do not do the same to me.

[madprof98]

The author is a senior at the University of Georgia. He has been writing regularly for the AJC.

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[tet68]

The author is a senior at the University of Georgia. He has been writing regularly for the AJC.



Probably the best they can get.
What a loosner!

[goodnesswins]

Oh, for God's sake....go find another (better) country.....I'm fed up with these people.....er...whatever they are.

[Jeff Head]

Proud product of the NEA.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

>>"Why must we have a state flag that blatantly pursues disrespect of a specific group of people?"

You mean that hideous blue rag fluttering above the gold dome?

It's not just ugly, it's you-gly.

[f.Christian]

Separation of state and ideology (( religion // atheism // communism // cults )) would put these bolsheviks and their unconstitutional monopoly out of business !

"Bolshevik monopoly" (( aclu // nea // devilcrats )) ...

tyranny (( taliban // jihad )) ---

brainwashing (( conservatism // Truth )) ...

indoctrination (( liberalism // atheism // evolution // communism )) !

[Larry Lucido]

If the flag said "Respect Your Mother Earth," this guy probably wouldn't have uttered a peep.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

How about this one?

[Dog Gone]

He should to refuse any money that has those words on it.

That would show some conviction.

[Dog Gone]

not at all clear why I put the word "to" in that sentence... proofread twice, post once.

[My2Cents]

"In God we trust" isn't just a pleasing (to some) sentiment, but is a historical fact. The Declaration of Independence states, "We hole these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..." Our nation was formed with the foundation that certain rights are God-given, not state-permitted. President Bush has been criticized for saying the rights we respect are God-given, but that's what our founding documents affirm. Certainly, any right permitted by the state can be taken away. A right given to all people by God is eternal and absolute, and any government which denies a person such right loses its validity. The senior at the Univ. of Georgia may not like it, he may disagree with it, but that's the basis of our national independence and identity. "In God we trust" is a historical fact.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Who in the bleeping hades gives a flying .... what this creep thinks. Send him to Syria with others of his anti-American ilk.

[FloridaBoy]

I really like that. I agree with you. He should not carry that evil green stuff in his wallet.

[Savage Beast]

Retain "In God We Trust." Eliminate the state seal.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"The senior at the Univ. of Georgia may not like it, he may disagree with it, but that's the basis of our national independence and identity. "In God we trust" is a historical fact."

This country was uniquely successful precisely because of it's firm foundation of distinctly Christian principles, and began it's decline as we moved away from those principles.

Just as the liberals think they can fix problems such as the school system by doing more of the same rather than admitting wholesale change (i.e. returning prayer to schools?) is needed, many people in this nation, and certainly all those poor oppressed "minorities" this author thinks he is sounding so enlightened a humanitarian bleating for, would sooner see this country become just one more socialist second-rate member of a world morass than ever even consider that humbling ourselves before the one true God is not only what is necessary for this country to re-gain it's former position as the greatest nation ever in history, but that it is also not all that bad...And as the founding fathers were very clear about, it has nothing in common with state imposed religions such as the Islamic states where one can be put to death for sharing anything but Islam.

But there is such hostility toward God in the world today,(the very motvation for Socialism), and such massive ignorance as to what separation of church and state actually means that people such as this author are totally naive to the fact that they are warriors on the wrong side of a great spiritual warfare. They laugh at such a suggestion, because they think they are being so understanding and open-minded, and those who talk about one true God are the narrow minded..."hateful"... ones

It's all so biblical in terms of fulfillment of prophecy it's scary...yet exciting at the same time, for those who know this world is not our home.

[Chuckster]

You are exactly correct. And that is why people like this fellow represent a such danger to our liberties. Once enough Americans believe that God is irrelevant, offensive even, then it must follow that our rights could not have divine origin. If not God-given then they must be derived from government and can therefore be taken away from us by the government at any time.

This is dangerous thinking of the highest order. It attacks the very roots of American liberty.

[elephantlips]

If I were in a Swedish ship on the high seas in a terrible storm and the ship held together and got me safely to port I would be very, very grateful. The worthiness of the ship in which I had the privilege to sail would be of primary importance not that it was Swedish or French or German or whatever. This great country called America was founded by Christians, for the most part, on Christian principles. As Patrick Henry pointed out it is a haven for ALL religions. This ship is the USS America and its government is, perhaps, the greatest that ever existed. People who don't like the ship and want to rearrange its construction need to find another ship more to their liking and get off of this one. This ship is not up for renovation, thank you, it fine just the way it is.