Even though God is clearly very busy, He has had a couple of good days.
It made little news given all the week’s turmoil, but the Senate has just agreed to a resolution reaffirming the 50th anniversary of the formal adoption of the national motto of the United States — “In God We Trust.”
This week’s approval reaffirms, in writing, that “from the colonial beginnings of the United States, citizens of the nation have officially acknowledged their dependence on God.” It was on July 30, 1956, that President Eisenhower signed a congressional resolution passed by the 84th Congress making “In God We Trust” the official motto of the United States.
And, to make you the smartest person in the room about the whole issue, here’s some snappy history and background about our very wonderful Official Motto.
In addition to having a good day in Congress, God and our motto also did pretty darn well in a courtroom, of all places. You remember Michael Newdow, don’t you? Of course you do–he’s the MalNar athiest who first sued to get The Pledge of Allegiance banned in schools. His latest effort to force society to look like him in all his Godlessness was a lawsuit to get “In God We Trust” taken off our currency.
He lost.
Federal Judge Nixes ‘In God We Trust’ Lawsuit
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal judge on Monday rejected a lawsuit from an atheist who said having the phrase “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins and dollar bills violated his First Amendment rights.
U.S. District Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr. said the minted words amounted to a secular national slogan that did not trample on Michael Newdow’s avowed religious views.
Victories like these are good, but we should never take it for granted. Both Congress and the courts have enormous power. It’s imperative we never forget that fact and stay vigilant with voting, speaking up and gtting involved. Newdow, as an example, has announced that he will appeal. Stay tuned.
It’s nice that Congress threw mainstream America a bone by allowing the mint to continue to print “In God We Trust” on our coin, however that statement may have been partially correct back in the 1950s when it was first instituted but I don’t believe we can honestly look God in the face (if we could) and say as a nation we trust in him. We do not and that’s a fact. We mostly trust in the $. The “In God We Trust” thing doesn’t really bother me that much because it isn’t true anyway. Same thing with Newdow. They expelled God from the classroom so why not expell the Pledge too. Why not make the kids empty their pockets of all loose change (because it has “In God We Trust).
They threw us a bone with the “In God We Trust” thing just like they tried to throw us a bone with the $100 rebate for the increases in gas prices (thank you Senator Frist). One good bit of news coming from Congress was the reduction in the deficit estimates this week. Could they really be getting spending under control or is this just Enron accounting methods?
I am always surprised when God wins a court case, considering that all the lawyers are working for the opposition.
Hey, shall we break out the silly old lawyer jokes? Okay, here’s my favorite:
Q: What’s the difference between a dead dog in the road and a dead lawyer in the road?
A: There are skid marks in front of the dog.
“…all the lawyers are working for the opposition.”
ALL of us, Horse?
Of course, I’m the first one to be making lawyer jokes.
Q: How many lawyers does it take to roof a house?
A: Depends how thin you slice them.
I am abandoning my Franklinesk pessimism and hoping that 40 years of Republican domination in the White House is finally paying off.
As far as the Senate is concerned, from ancient Rome to modern Washington a Senator is a Senator.
“In God We Trust” may have been saved, but all around the attack goes on. The dating method B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini) is quietly being replaced by B.C.E. (before the common era) and C.E.(common era). Though they reference the same time periods, the latter are “preferred by some as a religiously-neutral alternative.”
The tradition, culture, history, in short, the very essence of this country is slowly but surely being stripped away.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCE