“In God We Trust” has been the nation’s official motto for 55 years, engraved on the currency and public buildings. There is no emerging movement to change that. But House Republicans chose to look beyond the absence of immediate threats and instead protect the motto against yet-unimagined threats in the future.Milbank chastises the legislators for wasting time on this bill rather than addressing the economny and the national jobs problem. He focuses on the Republicans, but of note the bill passed by a margin of 396 to 9.
The legislation [“H.Con.Res 13 — Reaffirming ‘In God We Trust’ as the official motto of the United States”] “provides Congress with the opportunity to renew its support of a principle that was venerated by the founders of this country, and by its presidents, on a bipartisan basis.”...
But I do agree with him on this observation:
Notably, the House majority saw no need to protect the nation’s other motto, the one from the Great Seal of the United States that also appears on currency: e pluribus unum.
Congratulations to the brave nine who voted against this empty and divisive abuse of democracy.
ReplyDeleteI tip my hat to Congressman Bobby Scott (VA):
"Instead of facing these challenges and creating jobs to help American people make sure they have a roof over their head and food on their table, we are debating whether or not to affirm and proliferate a motto that was adopted in 1956 and is under no threat of attack," Rep. Scott said in the statement. "In addition to diverting attention away from substantive issues, the resolution is unconstitutional."
In these times, voting against it would create all sorts of distractions. I commend the VA congressman cited in comments but can sympathize with any who just wanted it to go away as quickly and quietly as possible.
ReplyDeleteThat's my Congressman! the interesting politics behind this is that the bill's sponsor -- Randy Forbes is in the district just south of Congressman Scott's...
ReplyDeleteI am happy that they are passing legislation in D.C., now onto the real work...
Which God or god(s) is referred to when stating "In God We Trust"?
ReplyDeleteGo away quietly in the night like cowards they are.
ReplyDeleteI am curious, which god? It's a trick of the mind to read 'in god we trust' to mean 'in MY god we trust'.
That's not a bill it reads like a catechism. It contains preposterous nonsense like "we hold these truths to be self-evident" and quotes assorted dead presidents' rhetoric, essentially an argument from authority.
ReplyDeleteAlbeit John Adams quote is noteworthy: "but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the principles..." note how he mentions them separately.
The motto is retained, but the "God" to which it now refers is the god of individualism and infinitely-increasing emancipation (to the exclusion of public order and safety, if necessary).
ReplyDeleteIn an ironic twist, atheists will likely agree with the continued use of "In God We Trust" on US currency - only a matter of time before it becomes apparent that any trust in these filibustering blowhards was misplaced, and those bills haven't been backed by anything more than promises in quite a while...
ReplyDeleteI agree with the chastisement of such a frivolous waste of time, however, I don't wish for them to be "addressing the economy". The best thing they can do is nothing, so maybe it's not a bad idea that they spend their time on things like this. Otherwise, they're liable to make things worse.
ReplyDeleteTalk about fiddling while Rome burns!
ReplyDelete"Out of many, one." It bears a common resemblance to the 99% movement.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it would have gotten a 396 to 9 agreement vote if it was allah? I mean, that is just another word for god, but it has a muslim heritage.
ReplyDelete