Nov 1, 2011
The House of Representatives passed a bi-partisan resolution Tuesday night reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United STates. The 396-9 vote came at the request of Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) – in part over President Obama’s refusal to correct remarks he made that misstated the motto as “E pluribus unum” instead of “In God We Trust.”
Lawmakers voting against “In God We Trust” include Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA). Voting present were Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC).
The bi-partisan resolution not only affirms “In God We Trust” as the national motto, but it also “encourages its display in public buildings and government institutions.”
“There’s been no motto in U.S. history that’s been more inspirational than ‘In God We Trust,’” he said, noting that he felt it was appropriate for members of Congress to “firmly declare our trust in God.”
The vote was immediately condemned by the American Humanist Association who said it ignored non-believers.
“This is an open attack on Thomas Jefferson’s wall of church-state separation,” executive director Roy Speckhardt said in a written statement. “to place such religious language on public buildings is not only unconstitutional, it signals to the millions of non-religious Americans that they are second-class citizens.”
Forbes said the motto has been under attack over the past three years, noting a “disturbing trend of inaccuracies and omissions, misunderstandings of church and state, rogue court challenges and efforts to remove God from the public domain by unelected bureaucrats.”
“There are a very small number of people, but unfortunately very vocal people who really want to attack faith in every element of the nation,” Forbes said. “But we’re not going to go quietly into the night.”
Forbes said he was especially disturbed by an incident involving President Obama.
Last November, during a speech he delivered in Jakarta, the president stated that the national motto was “E pluribus unum.
Forbes said 42 members of Congress sent President Obama a letter asking him to correct the error.
“Not only did the president refuse to respond to our letter, but still on the White House website they have up the incorrect national motto,” Forbes told Fox News. “It does concern us.”
Forbes also pointed out what he called inaccuracies and omissions in the new Capitol Visitor Center. He accused historians of sanitizing “the public building of an references to our national motto – including replacing the inscription of ‘In God We Trust,’ inscribed above the Speaker’s Rostrum with stars in a replica of the House Chamber – and cropping an actual picture of the chamber so you could not see the words ‘In God We Trust.’’
The omissions were later corrected after Congress intervened, Forbes said.
Speckhardt called on the Senate to reject the resolution — calling it “harmful.”
“A clear message was sent by those who voted for this resolution’s passage that secular Americans do not deserve to be considered eligible for our constitution’s equal protection guarantees,” he wrote. “Such protections are seriously eroded whenever the bulwark between church and state is breached.”
If you want a perfect example of why the US government should maintain separation of church and state… read this comment section.
First..the nine representatives that voted against this should be voted out! Second, to all of you "Non-Believer"…tough cookies! This country was built on and by PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD and you have no right to change that…you just think you do..because you have mis-constrewed the meaning of the Constitution. You have the right to be a Non-Believer, you have the right to worship any higher power you wish…even ones that want to destroy this country…but you DO NOT have the right to change what our country was built on. If you don't like it…go start your own country of "Non-Believers" and take Obama with you! He has the government so far up every Americans ass and trying to destroy what our Parents, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Great-Great-Grandparents worked hard for…even died for…so get off your high horses and live with it…or leave…the choice is yours! HUMMMMMM…CHOICE…wonder how you got that right?
To Hell with the Atheists – Retired 82 year old. Austin had an Atheist named Madilyn O'Hare (I think that's the right spelling) trying to run everybody's business but she went missing about 5 years ago.
And Germany had a Catholic named Hitler who tried to kill all the Jews and take over the world by force, but he went missing about 65 years ago.
acutally the phrase "in god we trust" is really unamerican due to the fact that United States of American WAS NOT built on x-tianity…people need to read The Treaty of Tripeli Article 11 "Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
From the Web Site: http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html.
Its not just the athiests, it everyone in the US who worships someone other than the Christian god…and there's lots and lots and lots.
I still have a hard time with the notion of a supreme being that needs to be worshipped. If I were supreme. I would not be so arrogant as to expect a conscience entity in a living body to pay homage to me on a daily basis, or else that entity be damned to hell.
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, 1/1/1801:
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a WALL OF SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties."
YES! YES! YES! ONE NATION UNDER GOD! YES! YES! YES! FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! YES! YES! YES!
"BLAH BLAH BLAH YOU'RE NOT CHRISTIAN BLAH BLAH BLAH".
It would be impossible for Christians to become more vocal. They already scream and whine 24/7.
You all disappoint me with your petty insults and blindness. Religious and Atheist alike. We all live in this country, now learn to get along and play nice with each other.
Honestly, I was going to try to get into intelligent debate on here, but there is no debating fundamentalist Christians. The Secular minority is one of the largest in America, and we have to organize our lobby and advance our goals just like any other group. Anti-atheist bigotry is so prevalent in this country and it's disgusting. I don't believe in a God, and I don't ever plan to, and in America and as an individual with free will, I have that right. The founding fathers are rolling over in their goddamned graves right now with this "Christian nation" bullshit so prevalent these days. The establishment clause exists for a reason, and just because you've chosen to blindly follow a bronze-age fairy tale does not mean that it has any place in OUR government. I respect your right to believe, and you should respect my right not to believe. Just because you don't respect the content, does not mean you cannot respect the ideals. Some of you people make me so ashamed of my country the way you carry yourselves.
Honestly, I was going to try to get into intelligent debate on here, but there is no debating fundamentalist Christians. The Secular minority is one of the largest in America, and we have to organize our lobby and advance our goals just like any other group. Anti-atheist bigotry is so prevalent in this country and it's disgusting. I don't believe in a God, and I don't ever plan to, and in America and as an individual with free will, I have that right. The founding fathers are rolling over in their goddamned graves right now with this "Christian nation" bullshit so prevalent these days. The establishment clause exists for a reason, and just because you've chosen to blindly follow a bronze-age fairy tale does not mean that it has any place in OUR government. I respect your right to believe, and you should respect my right not to believe. Just because you don't respect the content, does not mean you cannot respect the ideals. Some of you people make me so ashamed of my country the way you carry yourselves.
To add to Noel's post: There is no point in arguing with fundamentalist idiots, so many of you are so set in your ways and you love to condemn others to hell and obnoxiously preach to those who do not want to hear it. Before you so strongly condemn atheists, get your facts straight. Around 10% of the United States shares this philosophy. Atheism is not a religion, it is lack of a belief in a god or gods (or devil, no morons we do not worship the devil), usually based on the lack of observable, provable evidence. Some of the greatest authors, actors, philanthropists, and scientists also shared this philosophy (I will gladly provide a list if asked), and 93% of the members of the national academy of sciences do not believe in the concept of a god. Many of the greatest innovators and minds of society were and are atheists, and the constant condemnation and bad mouthing of us (or any non-christian) without fact-checking or thought, only makes you look bad and makes us appear to be blatantly discriminated against. Many more of you would see this if you would actually form your own opinion instead of believing whatever faux news tells you.
To add to Noel's post: There is no point in arguing with fundamentalist idiots, so many of you are so set in your ways and you love to condemn others to hell and obnoxiously preach to those who do not want to hear it. Before you so strongly condemn atheists, get your facts straight. Around 10% of the United States shares this philosophy. Atheism is not a religion, it is lack of a belief in a god or gods (or devil, no morons we do not worship the devil), usually based on the lack of observable, provable evidence. Some of the greatest authors, actors, philanthropists, and scientists also shared this philosophy (I will gladly provide a list if asked), and 93% of the members of the national academy of sciences do not believe in the concept of a god. Many of the greatest innovators and minds of society were and are atheists, and the constant condemnation and bad mouthing of us (or any non-christian) without fact-checking or thought, only makes you look bad and makes us appear to be blatantly discriminated against. Many more of you would see this if you would actually form your own opinion instead of believing whatever faux news tells you.
I'm offended by this as a polytheist. It should say in Gods we trust. Why do the monotheists get all the recognition? Zeus will be mighty unhappy with this, but I know that he shines his light on me and I will someday get to sit on Mt. Olympus with Him. All of you monotheists are going to burn in the Underworld for eternity.
yeah man, get that god nonesense off my moneys.
E Pluribus Unum.
out of many, one.
If you don't want to believe in God don't, that's your right but if I want to believe in God leave me alone. This country is a democracy if the vote is to keep "In God We Trust" as a national motto so be it majority rules. leave the courts out of it and quit crying.
The irony of your comment is staggering.
The idea of the United States is to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. That's what the bill of rights was intended to do – to make sure that EVERYONE was free to practice their beliefs. What if the majority voted tomorrow that prayer was mandatory in all public places? Or that Christianity was the only legal religion? Or that non-christians should be purged? Would 'majority rules' be the right thing then? This is evil thinking. And it doesn't belong in a 21st century conversation.
E pluribus unum.
When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.
http://i.imgur.com/JeQft.jpg
Article number 11 that will state our country's stance on Christianity and affiliation with it.
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html
In "God We Trust" built this country. If you feel like a second class citizen because this country was based on Christian principles, you need to realize it's not about you, and it's not about me. It's about acknowledging the Almighty. It's called wisdom, humility, love for God and country, and faith; as opposed to stupidty, selfish pride, hatred against good, and emptiness of heart. We all have a choice, God loves everyone, and Jesus is the Way to God. God, please continue to bless America, land that I love.
Thankyou
In equality we trust.
I really don't care what the atheist says or even does to try to stop the Powerful Hand of God but you let one atheist get on his or her death bed and let me know whose name they call on… I will tell you here and now it will not be a false god but a true and living God… In fact this is one Christian that is sick and tired of the atheistic harassment that we have been taking and it is time that we Christians TAKE BACK our schools and put Prayer back in schools. I stand up and salute the United States Government for taking the first step in reaffirming our religious beliefs in the face of the diluted and fictious enemy. To all atheist out there that is reading this…. beware you are on dangerous ground with the God of all Creation and whether you know it or even care to admit it…. He (God) has your number and I will pray for you and hope that God has Mercy on your poor and diluted reasoning.
This sort of trash would make our Founding Fathers role over in their graves… but you can say and you would probably be right to assume that some people does not have the sense it takes to be called human. But it takes a real man, woman, boy, or girl to stand and be counted for God but to put things in clear perspective for those of you who may be too naive to think what God has Told us in His Word is just hog wash… well, allow me to fill those ears of yours. God is still in Control and He will be in Contron until He Comes Back to this Earth and takes His Children Home…. and WOE be to he that stands in His way.
To Aaron Greenberg and David Lampo; you both sound three-yr-olds arguing over a day old milk dud found in the grass! Greenberg, you're just young and dumber than a stump. Separation of church and state Does Not actually appear in the US Constitution or Bill of Rights. This so-caled law or edict was handed down by SCOTUS not Thomas Jefferson. Lampo, you are just a Socialist posing as an idiot, your last post was a ranting of nothingness.
What a waste of Congressional time. If you go to your place of work and call on the executive board to have a vote to reaffirm that the company motto is X because the president said Y mistakenly you'll be laughed out of the room.
Atleast, E pluribus unum was a good motto representing the strength of the United States from its constituent parts.
God, and our Blessed Mother have always answered my prayers. He gave me a wonderful family, cured my cancer, and a positive attitude towards our fellowship to mankind. In God I trust.
So jobs, jobs, jobs right Mr. Speaker?
It's about time we supported God and the Christians, rather than giving in to other beliiefs that this Counrty was not founded on.
What if you were to replace the word 'God' with 'Allah' and 'Christians' with 'Muslims'? Would you see the point, then?
But what did Jefferson really believe about the Christian faith and its relation to our government? The late Dr. D. James Kennedy made some interesting observations about the life of Thomas Jefferson, in his new book "What if America were a Christian Nation Again?"
Thomas Jefferson was raised in an Anglican family.
He went to a Christian school and was taught by Christian pastors.
Jefferson attended church regularly his whole life.
As an adult he served on the Vestry of the Anglican church.
He attended the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist churches.
Jefferson regularly tithed to the church.
While Washington & Adams ended their Presidential Papers with "In the Year of our Lord", Jefferson ended his Presidential Papers with "In the year of our Lord Christ 18__".
As President he attended the largest church in the nation which held their services in the House Chambers of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Jefferson was not pleased with the music, so he ordered the Marine Band to come to church on Sundays.
Mark A. Beliles has assembled an impressive list of some of Jefferson's actions as president.
Promoted legislative and military chaplains.
Established a national seal using a biblical symbol.
Included the word "God" in our national motto.
Established official days of fasting and prayer at the state level.
Punished Sabbath breakers.
Punished marriages contrary to biblical law.
Punished irreverent soldiers.
Protected the property of churches.
Required that oaths be phrased by the words "So help me God" and be sworn on the Bible.
Granted land to Christian schools.
Allowed government property and facilities to be used for worship.
Used the Bible and nondenominational religious instruction in the public schools. He was involved in three different school districts, and the plan in each required that the Bible be taught in our public schools.
Allowed and encouraged clergymen to hold public office.
Funded religious books for public libraries.
Funded salaries for missionaries.
Exempted churches from taxation.
Established professional schools of theology.
Wrote treaties requiring other nations to guarantee religious freedom, including religious speeches and prayer in official ceremonies.
You will notice that in many cases Federal Treasury money was used to support churches.
Atheists next move: The aetheists wiil file a case to court to demand striking out of any referece to God in any dictionary, book or text available for public reading, in places like school library, state library, any government institution, etc. Also, They will file a case to stop the use of 'so help me God' in any public oath because of the doctrine of 'Separation of Church and State'.
Surely, atheists will be very happy to proceed with one. What do you think?
Carl, defining a deity or religion in a dictionary is not the same as endorsing or sanctioning it. And, atheists and non-christians are perfectly able to opt out of the 'so help me god' oath. For example, Sen. Keith Ellison swore in on the Koran and a high ranking military chaplain left off 'so help me god' during an atheist soldier's re-enlistment ceremony.
It's cute how you ran away from our other discussion and posted a new comment in hopes of drawing more Christian attention and support.
However, please remember that more attention ≠ right.
Marc, Any list of atheist politician for a 'All Atheist Party of America'. anyone? even one?
Or maybe there's none. Atheist politician should not be ashamed to run on a platform of no-god country? Should they?
Carl Macshort Are you even reading my responses? As I said previously: of course an atheist politician would not get elected and for the obvious reason – christian bigotry. Same reason Romney won't be elected – he's not christian. That's why many more politicians than you would like to believe are non-believers pretending to be christian to get elected by a gullible populace. You have to be christian to get elected by this xenophobic, bigoted electorate.
My question to you would be: Would you vote for an outspoken atheist politician if he or she was the best candidate? What if the christian candidate was a convicted sex offender turned born-again christian?
This is so typical of christian's who get backed into a corner during an argument: They go into repeat mode. They repeat the same nonsense over and over again, completely ignoring the fact that I already addressed and destroyed their point. You literally haven't addressed any of my questions to you; you just keep spouting recycled crap when you get stumped.
Marc, support comes out naturally from people who believes. Your circle logic do not explain the historical fact about Jesus but a mere attempt to escape the obvious truth. – That Jesus has risen from the dead, then showed himself to hundreds of people as proof. Do you think Christianity will ever survive if such story is a myth? Millions and millions, became Christian as result of that and exist up to this very day? A good mythical accomplishment? Do you really believe a myth has more persuasive power than your atheistic truth? But If you consider Christianity a myth but yet this powerful, how then, can your atheistic belief survive inspection when confronted by the plain truth about Jesus? No wonder, No politician is running on a platform of no God. (They are too ashamed, aren't they?) A list of atheist politician please…any one or no one?
Carl Macshort You were hanging on for a while there, but you have ceased making sense.
Ok I got it, no atheist politician can be supported then by, even, an atheist.
Mark, given the choice in an election between an outspoken aetheist regarded as the better candidate and a sex-offender turned born-again Christian, I will choose neither; for an outspoken atheist is incompatible to lead a god-fearing nation and a sex-offender had an already damaged reputation and credibility to be moral leader of a just nation.
Carl Macshort: One person wrote that Jesus showed himself to hundreds of people, but at the end of the day you are simply taking the word of 1 person. I could write: Do you think HINDUISM will (sic) ever survive if such story is (sic) a myth? Millions and millions, became Christian as result of that and exist up to this very day?
Tim Gale Don't bother, man. He's arguing that, because it's been around a long time and there is an old book written about it, it must be true. (nevermind that hinduism and buddhism have been around longer). He won't answer any questions that challenge his faith, instead going on about 'aethiest politicians' not getting elected. I don't know… I can barely understand his English, much less his argument.
Now you know why the believers flourish and the aetheist don't. The Hindus and Buddhist take pride in their faith and practice it. On the other hand, the aetheists in government, from your admission could not do that. So you see, atheistis belief will never succeed as it borrows it strenghth from the believers faith.
Im sorry atheist guys. Since no one among you seem to have the could not name even one atheist in government, I can now conclude that atheism is joke! Just a bit of advice: Tell your atheist friends (especially in government) not to disguise themselves as believers and hope to succeed as atheist. It will never work.,because their actions will finally reveal who they really are and they will be booted out deserving of an impostors, coward, or thief. Practice some courage if you want to succeed changing the minds of others.
Carl Macshort: You arguments are incoherent, and i apologize to you if you are not a native speaker of English, but i can't understand what on earth you are trying to say or what point you are trying to make. The fact that there are very few atheist politicians in America, has absolutely nothing to do with the validity of your supernatural christian claims. It doesn't matter if the whole world believe one thing or another; they still have meet their burden of proof.
I'm sorry aetheist guys, you should travel back in time to see Jesus during His resurrection if that is the only proof that will convince you. Historians and ancient books have given the proof. Please put your best researcher at work and produce a document that will disprove those truths or claim if you may prefer. Produce your evidence to the contrary. Put your good English to work by providing us a credible document, not just an objection. That is the burden you have to meet. By the way, are these few atheist politicians you're mentioning real people and have names? or you are just imagining? Convince us they are real people. Give us some proof. Prove that being a native speaker of English like yourself make you more convincing. This is a challenge to you. Until you give some names, no one, not even your atheist friends will ever believe you.
Our Founding Fathers were so Christian, that the words "Jesus Christ, Christianity, Bible, Creator, Divine, and God" are never mentioned in the Constitution. I wonder why that is?
Thomas Paine, a deist, not a Christian: "Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half of the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we call it the word of a demon than the word of God."
Thomas Jefferson, a deist: "And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." letter to John Adams, April 11 1823.
Benjamin Franklin, a deist: "Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." Poor Richard's Almanac.
John Adams, a deist: "I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved– the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!" -letter to Thomas Jefferson.
I just wrote a very lengthy reply to Rich Handy and it seems to have been deleted. Why?
Any principle, belief, law or practice is tested by time. Let no one be fooled by any priciple, belief, law or practice that is proven a repeat failure by time. I am for a belief in God, for a society and civilization who believe in God – a time tested belief no unbeliever could ever demolish whether in war or in peace. The examples of success in the belief of God are repeated time and time again throughout history. The examples kept inspiring people to do more good as it carries humility with it. Let those who profess believe sincerely on something gives you the examples you need : that which had improved societies, land, countries and endured the test of time up to this very day.
Carl, you're not making any sense.
Give your examples of aetheistic societies and government as an example and how they endure the test of time, then you may start making sense. Up to this day and time aetheists had never had the success the believers had accomplished, sorry Marc, but it is a fact.
The atheists in government hide like rats, hoping to find 'food' to eat when everybody is busy somewhere else. They pretend to be believers and could not take pride in their atheistic belief. They say they are afraid of bigotry from Christian majority. Coward! have some courage and don't be afraid of persecution. Christianity flourish because of the sacrifices, courage and humility of a great majority of its leaders and members. The aetheists lack that quality.
every one has his or her own way of living their lives if you don't like the way we live our lives please go somewhere else so you can be happy.
I am an atheist, but I have no problem with "In God We Trust" being the national motto. If I see God's name, I'm not immediately going to run off to a church and enroll. It doesn't work that way. (Given that, I think Michael Newdow believes he's some sort of a vampire–one who will explode if he sees the word "God" rather than the sun.)
What I DO have a problem with is the House of Representatives wasting nearly an hour on what basically amounts to slamming the president. I thought we sent all those tea party people to Congress to create jobs. What we got is a Congress that opposes everything the president tries to do no matter what it is. If President Obama went on national television and told the public not to eat puppies for Thanksgiving dinner, this Congress would pass a resolution demanding the public serve puppy as a "healthful alternative to turkey."
Good on ya Jim!!
Christianity is not under attack, we just don't want this shoved down our throat… stupid people… stupid, LOUD people.
Power to the people , in " God we trust " , every one elser get in line!
it signals to the millions of non-religious Americans that they are second-class citizens.”wake up fool if your not a congressman or a senetor you are a second class citizen.
Very good.
Thank GOD we still have some in DC that thinks!