“In God We Trust”, Why The Right Wing Hates the Constitution

I recently started reading up on H.Con.Res.13- “Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.” (you can read it for yourself here: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-hc13/text

First I was thinking- are you serious? Why on earth, with all of the huge issues that face our nation, is this even being brought up? Aren’t the Tea baggers against waste in the government anyway? Anyway- here’s a bit of the resolution, followed by what my particular issue with it is.

Whereas the sentiment, ‘In God We Trust’, has been an integral part of United States society since its founding;

Wrong. “In God We Trust” was added as an act of congress in 1956. The American Constitution is in no way founded on any set of values that might be considered Christian, Muslim or any other religion. You can easily find a copy of the constitution online and do a quick search for the terms “God”, “Jesus”, “Christian”, “Allah”, “Muslim” or “Faith” and will come up empty handed.

Whereas in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction;

Not every citizen turns to “God” in times of national challenge or tragedy. I am one of those people. Am I now less American than a believer? We as a nation do not tolerate dictators who call for mass killing or punishment for thought crimes, yet we recognize an idea of a supreme being as being above that?

Whereas the national anthem of the United States says ‘praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation . . . and this be our motto: in God is our trust.’;

How many people know that there are four verses to the national anthem? We typically only sing the first verse. How many people know that the National Anthem was written in 1814 by Francis Key Scott. It wasn’t even the official United States National Anthem until 1931. (46 Stat. 1508, codified at 36 U.S.C. § 301) So yeah- weak point there Congress.

Whereas the oath taken by all Federal employees, except the President, states ‘I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.’;

They are allowed to swear in on different holy books correct? Plus- let’s face it-the term “So help me God” means squat to politicians. If they truly meant that- they would follow their religion. Kind of like an atheist who says that…it’s just words that hold no meaning.

Whereas if religion and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, the very freedom on which the United States was founded cannot be secured;

I chuckled when I read this one. Religion and morality taken out of the marketplace of ideas…..NEWSFLASH! Morality is long gone from the marketplace of ideas, and religion if it is there- has been twisted and is now- (just like our politicians)- corporations' secret little whore. Except the secret is kind of out of the bag. The United States freedom includes the freedom of religion. (or lack of religion)

This summary didn’t include the words “one nation, under God” appear in the Pledge of Allegiance. I would like to address this quickly. That phrase was added to the pledge in 1954. The original pledge, written in 1892, was:

I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

The article also referred to quotes from John Adams, Presidents Eisenhower, Ford and Kennedy:

Whereas John Adams said, ‘Statesmen may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.’;

Whereas as President Eisenhower said and President Ford later repeated, ‘Without God, there could be no American form of government, nor, an American way of life.’; and

Whereas President John F. Kennedy said, ‘The guiding principle and prayer of this Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be ‘In God We Trust.’: Now, therefore, be it

To that I say- here are some more quotes for you…

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 tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan 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. – the Treaty of Tripoli, signed by President and Founding Father John Adams on November 4, 1796.

I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of… Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all. – Founding Father Thomas Paine, from his work The Age of Reason (pub. 1794-1795).

When a Religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its Professors are obliged to call for help of the Civil Power, it is a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one. – Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, from a letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780.

Keep your Christianity out of my Paganism. No one is saying don’t practice your religion- just don’t force it on everyone else as the “right one". Read the Constitution. Stop being hypocrites while you’re at it.