Group Seeks to Block 'In God We Trust' Engraving

[Dos Equis]

Paranoid atheists at it again.   

Group Seeks to Block 'In God We Trust' Engraving
The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in western Wisconsin, claims the taxpayer-funded engravings would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

AP

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The nation's largest group of atheists and agnostics filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to block an architect from engraving "In God We Trust" and the Pledge of Allegiance at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington.

The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in western Wisconsin, claims the taxpayer-funded engravings would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

The House and Senate passed identical resolutions this month directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave "In God We Trust" and the pledge in prominent places at the entrance for 3 million tourists who visit the Capitol each year.

The resolution came in response to critics who complained Congress spent $621 million on the new three-story underground center without paying respect to the nation's religious heritage. The center opened in December after years of construction.

The foundation is seeking a court order to stop the engravings, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will cost less than $100,000.

"In God We Trust" has been the national motto since 1956 and has appeared on U.S. currency since 1957.

The lawsuit says both the motto and the words "under God" in the pledge were adopted during the Cold War as anti-communism measures. Engraving them at the entrance to the U.S. Capitol would discriminate against those who do not practice religion and unfairly promote a Judeo-Christian perspective, it says.

Members of Congress who supported the measure swiftly denounced the lawsuit.

"This lawsuit is another attempt by liberal activists to rewrite history and deny that America's Judeo-Christian heritage is an essential foundation stone of our great nation," said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

Rep. Daniel Lungren, R-Calif., said he was expecting a lawsuit but called the claims "patently absurd."

The foundation also is challenging the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer in federal court.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/14/group-seeks-block-god-trust-engraving/

[OzmO]

Pathetic waste of time and money.

[LurkerNoMore]

Twist it around and say it was going to be "In Xenu We Trust"  (or whatever the space aliens name is) and Christians would be crying a different story about having some imaginary being forced in their lives.

[Hereford]

If you don't like it Lurker, don't use the money. Go pay for your shit with pesos or zlotys or whatever else you desire.

[OzmO]

Twist it around and say it was going to be "In Xenu We Trust"  (or whatever the space aliens name is) and Christians would be crying a different story about having some imaginary being forced in their lives.

Nothing is being force on anyone's life in this fashion unless they allow it.

[LurkerNoMore]

My debit card doesn't have any Christian references on it.  Thank god.

[OzmO]

My debit card doesn't have any Christian references on it.  Thank god.

So what if it did?  Would you feel pressured?  Would it ruin your whole day?

As long as it works what  do you care?

[LurkerNoMore]

So what if it did?  Would you feel pressured?  Would it ruin your whole day?

As long as it works what  do you care?

Me thinks the entire last two posts of sarcasm went over thou head.

Ending the last one with "thank god" was about as subtle as I could get it.

But to answer your question in small words, no it would not bother me.  It wouldn't bother me if cash, cards or your forehead had In Bruno We Trust stamped on it.  As long as it (cash and cards, not so sure about your forehead) was accepted as payment in bartering transactions.

[OzmO]

Me thinks the entire last two posts of sarcasm went over thou head.

Ending the last one with "thank god" was about as subtle as I could get it.

But to answer your question in small words, no it would not bother me.  It wouldn't bother me if cash, cards or your forehead had In Bruno We Trust stamped on it.  As long as it (cash and cards, not so sure about your forehead) was accepted as payment in bartering transactions.

You made this statement:

Twist it around and say it was going to be "In Xenu We Trust"  (or whatever the space aliens name is) and Christians would be crying a different story about having some imaginary being forced in their lives.

How is religion being forced on your life if it's printed on a coin?

[Hugo Chavez]

I've sided with Christians on a few things here but I've never thought it should be on our money.  The reasons should really be obvious so I won't go over them all.  I don't think governments role should include the endorsement of a specific religion and especially to the point where everyone of other faiths have to carry around a motto created for another religion.  I suppose they could just use their credit/debit cards everywhere but some places don't accept those or checks.  I couldn't believe how many places looked at me like I was an alien when I tried to use my Wells Fargo Debit card in Texas.

The first time "In God We Trust" appeared on our coins was in 1864 on the new two cent coin, and by 1909 it was included on most the other coins. During the height of the cold war, on July 11, 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 140 making it mandatory that all coinage and paper currency display the motto.
http://www.allabouthistory.org/in-god-we-trust.htm

[GigantorX]

This is something that I really don't care much about and don't see why so many people make a big deal about it. It's been there forever, it's not hurting anybody and it's like a tradition now as there really isn't a meaning to it....it's just there.

You want to complain about the 10 Commandments in-front of a courthouse? Fine. Prayers at the beginning of the school day during annoucnements? Do it. Those are actual breaks in the Church/State separation. This In God We Trust being on money thing is not.

[Dos Equis]

This is something that I really don't care much about and don't see why so many people make a big deal about it. It's been there forever, it's not hurting anybody and it's like a tradition now as there really isn't a meaning to it....it's just there.

You want to complain about the 10 Commandments in-front of a courthouse? Fine. Prayers at the beginning of the school day during annoucnements? Do it. Those are actual breaks in the Church/State separation. This In God We Trust being on money thing is not.

That's pretty much how I see it too.  These people need to pick their battles. 

[Hugo Chavez]

This is something that I really don't care much about and don't see why so many people make a big deal about it. It's been there forever, it's not hurting anybody and it's like a tradition now as there really isn't a meaning to it....it's just there.

You want to complain about the 10 Commandments in-front of a courthouse? Fine. Prayers at the beginning of the school day during annoucnements? Do it. Those are actual breaks in the Church/State separation. This In God We Trust being on money thing is not.

I agree, it's nothing to freak out about.  I don't think it should be there but I'm not about to launch a campaign over it lol.  I do think it's on the same level of prayer in school and the 10 commandments thing but I don't freak on those either.  If the topic comes up, I comment.  Much more important issues out there.

[Hugo Chavez]

That's pretty much how I see it too.  These people need to pick their battles. 

This is the last thing they should be worried about right now.  probably an intentional distraction.  The left is starting to get disgruntled at the lack of change and business as usual under Obama.  Pop up a dozen of these issues for them to get focused on and keep the division alive and at the front of their minds.  Same ol shit.

[headhuntersix]

Very pragmatic devil dog.....

[Hugo Chavez]

Very pragmatic devil dog.....

[Dos Equis]

This is the last thing they should be worried about right now.  probably an intentional distraction.  The left is starting to get disgruntled at the lack of change and business as usual under Obama.  Pop up a dozen of these issues for them to get focused on and keep the division alive and at the front of their minds.  Same ol shit.

It's actually worse than business as usual.   

I wouldn't say this effort is a result of frustration.  These people have been doing this stuff for decades.  Like the ACLU, they don't know where to draw the line.   

[Hugo Chavez]

It's actually worse than business as usual.   

I wouldn't say this effort is a result of frustration.  These people have been doing this stuff for decades.  Like the ACLU, they don't know where to draw the line.   

This has been around for decades along with many other issues for the right and left.  It's the timing of when stuff like this pops up for renewed debate that I'm calling BS on.  And it is business as usual.  Zero change, no better and it has been getting progressively worse year after year so I guess you could say it's worse, but then that's been the course for quite some time.

[GigantorX]

This has been around for decades along with many other issues for the right and left.  It's the timing of when stuff like this pops up for renewed debate that I'm calling BS on.  And it is business as usual.  Zero change, no better and it has been getting progressively worse year after year so I guess you could say it's worse, but then that's been the course for quite some time.

Orchestrated stuff going on, no doubt.

[LurkerNoMore]

How is religion being forced on your life if it's printed on a coin?

It isn't.  Which is the crux of the sarcastic post I made referencing this.   

[GigantorX]

It isn't.  Which is the crux of the sarcastic post I made referencing this.   

No need to explain yourself.