Wednesday, July 12, 2006
What's a motto with you?
Apparently, yesterday was the 51st anniversary of putting the phrase "In God We Trust" on all U.S. currency, and this month is the 50th anniversary of that same phrase being officially made our national motto by Congress and President Eisenhower. What I also just learned is that the phrase "E Plurabis Unum" (Out of many, one) was essentially pushed aside by "In God We Trust" by this act in 1956. A few thoughts...
1) Isn't it ironic that we should state our supposed trust in God with none other than our money? I have a hard time trusting God when I think a lot about money. I also don't know what to think about putting a God-centered phrase on currency that contains the image of one of the founding fathers and their houses or government buildings.
2) I've heard that part of the underlying motivation to make "In God We Trust" the national motto was to separate America from the "godless communism" it was battling in the Cold War. First of all, it seems questionable to invoke trust in God during a conflict that resulted in a build-up of weapons capable of destroying mankind many times over. Secondly, wasn't it the promotion American capitalism and democracy that conflicted with the Soviet agenda, and aren't these two ideas equally embraced by some who don't trust God, or at least don't trust Him as much as they trust capitalism and democracy?
3) I like the phrase, "E Plurabis Unum", and as far as I can tell, it is a more accurate and meaningful description of our country today. I think trusting God is best, but a fair number of Americans believe quite differently than I do, placing trust in many gods, or science, or even themselves. It seems like a national motto (if there is one) should reflect, as accurately as possible, the character and attitude of the nation as a whole. Keeping this in mind, it seems we are much closer (as a nation) to many different kinds of people trying to act as one, than a people who trusts one God.
Should we change the national motto, and remove the phrase "In God We Trust" from our currency? I don't know if it is significant enough of an issue, or if it would be beneficial to do so. But I do think it is important to question why we as a nation would be willing to endorse a motto such as "In God We Trust" while still acting and thinking in a way that is seemingly contradictory most of the time. Some might argue that our national heritage reflects a trust in God, and so there is still value in stating that in a motto and on currency. Fair enough - maybe we should have an "updated" motto then: "In God We Trusted", or even better, "In God We Trusted, Until Our Prosperity And Wal-Mart Seemed Better". At least we wouldn't be lying then.
1) Isn't it ironic that we should state our supposed trust in God with none other than our money? I have a hard time trusting God when I think a lot about money. I also don't know what to think about putting a God-centered phrase on currency that contains the image of one of the founding fathers and their houses or government buildings.
2) I've heard that part of the underlying motivation to make "In God We Trust" the national motto was to separate America from the "godless communism" it was battling in the Cold War. First of all, it seems questionable to invoke trust in God during a conflict that resulted in a build-up of weapons capable of destroying mankind many times over. Secondly, wasn't it the promotion American capitalism and democracy that conflicted with the Soviet agenda, and aren't these two ideas equally embraced by some who don't trust God, or at least don't trust Him as much as they trust capitalism and democracy?
3) I like the phrase, "E Plurabis Unum", and as far as I can tell, it is a more accurate and meaningful description of our country today. I think trusting God is best, but a fair number of Americans believe quite differently than I do, placing trust in many gods, or science, or even themselves. It seems like a national motto (if there is one) should reflect, as accurately as possible, the character and attitude of the nation as a whole. Keeping this in mind, it seems we are much closer (as a nation) to many different kinds of people trying to act as one, than a people who trusts one God.
Should we change the national motto, and remove the phrase "In God We Trust" from our currency? I don't know if it is significant enough of an issue, or if it would be beneficial to do so. But I do think it is important to question why we as a nation would be willing to endorse a motto such as "In God We Trust" while still acting and thinking in a way that is seemingly contradictory most of the time. Some might argue that our national heritage reflects a trust in God, and so there is still value in stating that in a motto and on currency. Fair enough - maybe we should have an "updated" motto then: "In God We Trusted", or even better, "In God We Trusted, Until Our Prosperity And Wal-Mart Seemed Better". At least we wouldn't be lying then.
# posted by G-rant @ 11:57 AM 
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Perhaps...but how can you ignore that which you trust? I don't think a trust in God can coincide with an ignorance towards God. Trust is active, while ignorance is passive. Apathetic trust doesn't seem possible. And those who aren't apathetic are those who either trust or distrust, and it seems to me that there is much more distrust towards the idea of the One God in America than there is trust. I think it's also important to remember that trust is more than mere acknowledgement.
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