beekay

I was never aware of the bill correcting movement ... consider me a new member. All bills in my wallet (not many right now I'm afraid) are now corrected.

Don't suppose there is a similar movement for scratching if off coins?

Chaos Amoeba

I just corrected all the bills in my wallet. I may look into getting an "E Pluribus Unum" stamp sometime in the future -- just crossing out the motto isn't specific enough, and simply crossing out the word "God" isn't likely to be noticed by anybody that isn't feverishly scanning all of their dollar bills.

Arrowman

Gosh, I almost wish we had God on Australian currency just so I could join in. (Actually our bills are plastic so it would be a lot harder to change them.)

But I'll do what I can to help: More info on this subject can be found at the Positive Atheism website, in particular:

<a href="http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/hoopla.htm" target="_blank">http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/hoopla.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/cliff69.htm" target="_blank">http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/cliff69.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/rubber.htm" target="_blank">http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/rubber.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/athmoney.htm" target="_blank">http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/athmoney.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9990.htm" target="_blank">http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9990.htm</a>

PS1: Note that the forum discussion in the last link includes towards the end some information on the legal status of this practice and also the effect on usability of the altered notes.

PS2: Michael, you will note from the above that the modification of the notes might render them useless for money changing/counting machines etc, and the result would be large-scale withdrawal and reissue of notes. Might be just as effective!

[ February 06, 2002: Message edited by: Arrowman ]</p>

Toto

The LA Times reported that the Weakest Link ( a TV program I don't watch) had a question last week, where a contestant was asked the meaning of "E Pluribus Unum". He answered "In God We Trust" and was given credit for a right answer!?!

After all, both appear on the currency.

cheetah

Egregious!

Arrowman

Toto: Oh. You. Are. Kidding. I can't help thinking that's urban legend material. I mean, even a moderately educated person with no formal Latin education would recognise the broad meaning of the phrase and in particular that it doesn't mention God (Dei, or whatever). I guess that means there's noone on the "Weakest Link" staff with even a moderate education

(Still, what do you expect - after all the winner of the Weakest Link is usually not the smartest - just the most devious. That's what I hate about these modern quiz shows.)

(edited to add
OK - I've searched the net to try and find a reference to this, and I didn't find one. But I did find another amusing link:

<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/0112/22/opinion/opinion6.html" target="_blank">http://www.smh.com.au/news/0112/22/opinion/opinion6.html</a>

[ February 07, 2002: Message edited by: Arrowman ]</p>

Slayer Moon

You'll probably need a Dremel power tool and a very steady hand to scratch off the offending "motto" from coins. I've tried using nail and screw tips, and they don't seem to work all that well.

Arrowman

He-he. Here in Australia they advertise the Dremel tool with the voiceover "You cut, Dremel cuts... you sand, Dremel sands..." etc. (Presumably the same in US?)

So now they can say "You secularise, Dremel secularises.."

Nobles

I love this idea! I'm in!