MikeG

Was reading the neswire (a regular stop for me) and saw the bit about a group trying to put "In God We Trust" into one or two school districts...

I am really angry at the simple minded ingorance of so many people. This was apparently similar to an Engler plan to get this phrase out into the public, so I figured he had a letter coming.

- Mike

Dear Governor Engler,

I am disappointed that you are demonstrating the self righteous thought that leads so many government leaders to bring their religion into government, as evident by your support of a plan to put "In God We Trust" into public buildings. I have read that there is a group lobbying to do this in the Troy and Rochester school districts, and that this is a spin off of an effort on your part to display this phrase in public buildings.

If you could spare a few moments of time, I would like to hear your response to the following questions:

1) Does it matter to you how people who lack belief in god feel when forced to send their children to public schools where religious references are displayed?

2) Does it help to unify or divide people when those in power display their personal beliefs onto a captive audience of children?

3) Do you think children who lack belief in god deserve any harassment they might receive from fellow students who believe? Should the non-believers just keep their mouths shut and "go with the flow"?

4) Do you think non-believers make immoral people (or inferior citizens)? If not what specifically is so bad about non believers that makes it necessary to influence them toward religious belief through the government?

I hope this is short enough that you may personally respond. If so I will send the response to my local newspaper.

Regards,
"Mike G"

Heleilu

That reminds me of a newspaper clipping on a bulletin board at a nearby college. It's a story about "prayer warriors" trying to get prayer into every NYC classroom. I don't think these people understand the difference between prayer and magic. I doubt the people in Michigan do either.

Oresta

The Michigan House passed HB5091 in late October. It was passed November 28, 2001, in the Michigan Senate. Section 2, as amended and passed by the Senate reads:
This bill is a perfect example of legislators pandering to the "God Bless America" syndrome out there after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It in no way provides security; nor does it improve, or enable economic or social services to the people of Michigan. I didn't follow the bill as it sailed through the senate, but in the house only one representative - a Democrat from Ann Arbor - voted against it. What a pack of dithering fools. A plague on both their houses
.

You can expect a reply from Engler on the order of the one below I received in response to my complaint to my MI rep.
Dear Ms. Bommarito:

Thank you for taking out the time to contact my office regarding your concerns about House Bill 5901.

This bill would specifically permit state agencies and local governments to post the national motto, "In God We Trust", in public places. That there should even be debate about the appropriateness of posting it seems, to many, to be farfetched. The phrase is, after all, the national motto, adopted by an act of Congress, and its use has been upheld as constitutional. "In God We Trust" has a long and distinguished history as a motto and a statement of faith. It is derived from the line, "And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust', which occurs in the final stanza of the national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner", whose words were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814. As Key's poem itself was inspired out of the passion and hope of wartime, the motto "In God We Trust" has been embraced by Americans particularly in times of crisis, first appearing on U.S. coins during the Civil War, and adopted as the national motto during the Cold War years.

As Americans again face a period of national crisis, it seems fitting for the legislature to encourage citizens to embrace the national motto. That is why I voted for this bill.

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact my office, toll-free, at 1-888-647-3710.

Sincerely,

Buzz Thomas
State Represetnative
10th-District


>>> "Barbara Bommarito" <bommariti@msn.com> 10/20/01 05:46PM >>>
As your constituent, I am deeply disappointed that you didn't have the courage to vote against this direct attack on the separation of church and state. The timing of its passage is clearly an exploitation of the 9-11 tragedy. As far as I am concerned, you have gotten in bed with those whose agenda is to trash the First Amendment. Shame on you!

Writer@Large

Ah, yes, the old form letter. I've seen many of these in the past few years. I live up in Mt. Pleasant, a Republican stronghold, and at the State level I've gotten to the point where I wonder why I bother sometimes. <a href="http://www.housedems.com/" target="_blank">Even the state Democratic Caucus website has "God Bless America" right there on its homepage.</a> Sigh .

--W@L

Euromutt

This is a outsider's point of view, but I was rather under the impression that the motto of the US was "E Pluribus Unum"; that's what it says on the national seal (the one with the eagle holding the sheaf of arrows, etc.).
It strikes me that "In God We Trust" is no more the motto of the US than "God Zij Met Ons" ("(May) God be with us") is that of the Netherlands. It may say "God Zij Met Ons" on the edge of our coins (even the Dutch verson of the 2 Euro coin), but the national coat of arms and the emblem on the left shoulder of the army's dress uniform say "Je Maintiendrai" - "I shall maintain".
Methinks having "E Pluribus Unum" carved on public buildings conveys a better message. Being (proud to be) an American is not about trusting in God, it's about trusting in the Constitution.
But maybe I'm just a whacko foreigner (from a dangerously pinko country at that) who doesn't get it...

Oresta

Euromutt, there's nothing wacko about your position on this. E Pluribus Unum makes more sense historically also, given 13 colonies striving to find a balance in the Constitution between state and federal powers/rights. How ironic that the "motto" IGWT first showed up on money during the Civil War, when men were dying to maintain the union of many.

Grace Dodds

Need your votes and comments please on the Cybersurvey in the Detroit news today concerning the National Motto..Thanks

swingout

done it - as my Boston Irish ancestors would have said -"vote early and often"

We should keep a heading for these type of polls.

MikeG

Grace, Thanks for the lead on the Detroit News survey. I see you are posting frm North Branch - we live in the same county (I'm in Almont). Ever read that religion soaked rag The County Press?

Oresta

Grace, Thanks for the lead on the Detroit News survey. I see you are posting frm North Branch - we live in the same county (I'm in Almont). Ever read that religion soaked rag The County Press?

Thanks not only for the the lead, Grace. WELCOME TO THE II on your maiden post! Check out my profile, we have some demographics in commom, including being - as far as I know - the only two retired, women atheists, as well as both in MI. Less than six degrees of separation, I'd say.