The other day I saw a meme on Facebook opposing the words " In God we Trust " being on our currency. I don't recall the meme exactly but it included the phrase " e pluribus Unum " as well. I chuckled at first because whoever wrote the meme interpreted that Latin phrase incorrectly. They had it completely backyards saying out of one, many. I believe they were trying to make a case for diversity and inclusiveness in America. The premise was, that's why the motto E pluribus Unum. It was representing all the immigrants that are America or some such thought. Of course I agree that America is a nation of immigrants. history doesn't lie, but the concept was, and is, out of many one, Americans! Anyway, this person went on to explain that In God we Trust was added due to the Godless threat of the Russians. Yes, right after WW2 during the cold war when we were all afraid the Russians would bomb us instead of rigging our elections. My comment then was that phrase was reaffirmed by Congress on July 30, 1956 and approved by Eisenhower, declaring it appear on all U.S. currency.
I did find this interesting and so did some more reading about it. First I discovered that Barack Obama had brought this to the forefront of American thinking in 2011 when he erroneously said " E pluribus Unum " is the national motto. That's right, a sitting president didn't know what the national motto really was. I forgive him for that as I wasn't 100% per cent certain myself, of course I ain't the president speaking to thousands of people so nobody would notice. Anyway, the point is do you know what the national motto is? In God we Trust is the answer. First appearing on a two cent piece in 1864 at the tail end of the civil war. It was a reaffirmation by the government, at the insistence of numerous religious leaders, that our government was a kind and compassionate government and most importantly abided by Christian principles. Remember this is during the civil war when the country was divided and so many were mourning the loss of life. There is solace in faith, in the belief in God. Both sides had prayed for that God to be on their side! Such is the case in all wars. The north prevailed and wanted to show that common faith, and so In God we Trust seemed appropriate. I kept reading and came upon this quote from Thomas Jefferson. " The God who gave us life gave us liberty" and at the same time asked, " Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God? " That was penned in 1774. Remember it was only 90 years removed from 1774 that the civil war was taking place. I'm certain those memories and writings were still fresh in the minds of patriots and politicians. We are talking about 1864. Also just 50 years prior we had the defense of Baltimore in the war of 1812 where Francis Scott Key penned the words to our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, and in the last stanza of that song these words are written, " and this shall be our motto: In God is our Trust and the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." So there you have it. The words were paraphrased to fit on our coins and currency, to be as succinct as possible. In God we Trust.
You see it had nothing to do with the Russians, communism, or immigrants. It was a concern of moral and just behaviors. The implication being we were placing the safety and security of our nation in the hands of God. God was to unite and heal our nation as he/she had always done. God was involved in the founding process, God was written into the founding documents and indeed God was in the forefront of the thinking of our legislators and statesmen. Guidance came from the divine. I do find it a bit ironic that it should be emblazoned upon our currency and coins.
The two driving forces in the creation, formation and sustaining of a nation, God and Money! We pray to our Gods for wisdom and guidance in our lives. We trust in our God because the word of God is our security. For God and country! I did read another thought from the mind of Thomas Jefferson. He shared this, " Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. " Quite a foreboding statement wouldn't you say? You know in a way by placing our national motto " In God we Trust " upon that currency and coin we are acknowledging the words of Jesus when his response was, Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars' and unto God that things that are Gods'. In modern parlance the kids might say, in your face! Just as Jesus was telling those folks he condemned the taxes being imposed upon the people in a way that's what that motto is saying as well. Money isn't the most important, In God we Trust. The separation of church and state.
I did find this interesting and so did some more reading about it. First I discovered that Barack Obama had brought this to the forefront of American thinking in 2011 when he erroneously said " E pluribus Unum " is the national motto. That's right, a sitting president didn't know what the national motto really was. I forgive him for that as I wasn't 100% per cent certain myself, of course I ain't the president speaking to thousands of people so nobody would notice. Anyway, the point is do you know what the national motto is? In God we Trust is the answer. First appearing on a two cent piece in 1864 at the tail end of the civil war. It was a reaffirmation by the government, at the insistence of numerous religious leaders, that our government was a kind and compassionate government and most importantly abided by Christian principles. Remember this is during the civil war when the country was divided and so many were mourning the loss of life. There is solace in faith, in the belief in God. Both sides had prayed for that God to be on their side! Such is the case in all wars. The north prevailed and wanted to show that common faith, and so In God we Trust seemed appropriate. I kept reading and came upon this quote from Thomas Jefferson. " The God who gave us life gave us liberty" and at the same time asked, " Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God? " That was penned in 1774. Remember it was only 90 years removed from 1774 that the civil war was taking place. I'm certain those memories and writings were still fresh in the minds of patriots and politicians. We are talking about 1864. Also just 50 years prior we had the defense of Baltimore in the war of 1812 where Francis Scott Key penned the words to our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, and in the last stanza of that song these words are written, " and this shall be our motto: In God is our Trust and the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." So there you have it. The words were paraphrased to fit on our coins and currency, to be as succinct as possible. In God we Trust.
You see it had nothing to do with the Russians, communism, or immigrants. It was a concern of moral and just behaviors. The implication being we were placing the safety and security of our nation in the hands of God. God was to unite and heal our nation as he/she had always done. God was involved in the founding process, God was written into the founding documents and indeed God was in the forefront of the thinking of our legislators and statesmen. Guidance came from the divine. I do find it a bit ironic that it should be emblazoned upon our currency and coins.
The two driving forces in the creation, formation and sustaining of a nation, God and Money! We pray to our Gods for wisdom and guidance in our lives. We trust in our God because the word of God is our security. For God and country! I did read another thought from the mind of Thomas Jefferson. He shared this, " Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. " Quite a foreboding statement wouldn't you say? You know in a way by placing our national motto " In God we Trust " upon that currency and coin we are acknowledging the words of Jesus when his response was, Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars' and unto God that things that are Gods'. In modern parlance the kids might say, in your face! Just as Jesus was telling those folks he condemned the taxes being imposed upon the people in a way that's what that motto is saying as well. Money isn't the most important, In God we Trust. The separation of church and state.
I have enjoyed very much what you have written. The way you explain a somehow difficult subject, not imposing anything, not bashing any different point of view, yet making yours crystalline, is really wonderful.
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