National Motto

On December 20, 2001, Governor John Engler signed the following bill into law:

PUBLIC ACT 184

A bill to strongly encourage state agencies and units of local government to exercise their constitutional ability to place the national motto in or on public buildings or land in this state.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. As used in this act:
(a) 'State agency' means a department, board, commission, office, agency, authority, or other unit of state government. State agency includes a state institution of higher education.
(b) 'Unit of local government' means a political subdivision of this state, including school districts, public school academies, cities, villages, townships, counties, and authorities, if the political subdivision has as its primary purpose the providing of local governmental service for the citizens in a geographically limited area of the state and has the power to act primarily on behalf of that area.
Sec. 2. This state strongly encourages each state agency and unit of local government to exercise their constitutional ability to place the national motto 'In God We Trust' in or on public buildings or land owned or occupied by that state agency or unit of local government."

History of the current motto:

     After the Civil War, members of several Protestant denominations formed the National Reform Association, whose primary purpose was to revise the Constitution to reflect their idea that the United States was a Christian nation. The blatantly Christian amendment they proposed was rejected by Congress and all states, but their influence took a new route through James Pollock, the tenth director of the U.S. Mint, appointed by Abraham Lincoln.
    Pollock, along with Solomon Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury at the time, maintained correspondence about adopting a reflection of Christianity on the coins of the United States. When they settled on a motto, the administration approached Congress with legislation that contained the following: "...and the shape, mottos, and devices of said coins shall be fixed by the director of the mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury;. . ." Pollock and Chase, therefore, were able to easily sneak their motto, "In God We Trust", onto the coins, having been the only decision makers involved. 
    Theodore Roosevelt challenged the motto, citing his feeling that it was blasphemous, but outcry from religious groups prompted legislation in Congress to restore it. Although he objected and said that the motto was not necessary ("rot" was his word to describe the situation), Roosevelt did not veto the legislation, and the motto was required by Public Law No. 120 to appear on all gold and silver coins.
During the Cold War, the motto made its way to our paper money with the passage of H.R. 619, the intent of which was made clear by Congressman Bennet of Florida:
  "I sincerely hope that the Senate will give its prompt approval to this proposal. In these days when imperialistic and materialistic communism seeks to attack and destroy freedom, we should continuously look for ways to strengthen the foundations of our freedom. At the base of our freedom is our faith in God and the desire of Americans to live by His will and His guidance. As long as this country trusts in God, it will prevail. To serve as a constant reminder of this truth, it is highly desirable that our currency and coins should bear these inspiring words "In God We Trust." 
Religious sentiment appeared at all points in the history of this motto, and the sentiments expressed by politicians and Supreme Court justices regarding the historical, ceremonial, or non-denominational nature of the motto ignore history entirely.

What is happening currently:

     House Bill came about as a direct result of a resolution made in the U.S. Congress that encourage the states to display the national motto in public buildings.  So far, Michigan is the only state that has successfully passed legislation to this effect.  Because of the passage of this public act, at least two communities, Troy and Auburn Hills, have passed resolutions in their city councils to comply.  A third community, Rochester Hills, is considering the posting of the motto in its schools.  More communities will inevitably follow if the resolutions in these communities go unchallenged.

What we can do:

•  Since the State of Michigan has already signed it into law, the fight against the motto legislation is best joined at the local level.  Atheists and other state-church separationists are encouraged to go to the meetings of their city councils regularly. 
• Write to your community officials, expressing your concerns about this legislation.
• Become a possible media contact for your area.  For more information on this opportunity, contact Arlene-Marie at amarie@atheists.org.
• Write to your local newspapers, expressing your opinion on this exclusionary legislation.

Talking points:

1.  The national motto's history is undeniably religious.  Not only does it advance a monotheistic philosophy, but it also establishes the Judeo-Christian god as the national deity, due to the very nature of its history.  This establishment of religion violates the First Amendment.
2. A past federal court decision (1996) labels the national motto as an expression of "ceremonial deism", and gives "In God We Trust" a historical status.  However, not only is the history of the motto religious, but this history is also not shared by Michigan.  This state has never used the motto in an official manner.
3. Displaying "In God We Trust" in our schools will put children of not only Atheists, but also Shintoists, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, rationalists, Jainists, and anyone else who does not fall under the "We" part of the motto in a position where they may be ostracized, ridiculed, and otherwise discriminated against.
4. Displaying "In God We Trust" in public buildings puts nonreligious adult citizens in an uncomfortable position when they enter the public square to make requests, apply for licenses, address grievances, or otherwise engage in public business. 
5. The passage of this law did not solve any problems faced by the citizens of the State of Michigan.  It effectively created a social problem for all of Michigan's communities.  Not only will the secular citizens in this state face possible discrimination as a result of their challenges to this discriminatory law, but the legal challenges that must inevitably come will cost taxpayers large sums of money.  The only winners in these fights are the attorneys who fight them.

For an example of how IGWT resolutions make it through city councils, click here.