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[Heron TSG]

I would absolutely love to change our motto back to E Pluribus Unum. In God we Trust has always seemed to exclude large swaths of the population, in my opinion. A motto that somewhat resembles our nation's ideals would be swell.

For context, I am the one person I know of at my school who says the pledge of allegiance in the pre-red-scare fashion, without waiting for everyone else to say 'under god'. (SEGUE!) It's not that I hate them for having a god, but constantly being singled out and occasionally yelled at for not saying the pledge 'correctly' has made me a bit frustrated. I'm downright tired of Christian phrases and standards getting up in my business, and I think that it would be better for everyone if we had a motto that represented everyone equally.

If I were a conservative strategist it would be no effort whatsoever to coin something about "We're in the middle of a deficit and the Left wants to put us further into debt to take the only thing keeping our money afloat off of our money!" Almost a turkey shoot right there.

Note that the petition doesn't say anything to the effect of, "Burn all our current money and replace everything IMMEDIATELY!". I imagine that as the federal mints print out new money and worn out bills are shredded (they do that every year.) the newer money will seep in. Just like when they added all the new colors to dollar bills: you can still use older money as legal tender. It would be almost as simple as changing the printers' programming. An undertaking of reasonable size, but nothing that would murder the economy or really even expand our debts.

Beyond that, you could cite the founding fathers back at the right-wing folk, their pundits tend to go into conniptions when that happens. (Make no law respecting the establishment of a religion, The Morals and Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, etc.) Not even mentioning Republican golden boy (of a bygone era) Abraham Lincoln, who said that a house divided cannot stand. Wouldn't everyone feel better about our money, and be more confident in spending it? Or some other strange punditese.

[Neonivek]

I have come here thinking it was a silly idea, another attempt to simply erase religion from public view because the mere sight of it might be offensive to someone, and then this thread changed my mind. First time it ever happens to me on the internet, heh.

I still think it's not worth the effort though.

I think it is less because "It is offensive" but more that "Government with religion is a silly thing now and we are far beyond it... as well it no longer reflects America as a whole"

Think of it like if the National Anthem for America spoke of how men are fighting to protect everyone and women are back at the homefront.

[Darvi]

In God we Trust has always seemed to exclude large swaths of the population, in my opinion. A motto that somewhat resembles our nation's ideals would be swell.

So... "In Gold We Trust"?

[Rose]

They stopped using gold in relation to currency a while ago.

[Darvi]

But it's what makes the pun work.

[chaoticag]

I'm not sure how it would change well, anything.  Even if we changed all the crisp, new paper money, we'd still have gazillions of legal paper currency in circulation with "in God we trust" on it for a long time afterward.  Seriously, if your atheism is so susceptible to the itty bitty writing on the average American's favorite paper to snort crack with, so much that it offends you, just convert to Christianity for a few years to build up an immunity.  I really think there's other issues to worry about.

:\

First off, the issue at hand is that the government of the United States of America is meant to be a representation of the people that live within it, many of which are not in fact Christians, but are Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans, Agnostics and Atheists. This is as much for them as it is for atheists.

Secondly, even if it will take a while before In God We Trust is off every bill, that's not a good reason to not to start. All it takes is one bill, and after that a few years. The Federal mint does have to replace money that is in circulation, but is in too poor condition to be in circulation.

And lastly, if your response to anyone you feel is offended by your religion, whether that is through feeling left out at government sanctioned prayers, or anything along those lines, then you're being needlessly offensive to what they believe.

[malloc]

I am actually kinda split about this issue.

While I am atheist, and find the motto is rubbish, removing it seems like removing some part of your cultural heritage. No matter how you put it, Christianity has been a part of your culture for centuries. Keeping the motto really does not change anything.

On the other hand, I find Christians argumenting for Christianity by pointing at the bills extremely stupid. If there is any reason to remove that motto and replace it with the more neutral one, it would be for idiots to stop abusing it to enforce Christians beliefs on the rest of the population.

But honestly, stop finding any mention of god offensive. It was like those atheists unblessing highways or boycotting Christmas. Seriously, accept that Christianity was a big part of your culture. Yes we are all smarter now and do not need it, but accept that it has influenced how people thought for many centuries, and appreciate that you have moved above that.

[Rose]

I am actually kinda split about this issue.

While I am atheist, and find the motto is rubbish, removing it seems like removing some part of your cultural heritage. No matter how you put it, Christianity has been a part of your culture for centuriesdecades. Keeping the motto really does not change anything.

On the other hand, I find Christians argumenting for Christianity by pointing at the bills extremely stupid. If there is any reason to remove that motto and replace it with the more neutral one, it would be for idiots to stop abusing it to enforce Christians beliefs on the rest of the population.

But honestly, stop finding any mention of god offensive. It was like those atheists unblessing highways or boycotting Christmas. Seriously, accept that Christianity was a big part of your culture. Yes we are all smarter now and do not need it, but accept that it has influenced how people thought for many centuries, and appreciate that you have moved above that.

This whole america is christian thing is pretty new, relatively.

[Darvi]

Well God is, after all, American.

[justinlee999]

If this happens we'll have most Christians screaming "CHRISTIANITY IS UNDER ATTACK!!!" just like how they did when they banned public prayer at schools.

[scriver]

Maybe you don't need a motto at all?

[Solifuge]

Huh, so they're trying to change the motto back to "Out of many, one." I appreciate that; it's a motto that resonates with me as a person, and which frankly sounds like a proper credo as opposed to "In God We Trust". The current motto stemmed first from the Civil War era as a way of saying "Hey look, God's on the Union's side!" and was sporadically brought back during times of war and fear-mongering, when religious fervor runs high. I think that reflects taking a bad attitude to heart... and with its prevalence on currency really DOES reach and affect a lot of people.

The original motto creates a better credo for the nation, doesn't empower Christianity to be the de-facto religion of the US, and to me reflects a more hopeful and positive attitude for the future. There's depth and elegance to "E Pluribus Unum" that the Christianized motto lacks. I signed.

[Yoink]

I will never understand America, it seems. People are getting all offended over a motto on their dollar note? What?
Hell, I don't think I've ever even bothered reading what it says on my Australian paper money. I'm pretty sure there are far more important things going on in America and the rest of the world right now, any of which are also far more worthy of a petition.
As for banning prayer in schools, that sounded a bit pointless at first, but I could just see my younger self using excessive piety as an excuse to get out of boring classwork whilst praying... So I can kinda see why you guys did that. I probably would've tried that at some point if I'd ever gone to a religious school.

[Loud Whispers]

Charles Darwin on our money ftw

[Solifuge]

I will never understand America, it seems. People are getting all offended over a motto on their dollar note? What?
Hell, I don't think I've ever even bothered reading what it says on my Australian paper money. I'm pretty sure there are far more important things going on in America and the rest of the world right now, any of which are also far more worthy of a petition.

I voice my opinion on the important stuff too. Just because I deem something a higher priority doesn't mean I will just ignore something like this which I feel ought to be changed. Additionally, I think America could use a reminder of that old motto, "From Many, One", in a time where the world is becoming more and more unified by technology and communication. It's hope for the future!