While American minds were focused on the flagging economy, multiple wars, a ballooning deficit, record unemployment, corporate greed, and economic inequality, the House spent part of Tuesday officially
re-affirming 'In God We Trust' as the official national motto of The United States of America.
'In God We Trust' has been our
official motto since 1956. The phrase has appeared on US coins since 1864, and on paper currency since 1957. Americans see this motto every day when they spend their hard-earned money on overpriced products that are manufactured overseas -- money they earn from jobs that they fear they may lose, if they haven't already lost them.
Even though the motto is enshrined in our currency, in our legislation (
Public Law 84-851), and in the United States Code (at
36 U.S.C. § 302) which states: "'In God we trust' is the national motto," House Republicans wanted to ensure that there isn't any confusion about the motto. (The non-binding resolution was approved 396-9, with 2 abstentions.)
Representative J. Randy Forbes, Republican of Virginia and the measure’s sponsor,
stated:
“What’s happened over the last several years is that we have had a number of confusing situations in which some who don’t like the motto have tried to convince people not to put it up.”
He has a point. How can America possibly overcome its obstacles if there is confusion about the motto that
appears in the House chamber above Forbes' head, and in the
Capitol Visitors’ Center, and on the very money that he uses to purchase his morning latte?
Maybe America
is confused. Maybe, despite the motto's inclusion on our currency, its enshrinement in public law and US code, and its appearance on public buildings, we have forgotten that in 2002, President George W. Bush
signed into law a bill re-affirming 'In God We Trust' as our official national motto.
Maybe, despite the money thing, and the public law and US code stuff, and the re-affirming by Bush, Americans are still confused, forgetting that
Senate re-reaffirmed the motto as our official national motto on its 50th anniversary of officialdom.
Maybe the House is treating this issue the way many religious people treat prayer requests. Maybe if its repeated enough times by enough people, the signal is stronger, and God is therefore more likely to receive the call if he's traveling through a dead spot in the San Fernando Valley.
Maybe now, we can finally get some help on the issues that are plaguing our country. If not from God, perhaps from our lawmakers, who won't need to reaffirm our motto for at least a few more years.
Jon Stewart's looks at the House's re-re-re-affirmation of 'In God We Trust' as America's official national motto.
