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Reader comment on:
Faith-Based Currency
in response to reader comment: Values

Submitted by Ben, Dec 5, 2007 14:27

Pedro said: "The we in "In God we trust" does not refer to the set of all Americans and it's not meant to."

If it wasn't meant to, it wouldn't be a National Motto. It would be the motto of 'part-of-a-nation'


Pedro said: "It's there as an indication on what values USA is founded - which are, in great part, Christian values."

Not true. Constitutional government began in 1787. The founders answered this very question explicitly as possible in 1796 in the Treaty with Tripoli. Article XI of this treaty begins "As the United States government is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..." The treaty was passed unanimously by the senate. It was printed in major newspapers without ensuing angry letters to the editor. The U.S. was founded on Enlightenment values, not Christian.


Pedro said: "Someone here mentioned that "In God we trust" is the same that "We are white". It's a mistake. Skin color nor is a value within any (major, at least) religious system, nor does provide a set of principles to build a society."

No, it isn't a mistake. Both refer to majorities being given sole status as 'we' in the National Motto. The 3/5th compromise, counting blacks as 3/5th of a white person for congressional representation and taxation, IS embodied in the U.S. Constitution in Article I. "In God We Trust" is LESS defensible as a National Motto than "We Are White" would be.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.

Other reader comments on this article

Comment By Date

If you go back and look at M2 increases from 1993-2002, you'll see double-digit expansions every year of the 1990's... [MORE]

Goldbug

Dec 5, 2007 13:04

I think we should draft a law which prohibit atheists from litigating anything in regards to atheism. The doctor should... [MORE]

travis

Dec 5, 2007 09:57

We should also pass a law that prevents religious members from litigating anything in regard to their religious values. [MORE]

LandMineHare

Dec 9, 2007 12:34

That's a question that is harder than it looks. I'm not familiar with American Constitution, so I can't comment... [MORE]

Pedro

Dec 5, 2007 08:04

Pedro said: "The we in "In God we trust" does not refer to the set of all Americans and it's...

Ben

Dec 5, 2007 14:27

Thanks for your reply. As I said before, I'm not American, so I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as you on... [MORE]

Pedro

Dec 5, 2007 23:30

"I haven't said it was founded on Christian religion, but on Christian values." Christian values are part of the Christian religion.... [MORE]

Ben

Dec 6, 2007 17:04

"Christian values are part of the Christian religion. The sentence said 'As the government of the United States is not,... [MORE]

Pedro

Dec 8, 2007 10:53

Except that's just impossible if you take that literally. The moral orientation of a man are much tied to the... [MORE]

Ben

Dec 9, 2007 12:04

Yes, the currency needs all the help in can get. But I don't think that encouraging belief in supernatural nonsense... [MORE]

Mike Riezenman

Dec 5, 2007 02:33

NY Sun Editors, you should be ashamed of yourselves. In God We Trust is not just a 'phrase printed on our... [MORE]

Ben

Dec 5, 2007 02:08

This is a somewhat answere to some of Ben's information. Congress passed the Coinage Act of April22 1864 and "in... [MORE]

Rogers Marshall

Dec 5, 2007 11:50

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