(TheLibertyRevolution.com) – A state politician in Kansas is working hard to require all public buildings to display the national motto. That may not sound like a big news bite, but it is because of what the national motto is: “In God We Trust.”
Mixing religion and public things in this country seems to have become a no-no over the last few decades. But Kansas Republican Michael Capps, a state representative, doesn’t agree. In fact, he is sponsoring legislation that would require every municipal and state building in Kansas to display “In God We Trust” somewhere on it.
“It should be displayed as an acknowledgment of our country’s history and founding principles,” Capps said, according to local newspaper the Wichita Eagle.
Capps’ bill, House Bill 2476, would include all libraries, public school classrooms, colleges as well as universities. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Brandon Reed.
Not surprisingly, there has been some backlash against the bill. Some Democrats have scoffed at the proposed legislation, pointing to the fact that not all people in the United States, or even Kansas, believe in Godand therefore shouldn’t be forced to read the motto on public buildings.
Some Republicans, such as Rep. Blake Carpenter, gave some support, but during an open hearing on the bill, said it might be a little too strict to require the motto be placed in every school classroom.
The one area where no one can argue about the bill is that installing the motto everywhere would not require any public funds. Donors would instead be looked to for the funding needed to purchase and install the motto on all required buildings. The bill as currently written says the motto must be, at minimum, 14 inches high and 11 inches wide, and incorporate the motto as well as the state flag of Kansas and the United States flag.
Independent groups such as the American Atheists have come out against the proposal, pressing hard for the separation of religion and government. They say that while they recognize the history of the motto, pushing God on people in government places puts pressure on them to conform.
Capps was quick to respond, saying in a statement to the local paper that, “misguided people have attempted to sunder the country ever since,” President Dwight Eisenhower established the national motto back in 1956. “If fringe groups are offended, they are welcome to move elsewhere.” He concluded by saying he would pray atheists, “come to find the love of our country our founders showed.”
Kansas is not the only state to proposal legislation like this. Both Florida and Oklahoma have introduced bills that would require the motto be displayed on public buildings as well as in schools.
Congress adopted the motto in 1956, and it became official when Eisenhower signed it into law following that. The roots of “In God We Trust” date further back than that, though. It first appeared on an 1864 two-cent coin while the Civil War was underway. It has been on our paper currency since the year following the law’s passage, replacing the former phrase of “E Pluribus Unum,” which means “out of many, one.”
