50 YEARS OF TRUST
BY DAN MILLER
July 28, 2006
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the words "In God We Trust" becoming the motto of the United States.
That's right..... it was on July 30th, 1956 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a resolution making "In God We Trust" our official national motto.
It had already been inscribed on some coins, but only when Eisenhower signed that bill did it become the "national motto".
The next year they started printed those powerful words on some paper currency.
As mottos go, it's a pretty good one.
Of course, not everybody likes it.
Some people feel it's imposing religion on folks who don't want religion imposed on them.
I guess they're concerned that reading those words might somehow lure them into being religious.
I don't think they should worry so much.
I've never known a true "non-believer" who suddenly became a "believer" just because he read or heard the national motto.
If that were the case, I'd say their "non-belief" was pretty shallow and superficial to begin with.... they were probably teetering on the edge of converting to a believer.
In fact, if slogans and mottos and song titles have that kind of impact on people, then the state of Georgia should take legal action to keep Charlie Daniels from singing "The Devil Went Down To Georgia".
It might be scaring tourists away!
Speaking of mottos and titles and such.... someone emailed me a list of proposed mottos that were "rejected" by various states.
They're fun and funny.
Here are a few that I think it's OK to print.......
OKLAHOMA
Rejected motto: "Like the Play, Only No Singing"
NEW MEXICO
Rejected motto: "UFO Spotting for 50 Years"
RHODE ISLAND
Rejected motto: "We're Not Really An Island"
ARIZONA
Rejected motto: "But It's A Dry Heat"
FLORIDA
Rejected motto: "Ask Us About Our Grandkids"
ILLINOIS
Rejected motto: "Please Don't Pronounce the 'S'..."
KANSAS
Rejected motto: "First Of The Rectangle States"
MAINE
Rejected motto: "It's Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster"
MICHIGAN
Rejected motto: "First Line Of Defense From The Canadians"
MINNESOTA
Rejected motto: "10,000 Lakes And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes"
NEBRASKA
Rejected motto: "Ask About Our State Motto Contest"
NEW JERSEY
Rejected motto: "You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right To An Attorney...."
GEORGIA
Rejected motto: "Gateway To Florida"
VIRGINIA
Rejected motto: "Please Don't Confuse Us With West Virginia"
SOUTH CAROLINA
Rejected motto: "Just South Of North Carolina"
OHIO
Rejected motto: "Where One Of Your Dad's Friends Lives"
Have a good weekend, and keep the trust.
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