In God We Trust:
The four-word phrase appears on all American currency.
The fact is, rather than God, the Trust lies in honouring the printed value of a currency note as promised by the signature of the U.S. treasury secretary.
God does not play any role in the legality of the legal
tender.
So why does God's commitment inscribed on all the United States
currency, since 1938 on coins and 1957 on printed money?
It refers to the mix of politics and nationalism to coin the
expression "in god we trust."
It was initiated and still supported by the Christian
nationalism that wants governments and people to "trust in God"; through
the medium of money.
The paper money and the coins have thus become an ongoing vehicle
to establish and promote the message that the United States is a theistic state
who believes in God or trusts in God.
For that reason, the logo becomes the national motto embedding
God's commitment. But it appears nebulous and carries no monetary promise when
displayed on all the U.S. currency.
Opponents of
the phrase argue that it amounts to a governmental endorsement of religion and
thus violates the First Amendment's establishment clause.
However, federal
courts have consistently upheld the constitutionality of the national motto.
Whereas, in Judaism and
Christianity, the official motto "In God We Trust" is not found
verbatim in any verses from the Bible.
A 2003 poll
stated that 90% of Americans support the "In God We Trust" inscription
on the U.S. currency.
Proponents have
extensively argued for the inclusion of the national motto in more settings,
grounding it in the traditional invocations of God that they say have now
become an element of civil religion and should express the will of the
founders, who believed in God.
Over the years,
from coins to paper bills, the national motto's usage and presence have expanded
to other visible mountings, especially on motor vehicle licence plates.
Currently, about 24 states offer the choice without any additional fee. In God,
We Trust is poised for more rides as more states are in line to get the
national motto on the licence plates.
In God We Trust
is more like an established tradition that is neither religious nor secular that
cannot be masked, especially in the rising ultra-Right American culture.
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