Nation’s original motto
is still appropriate
In 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson suggested the Latin e pluribus unum (out of many one) as the motto to be placed on the Great Seal of the United States. It referred to the creation of one nation out of 13 colonies and appears on the seal on a scroll held in an eagle’s beak.
In 1861, a letter written to Treasury Secretary Salmon Chevy Chase by Rev. M.R. Atkinson from Pennsylvania suggested the words “God, Liberty, Law” be added to a coin to “place us openly under divine protection.” In 1863, Secretary Chase approved the motto “In God We Trust” to be placed on coinage.
Later, Theodore Roosevelt, as Christian-minded as any president America has ever seen, wanted to remove “In God We Trust” from our coinage because he believed the words were unconstitutional and because he believed putting “God” on money was a sacrilege.
A law passed by the 84th Congress and approved by President Eisenhower in 1956 made “In God We Trust” the national motto of the United States. It was also under Eisenhower that “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. Both of these actions were the result of the anti-communist fervor of the times.
In the time of our Founding Fathers, the colonies were a diverse group, including Deists like Jefferson, Baptists in Connecticut, Quakers in Pennsylvania, Congregationalists in Massachusetts, Anglicans in Virginia, Jews in New York, Shakers, Muslims, people of faith and of no faith, and people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Today, given the continuing religious and cultural diversity of our country, the original motto e pluribus unum would be a very appropriate motto to emphasize and one that each of us should strive to actuate.
ó Roger Hull
China Grove
Words of warning from the past
It is not to say that history repeats itself but let’s take a look at words from a most hated individual from that past that may sink in today.
I will not get it 100 percent in detail, but I will put it into simple words.
People can be controlled by the government. That is easy. Tell them they are being attacked, tell them that all things are for the good of national security. Who said this? You might be thinking G.W. Bush. No, it’s a paraphrase from Herman Goering during World War II.
I have the utmost respect for our troops and am no way anti-Bush or anti-government. Remember the constitution, people, for it might be dust if we do not.
ó James Allen Holcombe
China Grove