Our national motto should be changed from the divisive, unconstitutional phrase, "In god we trust," to the inclusive, constitutional phrase, "United we stand."
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The national motto used to be, "E pluribus unum." EPU means: Out of many, one. It refers to the fact that Americans come from many places to make one nation.
The national motto was changed during the middle 1950's from EPU to IGWT in large part because few knew what EPU meant. The other reason that the motto was changed was to symbolize, during the Cold War, the difference in religious freedom between our country and communist countries.
In the late 1970's, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that IGWT is constitutional, despite the fact that it puts the government in the position of unconstitutionally endorsing theism over atheism. The Supreme Court ruled in the early 1970's that an action by government is unconstitutional if it has the effect of advancing religion rather than being neutral about religion.
Ever since the Supreme Court ruling on IGWT, religious fanatics in and out of government have used that phrase to insult and ridicule atheists and to falsely imply that atheists are not patriotic. Politicians have attached the phrase to government property, such as courtrooms and city seals, to make it known that atheists are a group that is disfavored by the government solely because of the theological opinions of the members of that group.
After the events of September 11th, many businesses, individuals and governmental agencies started to use the phrase, "God Bless America," to symbolize their patriotism. The use of GBA, however, was quickly recognized by many as being divisive because many good Americans are not god-believers. Soon, many replaced GBA with the much more inclusive phrase, "United we stand." Since then, UWS has been very effective in symbolizing both national unity and patriotism.
UWS should be adopted as the new national motto because it symbolizes unity and patriotism without an element of divisiveness. UWS is inclusive. GBA and IGWT are not. GBA and IGWT divide Americans along theological lines. UWS does not.
We will never be a united people as long as government and religious fanatics continue to use the phrases IGWT and "One nation under god" to take shots at those of us who do not subscribe to the majority's view about religion.
I will begin the long, controversial process of getting the national motto changed from IGWT to UWS by contacting members of Congress, seeking their support and seeking your support. After winning that battle, I'll work on getting the phrase, "Under god," removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, for the same reason.
This may take a while.
Rob Sherman P. O. Box
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