‘In God We Trust' proposal fails in Fountain Valley (CA)

[question everything]

Monday, June 2, 2008
‘In God We Trust' proposal fails in Fountain Valley
A measure to display the motto in Fountain Valley City Council Chambers failed Monday night to get the three votes needed to pass.
By JULIE ANNE INES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER


FOUNTAIN VALLEY - A proposal to display the national motto “In God We Trust” in Council Chambers died Monday night after the measure failed to get the three votes needed for it to pass. “People do not come here for the purpose of practicing their faith although they are free to do so if they wish,” said councilwoman Cheryl Brothers, who voted against the display.

(snip)

“This is not a house of worship; this is a house of democracy,” said Stephanie Campbell, a resident of Costa Mesa and the president of the Orange County chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

In recent months, several Orange County cities have chosen to display the motto, including Huntington Beach, San Clemente, Mission Viejo, Tustin, Cypress and Westminster. The Villa Park City Council voted in April to let residents decide on the November ballot, while Los Alamitos has set a Wednesday deadline for resident responses to a survey about whether the city should display the motto. Westminster was the first city in the county to adopt the motto, displaying the sign earlier this year behind the city dais.

Steven Schwarz, a member of King of Glory Lutheran Church, said at the Fountain Valley meeting that those who should find the display most objectionable should be Christians and other religious people. He said such displays and other such secular uses of the word compromise the “integrity of the language of faith” by secularizing the word “god.”

(snip)


http://www.ocregister.com/articles/display-motto-meeting-2058354-ayer-carrozzo

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Thank God.

Seriously. I am glad this was defeated.

[question everything]

6. Cute. I remember talking to my city council against an invocation

at the beginning of council meetings, saying that there is no such thing as "one prayer fits all" and that members who seek spiritual guidance can pray silently in their own offices.

I lost, of course. One elderly woman, who wanted to see this one passes while she was still alive, fished several coins and notes from her wallet to show that we mention god on our currency.

After that, when I attended council meetings, while I would stand - for the pledge and the invocation - I never put my hand on my heart and I never bowed my head. Just stood erect looking straight.

[VP505]

2. Good for the Fountain Valley City Council !

They will probably take a lot of flack over that but you can't argue with “This is not a house of worship; this is a house of democracy,” I am sure some will try anyway.

[sui generis]

3. I'm curious how many more would have voted against

"in allah we trust" or "in yaweh we trust" or "in gaia we trust".

Kind of betrays their real view of the world if they're citing "tradition" and then forget that other people besides christians have traditions too.

That's why all religious reference should be kept apart from the administration of government.

[sakabatou]

4. I think the town would;ve been more popular if they put

"In the FSM We Trust."

[msedano]

5. that's only a partial motto

i find it encouraging these civic minded types enjoy reading Jean Shepherd's cute stories.

Author Shepherd, Jean.
Title In God we trust : all others pay cash / Jean Shepherd.
Edition 1st Broaway Books trade pbk ed.
Publisher New York; Broadway Books, 2000.
Description 264 p. ; 21 cm.
ISBN 0385021747 :

[Adsos Letter]

7. I grew up reading Jean Shepherd's stuff...

I have three of his books sitting on my shelf as I speak. :thumbsup: