We Hold These Truths ...

 Our young country began to lose its bearings when, in 1954 and again in '56, President Eisenhower made God officially part of our government.  In '54 "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance.  In '56 "E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many One)" was replaced by "In God We Trust" as the official United States motto.  The question I've asked myself is WHY?  Those two changes automatically excluded the portion of our population that does not believe in a supreme being that watches over us.  

A motto summarizes a purpose, a goal, something to strive for.  E Pluribus Unum was something we could strive for as individuals, and as a group.  It simply stated that we, as inhabitants of the United States of America, could work together to make our land a place all could cherish regardless of beliefs.  In God We Trust, implies that we can sit back and let a deity take care of everything.  

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare,  and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The last phrase in Article VI states:

. . . no religious Test shall ever be required as a qualification for any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Amendment 1 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

We have drifted a long way from the intent of the Constitution to exclude religion from the governance of the new country.  We now have a Christian Nationalist as Speaker of the House!  Louisiana now requires the Ten Commandments be displayed in all schools.

The intent ... no ... the requirement, in Article VI is that religion not become an active part of government.

On this day, 11/11/2024, as we remember those who put their everyday lives on hold and traveled across two oceans to defend freedom from those who wished to take it away, we must now turn our attention to our own land.  We the people have elected a government intent on dismantling our fragile democracy.  We must hold fast against becoming an autocracy.

Until next time,

Namaste