The Costa Mesa City Council voted 5-0 to emblazon “In God We Trust” on the walls of the council chamber, and specific kudos to Councilwoman Endy Leece for spearheading it.
For those who may be unaware, “In God We Trust” is the national motto of the United States.
It speaks volumes about the shift in our political culture that this would even be controversial because a tiny but vocal minority proclaims itself “uncomfortable” at a public display of the national motto because it acknowledges — gasp! — the existence of a Supreme Being in whom this country puts its trust.
Given that the Declaration of Independence states that our rights comes from God, that God’s laws entitled us to declare our independence, and invokes “a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence” — another way of saying “In God We Trust” — these same sensitive souls should also call for the banning of the Declaration from classrooms and 4th of July celebrations.
I think the movement of city councils setting “In God We Trust” in a place of prominence in their chambers is a salutary one, although it’s unfortunate one is even necessary as an antidote to the pervasive amnesia of this nation’s philosophical heritage.