Kern County To Display ‘In God We Trust’ Motto

February 16, 2011 10:48 AM

“In God We Trust” became the United States’ national motto in 1956. (credit: AP/File)

Filed under

Local, News

Photo Galleries

'Carmageddon II'

Car Snapped: Celebrities On The Go

CBSLA Hurricane Relief Telethon

Cute Dogs And Cars

BAKERSFIELD (AP) — Kern County supervisors have decided to display the motto “In God We Trust” in its meeting chambers.

County Counsel Theresa Goldner had warned the Board of Supervisors that the display would violate the Constitution’s separation of church and state if it was religiously motivated.

The Bakersfield Californian reports that the supervisors didn’t comment much about their motivation Tuesday, but Supervisor Jon McQuiston did say the purpose is “patriotic ceremony.”

“In God We Trust” became the United States’ national motto in 1956.

The installation will be funded by private donations.

The campaign was pushed by In God We Trust America, a Bakersfield nonprofit that works to get local governments to put up the motto. According to the group, Kern County will be the third county in California to display it.

Kern County To Display In God We Trust Motto

Ken Sobel

It is very sad to see the barrier of church and State broken down once again. Out government should do all within its power to eliminate sayings such as this, as well as the ten commandments on public property. In the 50′s it was bad enough that our politicians wanted to show the “Godless” communists that we worship beings who don’t exist, but to place our trust in such ghosts and goblins is tragic, even if it is just a saying.
Dana Redmayne

THANK GOD! It’s about time someone stepped up to reality. The fact is there is a GOD that we TRUST IN! as a country and as a people. It is ok for people to not believe in our God but don’t try to stop us from proclaiming it and displaying it! It’s not about religion. It’s about a real relationship with God and doing the right thing: loving one another. Our country was founded on this priciple…let’s keep it that way.

Cynthia Lafler

AMEN!!!!!! May God bless you Dana! Your boldness and frankness is both refreshing and encouraging – let us love one another as Christ Jesus loved us – We love because He first loved us – I am an American and proud to be one – a country where I do have the right to believe in God and say so – at least for now…if more people don’t step up to the plate, we may just become more than just the silent majority.

Nancy Kay

With all due respect, this is a bad precedent, and sad evidence of the popularity of common thought pushing for further erosion of the separation of Church and State.

Display, preach and practice whatever you want in your home, your business, your place of worship…that is the true AMERICAN way. So sorry we forgot that in the 50′s and sorrier now.
Cheese_Wonton

Up here in Kern County our public officials love to wave their ignorance around like a badge of honor. So does a proportion of the electorate. If you want a laugh some time, read the comments on the Ridgecrest Daily Independent, what I call the Daily Co-Dependent, website. A bunch of foreward thinkers up here.
Cythia Lafler

I applaud this decision! I am shocked and amazed at the comments from those who disagree with the decision and would call my personal belief in God as “placing my trust in ghosts and goblins”. Wow, America is the home of the free and the brave – that means freedom to express religious beliefs and freedom OF religion, not specifically freedom FROM religion. The belief that there is no God is in of itself a religion and I respect your right to have that belief, even though I disagree. I really don’t understand why anyone who doesn’t even believe in God would care one way or another if a county decides to use a motto that is both honoring our American heirtage as well as quoting American history. If you don’t choose to believe – don’t – but let me and others who do believe in our Almighty God, utilize our freedom of speech and state it anywhere we wish, just as you do your disbelief. Ignorance is bliss only here on earth – after you leave this life – you may have a different perspective…