jim alison
September 15, 2006, 12:00 PM
From: <Mike Newdow>
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:22:37 EDT
Subject: Help?
To: jaliso
Hi, Jim.
How's the house sale / move coming along? Have things panned out one way or another? I hope you're well, in any event.
I have a question regarding your possibly helping write an amicus brief in the challenge to "In God We Trust" case. I have some people writing a brief that counters the resolution that was made in Congress this year, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the motto. That resolution is attached.
What the amicus is hoping to do is to take each of the "whereases" and provide another that shows two things:
(1) That one can come up with similar quotations for Christianity, rather than Monotheism, and
(2) That one can come up with similar quotations for equality, rather than Monotheism.
Any chance you can help?
Thanks, as always.
- Mike
THE RESOLUTION
>:|I forgot to attach the Resolution.
>:|
>:|Also, I should let you know that my Opening Brief due date is 9/19/06.
>:|
>:|- M
NATIONAL MOTTO OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration, and the Senate now proceed to S. Con. Res. 96.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 96) to commemorate, celebrate, and reaffirm the national motto of the United States on the 50th anniversary of its formal adoption. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the concurrent resolution.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 96) was agreed to. The preamble was agreed to. The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. CON. RES. 96
Whereas the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ is the national motto of the United States; Whereas, from the colonial beginnings of the United States, citizens of the Nation have officially acknowledged their dependence on God;
Whereas, in 1694, the phrase ‘‘God Preserve Our Carolina and the Lords Proprietors’’ was engraved on the Carolina cent and the phrase ‘‘God Preserve Our New England’’ was inscribed on coins that were minted in New England during that year;
Whereas, while declaring the independence of the United States from Great Britain, the Founding Fathers of the Nation asserted:
‘‘We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’’;
Whereas those signers of the Declaration of Independence further declared: ‘‘And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.’’;
Whereas, in 1782, one of the great leaders of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, wrote:
‘‘[C]an the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?’’;
Whereas the distinguished founding statesman, Benjamin Franklin, when speaking in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention, declared:
‘‘Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of
establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance. I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that ‘except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel. . . .’’;
Whereas the national hero and first President, George Washington, proclaimed in his first inaugural address in 1789: ‘‘[I]t would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7444 July 12, 2006
whose providential aids can supply everyhuman defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and the happiness of the people of the United States a government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to
execute with success the functions allotted to his charge.’’;
Whereas one stanza of the ‘‘Star Spangled Banner’’, which was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 and adopted as the national anthem of the United States in 1931, states: ‘‘O
thus be it ever when free-men shall stand,
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation;
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the
heav’n-rescued land Praise the Pow’r that
hath made and preserv’d us as a nation! Then
conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust!’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph
shall wave O’er the land of the free and the
home of the brave!’’;
Whereas, in 1861, the Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, while instructing James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, stated:
‘‘No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.’’;
Whereas the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ first appeared on a coin of the United States in 1864;
Whereas, in 1955, the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ was designated as a mandatory phrase to be inscribed on all currency and coins of the United States;
Whereas, on March 28, 1956, the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, in its report accompanying H. J. Res. 396 (84th Congress), stated: ‘‘It will be of great spiritual and psychological value to our country to have a clearly designated national motto of inspirational quality in plain, popularly accepted English.’’;
Whereas, on July 30, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed H. J. Res. 396 (84th Congress), making the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ the official motto of the United States; and
Whereas the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the formal adoption of the national motto of the United States, ‘‘In God We Trust’’, presents an opportunity for the citizens of the United States to reaffirm the concept embodied in that motto that—
(1) the proper role of civil government is derived from the consent of the governed, who are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; and
(2) the success of civil government relies firmly on the protection of divine Providence:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress—
(1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the national motto of the United States, ‘‘In God We Trust’’;
(2) celebrates the national motto as—
(A) a fundamental aspect of the national
life of the citizens of the United States; and
(B) a phrase that is central to the hopes and vision of the Founding Fathers for the perpetuity of the United States;
(3) reaffirms today that the substance of
the national motto is no less vital to the future success of the Nation; and
(4) encourages the citizens of the United
States to reflect on—
(A) the national motto of the United
States; and
(B) the integral part that the national life of the Nation, before and after its official adoption.
Let me see if I understand what you want
You want:
I have a question regarding your possibly helping write an amicus brief in the challenge to "In God We Trust" case. I have some people writing a brief that counters the resolution that was made in Congress this year, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the motto. That resolution is attached.
What the amicus is hoping to do is to take each of the "whereases" and provide another that shows two things:
(1) That one can come up with similar quotations for Christianity, rather than Monotheism, and
(2) That one can come up with similar quotations for equality, rather than Monotheism.
**************************************************
The problem I am having with this is this:
[me to Mike]
>:|If from the above you see I am not understanding what you want correct me or
>:|steer me in the right direction
>:|
{Mike back]
>:|I think you're in the right direction.
>:|
>:|Basically, what I think the amicus wants to say is that the justification
>:|given by Congress for having "In God We Trust" as our motto is bogus. They culled
>:|through "our history" to conclude that those words - which support Monotheism
>:|- are representative of our "heritage." But they could have just as easily
>:|found quotes and incidents that support Protestantism or Christianity as our
>:|"heritage," too.
>:|
>:|Or - if they were really interested in having a motto reflective of our
>:|founding - they could have found words and incidents that support what is truly our
>:|American ideal: equality.
>:|
>:|- Mike
*************************************************
[me to Mike]
That is the problem I have with this.
Those whereas thingies weren't referring to Monotheism, as such, when those things were said and done. Everyone of them were referring to the Christian God (actually the Protestant Anglican version or the Protestant Congregational version) Monotheism would have also included the Jews and Muslims and they were not being referred to with those whereas comments.
Depending on what part of the country they were in they were talking about the Protestant (most commonly Anglican or Confrontational) version of Christianity
The references to the DOI, many/most scholars feel that those references were to the "Deist God, not the God of Abraham
That is about the only thing that can be said but I am not sure i can find any quotes by any founders that state it is the Deist God.
There are quotes by scholars that state that but not founders I don't think
Anyone have any idea or want to help?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:22:37 EDT
Subject: Help?
To: jaliso
Hi, Jim.
How's the house sale / move coming along? Have things panned out one way or another? I hope you're well, in any event.
I have a question regarding your possibly helping write an amicus brief in the challenge to "In God We Trust" case. I have some people writing a brief that counters the resolution that was made in Congress this year, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the motto. That resolution is attached.
What the amicus is hoping to do is to take each of the "whereases" and provide another that shows two things:
(1) That one can come up with similar quotations for Christianity, rather than Monotheism, and
(2) That one can come up with similar quotations for equality, rather than Monotheism.
Any chance you can help?
Thanks, as always.
- Mike
THE RESOLUTION
>:|I forgot to attach the Resolution.
>:|
>:|Also, I should let you know that my Opening Brief due date is 9/19/06.
>:|
>:|- M
NATIONAL MOTTO OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration, and the Senate now proceed to S. Con. Res. 96.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 96) to commemorate, celebrate, and reaffirm the national motto of the United States on the 50th anniversary of its formal adoption. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the concurrent resolution.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 96) was agreed to. The preamble was agreed to. The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. CON. RES. 96
Whereas the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ is the national motto of the United States; Whereas, from the colonial beginnings of the United States, citizens of the Nation have officially acknowledged their dependence on God;
Whereas, in 1694, the phrase ‘‘God Preserve Our Carolina and the Lords Proprietors’’ was engraved on the Carolina cent and the phrase ‘‘God Preserve Our New England’’ was inscribed on coins that were minted in New England during that year;
Whereas, while declaring the independence of the United States from Great Britain, the Founding Fathers of the Nation asserted:
‘‘We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’’;
Whereas those signers of the Declaration of Independence further declared: ‘‘And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.’’;
Whereas, in 1782, one of the great leaders of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, wrote:
‘‘[C]an the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?’’;
Whereas the distinguished founding statesman, Benjamin Franklin, when speaking in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention, declared:
‘‘Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of
establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance. I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that ‘except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel. . . .’’;
Whereas the national hero and first President, George Washington, proclaimed in his first inaugural address in 1789: ‘‘[I]t would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7444 July 12, 2006
whose providential aids can supply everyhuman defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and the happiness of the people of the United States a government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to
execute with success the functions allotted to his charge.’’;
Whereas one stanza of the ‘‘Star Spangled Banner’’, which was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 and adopted as the national anthem of the United States in 1931, states: ‘‘O
thus be it ever when free-men shall stand,
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation;
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the
heav’n-rescued land Praise the Pow’r that
hath made and preserv’d us as a nation! Then
conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust!’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph
shall wave O’er the land of the free and the
home of the brave!’’;
Whereas, in 1861, the Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, while instructing James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, stated:
‘‘No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.’’;
Whereas the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ first appeared on a coin of the United States in 1864;
Whereas, in 1955, the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ was designated as a mandatory phrase to be inscribed on all currency and coins of the United States;
Whereas, on March 28, 1956, the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, in its report accompanying H. J. Res. 396 (84th Congress), stated: ‘‘It will be of great spiritual and psychological value to our country to have a clearly designated national motto of inspirational quality in plain, popularly accepted English.’’;
Whereas, on July 30, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed H. J. Res. 396 (84th Congress), making the phrase ‘‘In God We Trust’’ the official motto of the United States; and
Whereas the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the formal adoption of the national motto of the United States, ‘‘In God We Trust’’, presents an opportunity for the citizens of the United States to reaffirm the concept embodied in that motto that—
(1) the proper role of civil government is derived from the consent of the governed, who are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; and
(2) the success of civil government relies firmly on the protection of divine Providence:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress—
(1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the national motto of the United States, ‘‘In God We Trust’’;
(2) celebrates the national motto as—
(A) a fundamental aspect of the national
life of the citizens of the United States; and
(B) a phrase that is central to the hopes and vision of the Founding Fathers for the perpetuity of the United States;
(3) reaffirms today that the substance of
the national motto is no less vital to the future success of the Nation; and
(4) encourages the citizens of the United
States to reflect on—
(A) the national motto of the United
States; and
(B) the integral part that the national life of the Nation, before and after its official adoption.
Let me see if I understand what you want
You want:
I have a question regarding your possibly helping write an amicus brief in the challenge to "In God We Trust" case. I have some people writing a brief that counters the resolution that was made in Congress this year, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the motto. That resolution is attached.
What the amicus is hoping to do is to take each of the "whereases" and provide another that shows two things:
(1) That one can come up with similar quotations for Christianity, rather than Monotheism, and
(2) That one can come up with similar quotations for equality, rather than Monotheism.
**************************************************
The problem I am having with this is this:
[me to Mike]
>:|If from the above you see I am not understanding what you want correct me or
>:|steer me in the right direction
>:|
{Mike back]
>:|I think you're in the right direction.
>:|
>:|Basically, what I think the amicus wants to say is that the justification
>:|given by Congress for having "In God We Trust" as our motto is bogus. They culled
>:|through "our history" to conclude that those words - which support Monotheism
>:|- are representative of our "heritage." But they could have just as easily
>:|found quotes and incidents that support Protestantism or Christianity as our
>:|"heritage," too.
>:|
>:|Or - if they were really interested in having a motto reflective of our
>:|founding - they could have found words and incidents that support what is truly our
>:|American ideal: equality.
>:|
>:|- Mike
*************************************************
[me to Mike]
That is the problem I have with this.
Those whereas thingies weren't referring to Monotheism, as such, when those things were said and done. Everyone of them were referring to the Christian God (actually the Protestant Anglican version or the Protestant Congregational version) Monotheism would have also included the Jews and Muslims and they were not being referred to with those whereas comments.
Depending on what part of the country they were in they were talking about the Protestant (most commonly Anglican or Confrontational) version of Christianity
The references to the DOI, many/most scholars feel that those references were to the "Deist God, not the God of Abraham
That is about the only thing that can be said but I am not sure i can find any quotes by any founders that state it is the Deist God.
There are quotes by scholars that state that but not founders I don't think
Anyone have any idea or want to help?