I've received a lot of feedback on last week's column about how difficult it is to find the words "In God We Trust" on the new $1 coin.
I raised the question of whether the ACLU was behind the design of the new coin. (The American Civil Liberties Union and militant atheists have been trying for years to remove all references to God on U.S. currency and public buildings.)
Predictably, the Kool Aid drinkers on the far left started making light of the controversy right away and denied there was a conspiracy to remove the words "In God We Trust" from U.S. currency. That's typical of what the hysterical left does when anyone disagrees.
It now appears there's more to this "Godless dollar" controversy than we imagined.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that "an unknown number" of new George Washington dollar coins were mistakenly struck without their edge inscriptions, including "In God We Trust."
The coins made it past U.S. Mint inspectors and into circulation. Hmmm. Wonder how that could happen? It's going to get a lot harder for the far left to explain how "In God We Trust" was left off so many of the new $1 coins.
The new coin has a likeness of George Washington on the front and the Statue of Liberty on the back. But unlike all U.S. coins minted in the past 50 years (including the tiny dime), the Mint couldn't find room to put "In God We Trust" on either side of the $1 coin.
Instead, the national motto is inscribed on the edge of the new coins along with "E Pluribus Unum" and the year and mint mark. The mint struck 300 million of the coins and released them into circulation on Feb. 15.
According to the AP, about half of the coins were minted in Philadelphia and the other half in Denver. So far, the Mint has only received reports of error coins coming from the Philadelphia facility, U.S. Mint spokeswoman Becky Bailey told the Associated Press.
Bailey told the AP she didn't know how many "Godless coins" were released to the public.
Ron Guth, president of Professional Coin Grading Service, one of the world's largest coin authentication companies, told the AP he believes that at least 50,000 error coins were put in circulation.
The folks at the U.S. Mint, already dealing with the growing public backlash about the "Godless dollar" now find themselves trying to explain how 50,000 coins got past their elaborate inspection system. We're not talking about a few coins, but up to 50,000!!! Again, was the ACLU put in charge of the inspection process?
Production of the presidential dollar entails a "new, complex, high-volume manufacturing system" that the mint will adjust to eliminate any future defects, the mint said in a statement released Wednesday. "We take this matter seriously. We also consider quality control a high priority. The agency is looking into the matter to determine a possible cause in the manufacturing process."
The Associated Press article by Joann Loviglio also mentions the growing embarrassment at the U.S. Mint over the $1 coins, but she labels public concerns about the hard-to-find "In God We Trust" inscription as "e-mail conspiracy theories claiming that the religious motto was purposely omitted from the Washington dollars."
Americans everywhere have expressed overwhelming resentment about the Mint's decision to minimize the national motto and the liberal-dominated media paints it as "conspiracy theories."
Who made the decision to hide "In God We Trust" on the edge of the new coins? How long will it take for the words to rub off the coins from handling? And how did 50,000 coins without the words "In God We Trust" on them make it past inspectors?
The U.S. Mint has 40 more opportunities to get it right. The Washington dollars are the first in a series that will feature every U.S. president in order that they served. The series will run until 2016.
As of today, there are no plans by the mint to put "In God We Trust" on the front of future dollar coins. Bailey told the AP that the striking of the Adams coin, expected to roll out in mid-May, "will proceed as planned."
It's time for the silent majority in this country to speak up. If you want "In God We Trust" to be featured prominently on U.S. currency, contact the U.S. Mint at http://www.usmint.gov
Write to the president, your Congressman and Senator and tell them to put pressure on the Mint to do the right thing and restore our national motto to our currency.
1 comment:
"In God We Trust" is the national motto? I don't remember the founding fathers taking that stance. I'm sure you're aware that many of them were deists. I'd argue that many of them would have been atheists if strong evidence in favor of evolution had been available at the time. There wasn't strong enough evidence until roughly a hundred years later, hence the use of the term "Nature's God" in the Declaration of Independence.
I could point out hundreds of examples in this little entry of yours that are utterly ridiculous (ACLU conspiracy, the idea that the engraving will wear down considerably faster than they would on the face, the idea that the Christian majority is silent, etc). There is one that I find interesting: militant atheists.
I suppose you could call me a militant atheist. I don't want the words "in god we trust" on currency. I'm sure you're already drawing conclusions about the type of person I am.
Perhaps the efforts of many atheists groups are sending something of a mixed signal. The Freedom From Religion individuals, for example. I'm sure many people look at the name alone and view them simply as anti-religion. As such, their stance that the God-endorsing phrases should be removed is an attack on the Christian belief system. Based on their name alone, they seem to be attacking Christians.
My own philosophy is to remove the government endorsement of religion but allow the individual endorsement in religion. So the words would be taken out of currency but George W. can wear a cross necklace if he wants. If he wants to pray before eating his breakfast he can. If you want to pray in school, you may. Of course, you'd have to allow the Jewish kid to pray in school too.
I doubt you need some words on a coin for you to feel like you're a good christian. Commandment Number 11 isn't Place In God We Trust on all currency after all. Step back and think about it, you're simply fighting because not fighting feels like losing ground on Christianity. Do you really thing coins matter in Gods eyes?
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