With the debate roaring around us over two words in The Pledge of Allegiance, I would like to bring attention to one of the other arguments that is thrown about and my problem with it…
"If you atheists don't like references to God, what about money? It all says 'In God We Trust' on it. But you still use it!" is how the argument is usually phrased.
This ignores the howling error in logic that has been committed. First off, it is not the objection to the word, but the act of being compelled to admit allegiance to something one does not believe in. The less obvious and more elegant argument to be made against this is…
"When was the last time you actually spent money?"
Almost everything I do I do electronically online, via debit or credit card, or on increasingly rare occasions by check. None of those have the supposed offensive reference to God. I'm more offended by the inclusion of the Latin phrase "E Pluribus Unum" on coins (which I still occasionally need for parking meters).
The literal translation, "out of the many, one" is troubling to me, because not only is it demonstrably untrue, I am not even sure it is desirable. Each must maintain their individuality or the world becomes an incredibly boring place. But a bit of harmonious accord from now-to-then certainly would be beneficial.
Wherever you are today, I wish you peace and harmony.
Don Bergquist – July 23, 2010 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
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