Tennessee lawmakers pass bill requiring public schools to post 'In God We Trust' motto

[DonViejo]

Source: USA Today




Holly Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 12:00 a.m. ET March 22, 2018


NASHVILLE — A bill requiring Tennessee schools to prominently display the national "In God We Trust" motto is headed to the governor for his signature.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mount Juliet, overwhelmingly passed the state House on Monday with 81 of the 99 members voting in favor of it. Before the vote, the Republican lawmaker spoke from the House floor about the prominence of the phrase.

"Our national motto is on our money. It's on our license plates. It's part of our national anthem," Lynn said. "Our national motto and founding documents are the cornerstone of freedom and we should teach our children about these things."

The bill requires schools display the motto in a prominent location where students are likely to see it, like a school entryway, cafeteria or common area. It offers more freedom on what form it takes, suggesting that it could be a mounted plaque or student artwork.



Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/03/22/tennessee-lawmakers-pass-bill-requiring-public-schools-post-god-we-trust-motto/448200002/

[joshdawg]

1. This is stupid, plain and simple.

Tennessee knows better, but.....................

[ExciteBike66]

3. Good way to spend public money on lawyers....

[Grins]

32. A Dem should demand funds be obligated, upfront, to pay for the lawsuit

Remember how pissed taxpayers in Delaware were when they had to cough up millions in legal fees and damages due to the parents of students and their lawyers from Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District?

From Wikipedia:

"Richard Katskee, assistant legal director for Americans United, said of the trial's cost, "Any board thinking of trying to do what the Dover board did is going to have to look for a bill in excess of $2 million...I think $2 million is a lot to explain to taxpayers for a lawsuit that should never be fought."

And that was just one small city - not an entire state!

Every time they try this shit a Dem should attach a rider mandating that, on passage, state funds be obligated - up front - to pay for the lawsuit that is sure to come.

Let the taxpayer see where their tax dollars are going very time one of their Bible-bangin-pud-thumpers sets his hair on fire over the Jebus - to the ACLU or FFR Foundation attorneys.

[RKP5637]

4. I can't believe this sh** is going on in the 21st century. n/t

[pangaia]

35. Of course you can. we all can. It;s happening.

That's even worse than NOT believing it, isn't it.

[RKP5637]

38. LOL! Yeah! It is, and it's reality. Next will be "We Believe in Trump!" or "In Trump we Trust!"

[RKP5637]

2. Hmmmm - I wonder which god they are referring too. ... so primitive. n/t

[JHB]

5. It's not in the anthem, it's not on the founding documents...

...but that doesn't matter to the "honorable" Ms. Lynn. She likes her alternative facts, and she wants them treated like the real thing.

[moriah]

11. The words in the Anthem are:

"And conquer we must, when the cause it is just, and this be our motto, in God is our trust..."

[JHB]

13. Way down in the part nobody sings, right?

On edit: Yep, down in the 4th stanza. Every ordinary singing or playing of the anthem only covers the first.

If she thinks it's so important, how about she introduce a law requiring all events in the State of Tennessee where the anthem is played or sung must render all four stanzas in full.

Let's see how popular that bill would be.

[moriah]

19. Yep, along with other outdated BS in it.

Sadly I had to learn all four.

[pangaia]

36. It is such a violent, blood-soaked piece of work.. disgusting...

[GWC58]

16. Its not on my license, or license plate!

What is she talking about?! Church


State

I purposely separated those words. Can you see why?

[Wednesdays]

57. It is in the anthem

but you have to sing for quite a while before you get to it.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Hope the students graffiti the hell out of it. . .

. . .ie. In God We Trust, Everybody Else Pays Cash. . .

[RKP5637]

7. Phew, at least it's not "In Trump we Trust." Maybe that's phase II. n/t

[flibbitygiblets]

52. What I was thinking too. Do they really think they can FORCE people to believe that shite?

[Chipper Chat]

8. This could backfire bigtime.

Doesn't this stupid woman remember what happened to confederate monuments when push came to shove by those "very fine people." I so hope Trumpee opens his megaphone mouth about it.

[Blues Heron]

9. put it on a fire hydrant

"in dog we rust"

[DFW]

10. If I were a high school student in Tennessee, I would post a plaque saying:

"In state legislators who feel a need to force me to see that plaque, I do NOT trust one bit."

Of course, they'd then expel me and burn my house down in the name of Christ's unlimited love and mercy.......

[crim son]

12. I pity people

who fear their chosen deity so much that they believe they need to post signs proving their loyalty.

[knightmaar]

14. That's a neat trick, merging "motto" and "founding documents" together.

As if the thing that got added to money during the 1950s commie scare is equivalent to the Declaration and Bill of Rights.

[JHB]

21. Well, getting marching orders straight from the Kremlin is a Republican gig these days.

[progree]

15. Sad

[Hortensis]

17. More taxpayer dollars to be wasted because these jerks act out.

[MyOwnPeace]

18. There 'ya go!

That'll keep those shooters away!

Way to act to protect, legislators!

[malthaussen]

24. Well, it will put "god" back in the schools...

... isn't that what they say will fix the problem?

-- Mal

[MyOwnPeace]

43. There is still...............

prayer in school, especially before any chemistry test!

[backtoblue]

41. What's next?

Garlic, sage, and crucifixes?!
This is insane. Wtf?!!

[Wednesdays]

58. Banning trench coats.

(An actual response to the Columbine Massacre.)

[pazzyanne]

20. I would question the constitutionality of this decision made by several states.

The first amendment speaks of freedom of and from religion.

Founding father James Madison, author of our Constitution explained, "The purpose of the separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has so soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries."

Evangelist Billy Graham seemed to agree when he said, "It would disturb me if there were a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it."

[ashredux]

22. The Motto was changed in 1956

It is NOT in our founding documents......it was added to our paper money in 1957

This is not what our founding fathers wanted.

[lunasun]

31. ++++ Correct - During our country's lovely crazy anti commie hysteria in the 50's

Pre and up to 1956 below is 57 and beyond

[JohnnyRingo]

37. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to kill someone...

...but suddenly found second thoughts after ordering something from McDonalds dollar menu. Salvation! Praise The Lord!

I guess they have to put it in schools because kids somehow never see those four words through the course of an average day.

[backtoblue]

42. Yes! nt

[radliberal]

23. Which Religion? More Republican garbage...

go away

[dameatball]

25. If God wants to tell us something can't she write it on clay tablets?

[Maggiemayhem]

39. It is well within her powers

[Ohiogal]

26. Are these the same idiots

Who voted to make the Bible the "State Book"?

[njhoneybadger]

27. 1 John 3:18

Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].

[Vogon_Glory]

28. A pity the slogan couldn't have been amended before the bill passed

In God We Trust--the Republican Party we certainly don't.

My apologies to atheists, agnostics, and adherents of the many non-Abrahamic religions.

[lunasun]

29. In Russia the official state religion is Russian Orthodoxy, which enjoys a privileged position with

the government so

[Docreed2003]

30. Susan Lynn is a nutter...and a hateful bitter at that...

For all the times I think my state has actually made progress, there's ten examples of nutters like Lynn trying to keep TN solidly in some conservative idealized past.

[JohnnyRingo]

33. "It's on our money, our licence plates, our national anthem"

But apparently children still aren't seeing those four words, so they have to put it in the school building too?

Maybe the problem is that it isn't displayed on the dashboard of every car sold, cable TV splash screen, smart phone case, and fast food bag. Perhaps we can require a national tattoo so no one has the excuse that they didn't see it.

That'll solve all our problems. After all, trusting in God worked in the '60s... or something.

[ProfessorGAC]

40. It's Not On My License Plates

My refer to someone the R's no longer comprehend: Land of Lincoln

[JohnnyRingo]

44. Mine has the arguable "Birthplace Of Aviation"

and Ohio has had almost no mass murders by airplane.

Obviously, such public statements work, so maybe if we place a prominent message of faith where all can view it we can have a zero crime statistic like the great state of Tennessee.

Kudos to those holier than me politicians who finally forced an answer to all of society's ills.

[GoCubsGo]

46. Nor mine.

It says "While I breathe, I hope." and "South Carolina." No mention of any "God." I could have gotten the specialty plates that say "In God we Trust", but I'm a godless heathen, and I don't trust fictitious characters. I also am not a fan of specialty license plates, or using one's car to advertise their beliefs to the world, in general.

[d_r]

54. it is on Tennessee if

you buy it as a special plate. Has an Eagle on it. I've seen them from other states too.

[Grins]

34. Meanwhile, in other Kentucky news...

Got nothing better to do that pass shit like this?

The war of words between some Kentucky educators and Gov. Matt Bevin continued to escalate Wednesday at a rally in Frankfort.

The rally circled around the capitol several times as teachers once again voiced concerns about Senate Bill 1, which could affect their retirement benefits. Several school districts called off classes Wednesday, which allowed hundreds of teachers to rally to fight against pension changes.

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Teachers-make-insulting-signs-toward-Gov-Bevin-who-said-some-educators-exhibited--477559483.html

More...

As the debate over Kentucky's underfunded public pension system rages in Frankfort, Kentucky's teachers — who have flooded the state Capitol in growing numbers — say it's important to remind the public that their pensions are critical because they don't get Social Security most retirees depend on(sic). "If this well dries up we have nothing," Wade said.

That's one reason teachers are opposed to cuts to the cost of living increases for retirees in the proposed pension overhaul bill pending in the General Assembly. Because of controversy and opposition — much of it from teachers — legislative leaders have effectively declared Senate Bill 1, the pension bill, dead for the current session.

...Raymond Wilcox, a JCPS public school teacher contemplating retirement in a few years, said it's unfair for lawmakers to look for savings by cutting benefits for retirees. "They have to raise money," said Wilcox, who also attended Monday's rally. "They can't keep cutting."

Don't be so sure of that Mr. Wilcox - this is what you get when you elect Republicans!)

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2018/03/20/kentucky-teachers-pension-reform-social-security/438031002/

[FakeNoose]

45. It sounds suspiciously rightwing and Evangelical

... but this is not the hill for Democrats to die on!

There are too many fights that are far more important, such as how do we win back the House and Senate? How can we get the orange asshole's entire family impeached and locked up for good? I would suggest that this "In God We Trust" is deflection for you to waste your time on while they raid the cookie jar.



Stay strong, vote blue!

[CrispyQ]

47. Time for a contribution to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

"Protecting the constitutional principle of the separation of state and church."

https://ffrf.org


When you read their newsletter you realize how busy this organization is.

[sandensea]

48. My guess is that the feeling isn't mutual.

[Judi Lynn]

49. Whatta concept! Make sure "In God We Trust" is written repeatedly on the Trump Wall.

It's also the crowning touch to put upon flags flying around the Pentagon.

No reason they can't pass a law requiring "In God We Trust" to be engraved along the barrels of all guns.





Keep it coming Susan Lynn, you genius, you.

[RussBLib]

50. how stupid and backward

It will be overturned

[Eliot Rosewater]

51. Soon to be constitutional maybe because of nose holders.

You see if they are allowed to they can REWRITE the constitution.

They can use the SC to interpret the existing constitution wrongly and anti American and they can call a constitutional convention and just do away with it all together.

[d_r]

53. well that will fix all the problems

glad we are using our time and money well

[jmowreader]

55. I know a perfect way to display this

Paint on the wall over the pay station in the lunchroom: "In God We Trust - All Others Pay $2.25"

[Nash Teeth]

56. We trust Him so much that we don't need armed teachers

Let's practice what we preach!

[malthaussen]

59. The Wehrmacht used to put "Gott mit uns" on their belt buckles...

... that seems to have worked out pretty well for them.

-- Mal

[bluestarone]

60. Doesn't this open the door to someone to post

IN THE DEVIL WE TRUST?? Just saying this is why we SHOULD NOT DO THIS!! Where is the ACLU on this?