I would like you to take out a bill, a 1, a 5, a 10, or a 20. Now flip it over to the back and on this bill in small print you will find the words “In God We Trust.”

How many of you have noticed this before? And how many of you find yourself angered or insulted by this phrase?

According to Michael Newdow, an atheist, the motto is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion and he is currently filing a federal lawsuit against the phrase.

In the United States freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment as well as freedom of religion. Newdow is known for voicing his opinion against the government and its reference to God in the pledge and in currency. Because his daughter was not in school at the time and was not in his custody, Newdow’s case against the Pledge of Allegiance in schools was dismissed in 2004 by the Supreme Court. Now he is on a mission to get the “In God We Trust” removed from currency.

I understand that people from different religions have different views but to file a lawsuit against a phrase is outrageous. I mean does the guy not use coins or dollar bills? Does he feel uncomfortable purchasing things with cash?

Another concept I don’t seem to grasp is why now is he filing a lawsuit? He was 49 years old and a lifelong atheist when he decided to file the lawsuits. Wouldn’t someone committed to his religion, as Newdow seems to be, file a lawsuit earlier in his life?

Another thing there is to take in consideration is the re-circulation of money. If Newdow’s proposal to take the “In God We Trust” out of current money and print new currency were to come into action it would take time and the hundreds of thousands of Americans willing to give their money to the government to be re-printed.

This is a free country and to remove the phrase would be like removing history. Wasn’t America founded for people of all shapes, sizes, culture, and religion to come and free themselves from persecution? As Newdow knows, America is a place where people can express their religions freely. So if a person from each religion wanted to change the motto to something different it would complicate things and cause controversy and conflict, then everyone would have to settle on using the Visa Check card. And I for one am not old enough to have a credit card, though I would like one for Christmas.

In 1864 the motto “In God We Trust” made its first appearance on the two-cent coin. In 1955 it became national and would be placed on paper and coin money. The motto is not just a symbolism of religion, as Newdow claims, but of patriotism and history.