One should be free to vote for displaying “In God We Trust” in the Council Chambers. One should be free to vote for displaying “In Allah We Trust”. If citizens disagree with that vote, they can elect someone else in the next election who will vote to the contrary. Or, if the citizens want to “act now”, they can have the representative recalled or impeached. Either way, we, the citizenry, have the final say.

My point is that one should not have to give up their beliefs simply because they hold a public office. That is exactly what those who sing the “Separation of Church and State” mantra want. If the belief is construed to be religious in any way, then any policy supported by that belief is considered as “the government is preaching religion” and therefore in violation of the Constitution. I wholly disagree!

The First Amendment prohibits the Federal Government from establishing a state religion. It does not prevent it from making policy that “may be supported by” religious beliefs!

For example, requiring a “Muslim Prayer” before each Council meeting would not be Constitutional. But, as Yorba Linda does, allowing members of the community from various faiths offer a prayer before each Council meeting is Constitutional.

In this case, displaying “In God We Trust” in the Council Chambers is Constitutional because it is neutral in “what God”. However, displaying “In Allah We Trust” would not be Constitutional because it identifies a specific god.

Let them have their vote. If they vote in the affirmative and you disagree, vote for someone else in the next election. That is how the system is supposed to work.

I have not lost any freedom by deciding to NOT allow government entities to display “In God We Trust”

I still have the freedom to announce what God I believe in and have not been forced to believe in another god

Yes, in a free society we DO hear or see things we disagree with.

But if I don’t want my government preaching to me then I understand where a non-christian is coming from that they don’t want their government preaching to them.

In a free society, we WILL hear or see things we disagree with!