hb 184,in god we truse,with god all things are possible,national motto,ohio motto
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Testimonies and relevant documents
National Motto Advocates
My name is Robert Morris. I am a member of National Motto Advocates, an association of Ohio citizens dedicated to promoting a national culture of virtuous living consistent with our national motto, “In God We Trust.”
HB 184 before this committee is one among numerous other bills deserving your attention. For myself and other members of our association this bill has special significance.
Along with thousands of fellow citizens, we believe that our country and our state are engaged in a very real revolutionary war. It is a war being waged, not to free us from the tyranny of oppressive British rule, but to ultimately overthrow our form of government. The strategy of this new revolution is to separate American citizens from the very roots of our democratic way of life. Many of us believe that if this revolution is successful, it will cause the rapid deterioration and final demise of our country as we know it. How is this so?
It has always been clear to Americans that our nation was established and designed to offer freedom for all of its citizens. The American Revolution was energized by love of freedom. Love of freedom was the reason that so many Americans were willing to sacrifice their very lives. No freedom, no Republic!
It was also clear to our founding fathers that lasting freedom was impossible without virtue. Without virtue, citizens attempting to govern themselves would be driven by selfish passion, and true freedom would ultimately be lost. Only virtuous citizens willing to continue to sacrifice for the common good can avoid anarchy or despotism. No Republic without freedom! No freedom without virtue!
Finally, our founding fathers clearly understood that virtue on a personal or national level was only possible through religion. They experienced in their own lives the impossibility of being virtuous without religion. George Washington in his Farewell Address taught us: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” Washington said “indispensable.” It has been the universal experience of mankind that virtue comes, not from human strength alone, but from reliance upon a power greater than themselves. It is trust in God that makes possible virtuous choices. Virtuous choices are required of a citizenry in order for a government to sustain real freedom. Such is the essence of religion; belief, according to the Declaration of Independence, in a Creator who “endows all men with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, a Creator who empowers men and women who rely upon Him to be virtuous and thus be able to live in freedom.
To summarize: No Republic without freedom. No freedom without virtue. No virtue without religion.
Many, perhaps even most, of our fellow citizens understand that if we separate our citizens from their Creator, our country will not long endure. But there are those in our society, a militant minority, who are dedicated to separating our nation, our government, our schools, our children from the Godly foundations of our nation and our great state. I am not here to impugn the motives of this militant minority. As a former popular president once said, “I choose not to interpret the motives of those with whom I disagree.” But I firmly believe that if this militant minority’s campaign is successful, it will result in national suicide.
HB 184 is just one of many bills before you. However, seen in the context of a revolution that needs to be overcome if our form of government is to long endure, its importance is magnified. The bill will make it possible for young people throughout Ohio to learn about our national motto, “In God We Trust” and our state motto, “With God All Things Are Possible”. Hopefully, they will be inspired to also learn about the history of the mottoes and the firm beliefs of those who established them.
With knowledge of our mottoes and with understanding of the conviction and rationale of those who decided to institutionalize their beliefs with these mottoes, our young people, the citizens and future leaders of our society will be better able to continue our form of government, a government dedicated to liberty, assured by virtue, and empowered by religious faith.
I have attached to this testimony a copy of an article by Michael Novak who more completely and effectively articulates the ideas I have tried to communicate here. Thank you for your attention.
Testimony before Ohio Senate Education Committee
Be Informed Be Proactive Be Part of the Solution
To amend section 3314.03 and to enact section 3313.801 of the Revised Code to require school districts and community schools that receive donated copies of the mottoes of the United States of America or the State of Ohio to display the mottoes in school buildings.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
SECTION 1. That section 3314.03 be amended and section 3313.801 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 3313.801. (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, if a copy of the official motto of the United States of America "In God We Trust" or the official motto of Ohio "With God, All Things Are Possible" is donated to any school district, or if money is donated to the district specifically for the purpose of purchasing such material, the board of education of the school district shall accept the donation and display the motto in an appropriate manner in a classroom, auditorium, or cafeteria of a school building in the district, provided all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The motto is printed on durable, poster-quality paper or displayed in a frame.
(2) The dimensions of the paper or frame are at least eight and one-half inches by eleven inches.
(3) The copy contains no words other than the motto and language identifying the motto as the motto of the United States of America or Ohio.
(4) The copy contains no images other than appropriate representations of the flag of the United States of America or Ohio.
(B) In lieu of complying with division (A) of this section, the board of education of any school district may adopt, by a majority vote of its membership, a resolution describing appropriate design requirements for copies of the official mottoes of the United States of America and Ohio that are different from the design requirements described in divisions (A)(1) to (4) of this section. If a copy of the official motto of the United States of America or Ohio that meets the design requirements described in the board's resolution is donated to the district, or if money is donated to the district specifically for the purpose of purchasing such material, the board shall accept the donation and display the motto in an appropriate manner in a classroom, auditorium, or cafeteria of a school building in the district.
HB 184
Press Release
Governor Signs Bill Requiring Ohio Schools to Display National and State Mottos
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
COLUMBUS - Governor Robert Taft has just signed legislation (HB 184) requiring Ohio school districts and community schools that receive donated copies of National and Ohio State Mottoes, or earmarked donations to purchase motto materials, to display these mottoes in school classrooms, cafeterias and auditoriums in schools throughout the state. "It is my firm belief that these mottoes are an important part of our state and country's history, and as such, they should provoke classroom discussion of great educational value", said Representative Keith Faber, the bill's sponsor.
The Ohio State Motto, "With God All Things Are Possible", was adopted by the Ohio General Assembly in 1959 and has been endorsed by all three branches of government. The Ohio State Motto was recently upheld by the 6th US District Court (1998), which found display of The Motto in Ohio schools fully consistent with the history of government publicly acknowledging God or His Sovereignty in government affairs.
The National Motto, "In God We Trust", was adopted by a joint Resolution of Congress in 1956, appears on all US coins and currency, and was reaffirmed by the US House of Representatives in 2002 by a vote of 401 - 5. The Star Spangled Banner, our National Anthem, includes the stanza, "And This Be Our Motto - In God Is Our Trust", memorably penned by Francis Scott Key in 1814 to commemorate the defeat of the British at Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor.
To date 18 other states have enacted legislation that encourages or requires display of the national motto and other national historical documents including the Pledge of Allegiance, the US Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence in schools in those respective states. The National Motto is displayed in national government offices and reference to God as our benefactor is found in the first sentence of the preambles of the constitutions of all 50 states.
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National Motto Advocates, a not for profit advocacy group from Steubenville, Ohio, has been active in support of Ohio school motto display legislation and will now be raising funds and working with other interested groups including the American Family Association, Ohio Knights of Columbus, Mom's of Ohio, and local sponsors, to provide motto displays to schools throughout the state. National Motto Advocates recognizes that God is our principal benefactor since our inception as a country and seeks to educate Americans regarding the spiritual renewal of our country and to promote a national culture of virtuous living consistent with our National Motto.
Recognizing God as our benefactor since our inception as a country, National Motto Advocates strives to promote our national motto, “In God We Trust,” to educate Americans regarding its history, meaning and importance, and to promote a national culture of virtuous living consistent with our national motto.
