The fights over religious liberties have been going on since the dawn of the country but in recent months it has hit a fever pitch. A recent and ongoing battle is over the addition of the words “In God We Trust” to the backs of police cars in several law enforcement agencies around the country.
The most recent battle has sparked up in Childress, Texas.
Police cars' 'In God We Trust' decals draw complaints http://t.co/MV4QlLJdic pic.twitter.com/Kwhk7d5jti
— Soshable (@soshable) September 7, 2015
Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, and others all have departments with the words on their police cars. Since becoming the national motto in 1956 by Congressional approval, it has allowed the door to remain open for those who claim it to be a patriotic symbol rather than a promotion of a particular religion. That fact isn’t stopping the Freedom from Religion Foundation from attacking them.
Those responsible for these actions, whether politicians, police chiefs, or sheriffs, are giving a wide range of reasons to add the words to their police cruisers. Some say it’s for patriotism. Others say that the recent rash of police attacks is the reason. The communities don’t seem to mind, but as the FFRF claims, there are those in the minority who may not feel comfortable speaking out.
From a conservative perspective, this is both a good thing and potentially a bad thing. It’s good to see small victories in the name of faith happening even in the public circle. It’s bad because it could (and probably will) end up opening the door to attacks that could reach all the way through to Congress and the Supreme Court to have the four words removed completely from all government buildings, money, and property.
This isn’t the first we’ve heard of this type of police action and it won’t be the last. In the whole scheme of things, there must be better things for conservatives and liberals to debate.