Oceanside ‘waffles’ on ‘In God We Trust’ plaque
It seems that, in most matters, the majority has the final say. In most matters, except in religious issues, where the lone non-Christian, whatever his religion, can nowadays easily throw fatal monkey wrenches left and right. If he is offended by Christianity, the Christian majority must stop. It’s bad enough when that happens, but it’s far worse to see the Christian majority obliging to shadows, re-evaluating policies in fear of offending a potentially offended non-Christian.
That was the case in Oceanside, where, last Oct. 6, Councilman Jack Feller presented to the City Council the idea of an “In God We Trust” plaque. It was to be hung on the Council Chamber wall behind the Council dais, noting our nation’s motto, with the symbol of our nation’s federal eagle above it. It seemed like a timely reminder of faith and patriotism.
“At that time,” Councilman Feller recalled, “there was a 4-1 vote for acceptance of the plaque, and it seemed final. However, on a surprise move, Oceanside Mayor Terry Johnson requested that this issue be brought forward for reconsideration.” In the meantime, due to the November elections, the Council representation changed. At a Council meeting on Dec. 4, this new Council was asked to reconsider the issue.
“Still with an overwhelming resident support for the plaque, newly elected Councilman Rocky Chavez proposed rescission of the October council vote. Backed by the three anti-plaque votes of Mayor Terry Johnson, Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, and Chavez, the previously approved ‘In God We Trust’ plaque was defeated on Dec. 4, with a 3-2 vote against the plaque,” Feller continued.
Feller listed as reasons presented by those Council members voting against the plaque “their concerns of the possibility of offending individuals who believed in multiple gods or in no god at all and of possible lawsuits against the City of Oceanside for displaying the word God and supposedly breaking the constitutionality of separation between church and state.”
Some did not want taxpayer funds spent on the production and installation of the plaque, but that objection was unfounded because, prior to the Dec. 4 vote, Congressman Darrell Issa and the Issa Family Foundation made the generous offer to pay for the complete production and installation of the plaque: a total donation of $6,500.
“Those in support of the plaque countered that no one group — religious or not — would ever be made to feel inferior simply due to the display of our nation’s patriotic motto within our Council Chambers, that constitutionally our nation’s court system has repeatedly affirmed the right for our motto to be displayed in public government buildings,” Feller explained.
“To date,” Feller said, “this issue is still in the hearts and minds of our residents — and not likely to go away any time soon. However, due to the unwillingness of the three Council members to change their votes at this time, the plaque of ‘In God We Trust’ will remain a closed issue. Only through a change of heart from the presently seated Council members, new elected Council members who are pro-plaque, or a people’s initiative can this issue be reborn.”