YES WE CAN! News/Alert
Liberal, Progressive, Secular, Green, & Humane

Prepared Letter on Line:

<http://action.secular.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27503>
http://action.secular.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27503

or directly send sample below.

Find your REPRESENTATIVE:  <http://www.house.gov>

Before the August recess, a resolution will be voted on by the House of
Representatives that will require the Capitol Visitor  Center to engrave the
words In God We Trust² and the Pledge of Allegiance onto the walls of the
Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). Already, references to religion and faith are
included in several permanent exhibits, and the words ³In God We Trust² are
even present in one exhibit.  But that¹s enough for Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)
and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who are pushing for a larger, bolder display of
the words ³In God We Trust² and the post 1954 Pledge of Allegiance to be
engraved on the walls of the CVC.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that this additional
engraving could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Join me in telling
members of Congress that it is inappropriate for taxpayer money to be spent
on promoting a false and distorted idea of America that alienates the
millions of nontheistic Americans who neither ³trust in God² nor pledge
"under God.

------Letter-------

Rep. Dan Lungren has introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res.131) that would
force American taxpayers to pay for a large engraving of the Pledge of
Allegiance and the words "In God We Trust" in the new Capitol Visitor
Center.  It was not until 1950s, the era of the blacklist and the Red scare,
that "under God" was added to the Pledge and "In God We Trust" replaced "E
Pluribus Unum" as the national motto.

James Madison, prime author of the Constitution, specifically opposed
religious references in government as violative of the First Amendment.
Taxpayer money should not be spent to undermine the First Amendment. As both
your constituent, and as a nontheistic American, I ask you to oppose this
resolution.

Spending tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on this engraving is
unnecessary -- and undermines our Constitution.  The Visitor Center already
has references to religion and faith. The words "In God We Trust" are even
present in one of the existing exhibits.  Before spending more tax money, I
ask that you take my viewpoints into account when deciding whether to
approve this resolution.

Thank you.