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Critics: Poster's maker has agenda
Group aims to push changes that "reflect Biblical truth"
| Tuesday, Oct 9 2007 9:50 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Oct 9 2007 9:54 PM
Is it religion or is it history? Supporters of a move to hang posters stating "In God We Trust" in every Kern High School District classroom say it's history and patriotism, and in no way religious.
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It's a line straight from the play book of the conservative Christian group, American Family Association, which would supply the posters.
"A word of wisdom to the wise: The posting of the national motto should always reflect a patriotic viewpoint, rather than a religious one. This approach will greatly increase your ability to be successful," AFA's Web site instructs.
KHSD trustee Chad Vegas did just that when he introduced a policy change proposal at last week's board meeting. The success of the approach will be seen Nov. 5 when the board votes on the issue.
AFA has spent 30 years initiating activism that aligns with its mission "to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth."
The nonprofit organization heavily promoted the "In God We Trust" posters a few years ago, supplying them for about a dollar apiece, said Randy Sharp, AFA's director of special projects.
They have since focused efforts elsewhere, such as boycotting Ford Motor Co. for supporting homosexual organizations, Sharp said. But AFA stands ready to help those willing to take up the motto cause.
"It reminds our young people in today's society that our country was founded on the principles or precepts of God," Sharp said.
"It doesn't promote religion," he added. "All religions have God whether it be the Christian faith, the Muslim faith, the Jewish faith."
When asked if the word "God" in the national motto was referring to the Muslim God, Sharp said, "Even those who are non-Christian recognize that our country was founded on the one true God."
The Christian God?
"Yes," he said, "the Christian God."
Others see the AFA and its call to promote the national motto as a calculated move to impress upon students a belief in God.
People For The American Way was established in 1981 to counter right-wing conservative groups, according to its Web site.
Judith Schaeffer, PFAW's legal director, said it's no coincidence AFA chose to promote the motto.
"(It's) conveying to those students a government endorsement of religion," Schaeffer said.
"That's why the AFA wants to do that," she said, "not because it's a national motto but because ... they want the government to convey and promote religion. They want to tear down the wall between the church and state."
A video produced by AFA earlier this year seems to support the claim that the organization believes keeping God out of schools results in the demise of character.
The video, "The Day they Kicked God out of the Schools," was based on a writing that had been circulating the Internet and whose author is unknown.
It begins in the form of a letter to God. "Concerned Student" asks why God didn't save the lives of students killed in school shootings.
"Dear Concerned Student: I am not allowed in schools. Sincerely, God." The video concludes, "We reap what we sow."
AFA agreed it produced the video because the writing aligned with the organization's stance on the issue.
Bakersfield city Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan, who approached Vegas about promoting the posters in schools, said she first heard of AFA about five years ago.
She received an e-mail of the poster and ordered about 50 copies -- one for herself and the others to give away, she said.
"I'm sure it's a great organization," Sullivan said of AFA. "I don't know anything about any of that," she said of the group's philosophies or activism.