Lawyer Lauds Ohio Law's Mandate That Schools Display State, National Mottos
by Allie Martin
July 18, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A pro-family attorney says he believes a new law calling on Ohio schools to exhibit the U.S. motto is constitutional. The bill recently signed into law by Governor Bob Taft requires public and community schools to display any donated copies of the national motto, "In God We Trust," and the state motto, "With God all things are possible."Mat Staver, founder of the legal organization Liberty Counsel, says contrary to the arguments of groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, acknowledging religious heritage is not an "establishment of religion" in violation of the Constitution of the United States. "There's no question that patriotism is fine," he contends.
Mat Staver | |
Displaying mottos that acknowledge religious heritage is constitutional "despite the ACLU," Staver insists. And furthermore, he says, "these kinds of pieces of legislation that have now been signed into law by Governor Taft in Ohio, I think, are good to replicate around the country."The Ohio law should withstand any legal challenges, the Liberty Counsel spokesman explains, because all of the posters to be displayed in the schools will be donated and not paid for with tax dollars. He believes other states around the U.S. may pass similar laws. (See related article)
Displaying the different mottos that other states have alongside the national motto gives educators a chance to impart some important civics lessons, Staver notes. It provides teachers with "an opportunity to discuss why we have a national motto" and to discuss questions like "What is a motto, and what does this particular motto mean, and how did it come about?"
And, with regard to students' own-state motto, such displays can aid teachers and students in considering questions like "What does that motto mean and how does it say anything relevant to our society today? How did it come about?" the attorney continues. "It's a great opportunity to teach about our history, and I think we oftentimes miss those opportunities," he says.
Both the national motto and the Ohio state motto have already withstood court challenges claiming that use of such phrases violates the U.S. Constitution's Establishment Clause, Staver emphasizes. If Ohio's new law is challenged, he asserts, it is unlikely it would be found unconstitutional, especially when federal appeals courts are regularly upholding displays of the Ten Commandments.
In fact, Staver adds, three federal courts of appeal have upheld displays of the biblical laws in public buildings in the past year, including the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which governs Ohio. That same court also upheld the "Foundations of American Law and Government display, which included a depiction of the Ten Commandments, in ACLU of Kentucky v. Mercer County, Kentucky, a case Liberty Counsel defended.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
