“In God We Trust”. It is our National Motto, and I am grateful that I live in a Country where you can believe it, or not.

In 1956, our Country was in the cold war and Senator McCarthy was looking for communists. In that same year, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution to replace the National Mottos of “E Pluribus Unum” with “In God We Trust.” The president signed the resolution into law on July 31, 1956. In 1956, “In God We Trust” was added to the one-dollar silver certificate, and by 1966 it was added to paper money from $1 to $100 denominations. On November 1, 2011, Congress reaffirmed “In God We Trust” as our National Motto and asked all public institutions to display it. On December 12, 2011, I asked the Malibu City Council to consider displaying our National Motto at Malibu City Hall.

The majority of the Malibu City Council did not feel inclined to follow Congress’ request and display “In God We Trust” at Malibu City Hall. Instead, the consensus was to display the original motto of the United States. “E Pluribus Unum” which is Latin for “One from many” or “One from many parts.”

Although I disagree with the majority of the Malibu City Council about displaying the current National Motto, I do not consider any member of the Malibu City Council to be un-American or unpatriotic. I can and will continue to say the Pledge of Allegiance and will still believe “In God We Trust”. What is most important to me, and what I hope I can teach my children, is that we learn how to be tolerant of others who do not share in all of our beliefs. I thank God that I live in a nation where we are free to choose how we live and we are free to believe, or not, without fear that our Government will punish us.

So during this holiday season, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukah, and/or Merry Kwanzaa. You can accept my wishes, or not. Either way, I hope and pray there may be peace on our one earth.