"In God" We Debate

It's over, finally.

Sadly, the myriad of amendments to the "In God We Trust" proposal of the Kern High School District's Board of Trustees did more to dilute the patriotic message than strengthen it.

I was led to believe that the trustees were going to post other U.S. documents in each classroom, along with the national motto, in some sort of historical settlement to the religious debate that erupted shortly after the posting was proposed.

Now, each class will get a single poster with the documents overlapping.

Only a small portion of each document will be decipherable.

Sad.

It was meant as a compromise.

Instead, the board created a confusing constitutional collaboration.

And to top it off, it's going to cost $12,000.

I think Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan's religious action group should foot the bill.

It was her idea that Chad Vegas brought to the table.

I just wish they would have acknowledged and admitted the obvious religious connection right off the bat, instead of insisting their motives were historically driven.

The opposition would still have shown up to be heard, but at least the back room whispering and talk show posturing would have abated quickly.

If you listen closely, you'll still hear the debate faintly, every time you see one of those posters in your kids class.