In God We Trust sign prominently posted in FCPS Middle School main office

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto#:~:text=The%20modern%20motto%20of%20the,on%20U.S.%20coins%20in%201864.

It's the national motto as well.

and

Virginia requires it's display.

Further evidence that VA is a sh1thole. Getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

That was passed by Governor Warner, a democrat and our current senator.

Doesn't make it any less of a sh1tty law.

Like I said, VA is a sh1thole. And getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

You’re a hypocritical moron. Go back to across the Potomac River if you hate the laws that were passed here decades ago and can’t seem to tolerate them.

Counting down the days until I move away. It’s way too backward here - and moving in the wrong direction.

Maybe someday VA will join the 21st century.

You will have to leave the country to get away from “In God We Trust”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don’t disagree with you. But why do you have to do it anonymously? If you feel that strongly about it and also think it’s probably illegal (which it very well may be), then put your money where your mouth is and sign your polite note. What are you afraid of, that your middle school principal will ostracize your kids and cause them harm? Somehow I don’t see that happening.

Might want to check before declaring the national motto “illegal.” Multiple states require its display.

I never declared it to be illegal. Note that I qualified my statement. Besides, even if it isn’t illegal it’s insensitive.

[Anonymous]

Sharpie “ALLAH” (= GOD in Arabic) on top and see how it goes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don’t disagree with you. But why do you have to do it anonymously? If you feel that strongly about it and also think it’s probably illegal (which it very well may be), then put your money where your mouth is and sign your polite note. What are you afraid of, that your middle school principal will ostracize your kids and cause them harm? Somehow I don’t see that happening.

Might want to check before declaring the national motto “illegal.” Multiple states require its display.

I never declared it to be illegal. Note that I qualified my statement. Besides, even if it isn’t illegal it’s insensitive.

Well what do you know? I now see that not only is it not illegal - it’s required. I had no idea. So, insensitive or not, OP can’t do anything about it. So, OP, tell your kids to stay out of trouble and avoid being sent to the central office!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sharpie “ALLAH” (= GOD in Arabic) on top and see how it goes

Love this idea! Maybe sharpie a bunch of options including satan and the flying spaghetti monster.

[Anonymous]

I noticed the same thing in my kid's Arlington Middle School. I find it inappropriate. Wish I didn't live in a state where this is the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sharpie “ALLAH” (= GOD in Arabic) on top and see how it goes

Love this idea! Maybe sharpie a bunch of options including satan and the flying spaghetti monster.

+1

Haha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don’t disagree with you. But why do you have to do it anonymously? If you feel that strongly about it and also think it’s probably illegal (which it very well may be), then put your money where your mouth is and sign your polite note. What are you afraid of, that your middle school principal will ostracize your kids and cause them harm? Somehow I don’t see that happening.

Might want to check before declaring the national motto “illegal.” Multiple states require its display.

I never declared it to be illegal. Note that I qualified my statement. Besides, even if it isn’t illegal it’s insensitive.

It doesn’t matter if it’s insensitive or not, it’s Virginia law. Same as if you think it’s insensitive to celebrate a holiday, it’s the law whether federal or on a state level to recognize it in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I noticed the same thing in my kid's Arlington Middle School. I find it inappropriate. Wish I didn't live in a state where this is the law.

Move across the Potomac River then. It’s your fault that you can’t adjust to the laws of this southern state, and if you don’t like it you can leave. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto#:~:text=The%20modern%20motto%20of%20the,on%20U.S.%20coins%20in%201864.

It's the national motto as well.

and

Virginia requires it's display.

Further evidence that VA is a sh1thole. Getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

That was passed by Governor Warner, a democrat and our current senator.

Doesn't make it any less of a sh1tty law.

Like I said, VA is a sh1thole. And getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

You’re a hypocritical moron. Go back to across the Potomac River if you hate the laws that were passed here decades ago and can’t seem to tolerate them.

Counting down the days until I move away. It’s way too backward here - and moving in the wrong direction.

Maybe someday VA will join the 21st century.

Back to Maryland or the Northeast I’m guessing?

[Anonymous]

Is this really a discussion about religious influence? Do you not see the pervasive unitarian universalist influences throughout all of FCPS nowadays?

[Anonymous]

Good. Glad to hear it. Go away, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I walked into the office to pick up my daughter yesterday and noticed an 8.5 x 11 sign stating "In God We Trust" in a prominent location in the main office.

This seems at best inappropriate and at worst like a brazen attempt to bring personal religious beliefs into a public space (unfortunately I do think it is legal). I happen to know, because of the Principal's Instagram account, that she is extremely religious. I respect her personal beliefs and her right to express them in a private context.

But as someone who has carefully raised their children without religion and God, this sign is offensive to me. Whether or not it is intentional, it effectively others and intimidates constituents of that school who don't believe in God. Even if it only offends a few people, isn't that enough? Why is this necessary?

I know. It's on our money and it's in the pledge, but my kids can opt to not say the God part in the pledge. They can't opt not to go into the main office.

I filled out a discrimination complaint online, but I doubt anything will come of it (there are certainly more immediate issues in that arena for that office to address).

I am considering writing a kind and good faith note to the principal from an anonymous email address. Any (kind and in good faith) thoughts on that approach or ideas for ways to resolve this without backlash against my kids?

Thanks.


Simply tell the principal why it bothers you respectfully, giving him or her the opportunity to respectfully respond. I wish we could have more honest and open conversations. I think I was more disappointed in my daughter’s freshman biology honors class notes where the answer to the question “what is life” was “it’s complicated.” Have we truly gotten to the point where that is the scientific answer? There has to be a scientific answer that doesn’t have to go into a full on debate on abortion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto#:~:text=The%20modern%20motto%20of%20the,on%20U.S.%20coins%20in%201864.

It's the national motto as well.

and

Virginia requires it's display.

Further evidence that VA is a sh1thole. Getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

That was passed by Governor Warner, a democrat and our current senator.

Doesn't make it any less of a sh1tty law.

Like I said, VA is a sh1thole. And getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

You’re a hypocritical moron. Go back to across the Potomac River if you hate the laws that were passed here decades ago and can’t seem to tolerate them.

Counting down the days until I move away. It’s way too backward here - and moving in the wrong direction.

Maybe someday VA will join the 21st century.

Back to Maryland or the Northeast I’m guessing?

You’re curious where civilized, educated people live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don’t disagree with you. But why do you have to do it anonymously? If you feel that strongly about it and also think it’s probably illegal (which it very well may be), then put your money where your mouth is and sign your polite note. What are you afraid of, that your middle school principal will ostracize your kids and cause them harm? Somehow I don’t see that happening.

Might want to check before declaring the national motto “illegal.” Multiple states require its display.

I never declared it to be illegal. Note that I qualified my statement. Besides, even if it isn’t illegal it’s insensitive.

It doesn’t matter if it’s insensitive or not, it’s Virginia law. Same as if you think it’s insensitive to celebrate a holiday, it’s the law whether federal or on a state level to recognize it in schools.

Many laws are unjust and deserve to be challenged.