San Bernardino's Religious Radicals
Posted: Thursday, April 14, 2011
by Jack H. Schick
If you look at a map of the Los Angles Basin you’ll find the city of San Bernardino to the east, on the far right. It is one of the oldest settlements in California. It is the 18thlargest city in the state and the 99thlargest city in the nation. Last December, the County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to post, behind the dais in the room where regular meetings are held-- above the San Bernardino County Seal-- the motto of the United States, “In God We Trust.” Some claim, especially when compared to the rest of Southern California, that “San Berdoo” is on the far right philosophically, as well.
The city is located in a valley in the western foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The region was originally called Wa’aach by the native Tongva Indians. The word roughly translates to “Valley of the Cupped Hand of God.” The village was named by Father Francisco Dumetz on May 20, 1810, the feast day of St. Bernardino of Siena. The location was not largely settled until about 1851, when California entered the Union. The first Anglo-American colony was established by Mormons who migrated from Utah. In 1853, the County of San Bernardino was formed from part of Los Angles County. Some of that territory was ceded to Riverside County in 1893.
The current “outrage” was perpetrated by the Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, Gary Ovitt. He said “A relatively simple act like posting ‘In God We Trust’ helps to show citizens that we are acting on the principles that have grounded our nation through good times and bad times.” Ovitt suggested the posting, and paid for it out of his own pocket. However, all the other supervisors supported him. Ovitt cited the motto as a source of strength and guidance; while some claim it puts church and state in an uncomfortable proximity.
An opinion letter in a county newspaper by a self proclaimed “liberal Christian universalist with the United Church of Christ” expressed “shock” at the county’s decision. Another county resident wrote, “San Bernardino County is home to people of many diverse traditions and those of no faith tradition,” and complained that “public officials are elected to serve the people and govern justly. They are not elected to be theologians or clerics.”
Other residents argue that the county is diverse but overwhelmingly Christian and American. Board Vice-Chairman Brad Mitzefelt said that because it is already the national motto he didn’t think it was hurting anyone. He believes “…it is a non-denominational motto that’s really part of history.” Supervisor Neil Derry agreed, saying, “While people can dispute the existence of God, there’s no dispute about the influence that God and religion have had on our country, our Constitution…and our various forms of government.”
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….” Historical ignorance and ignorance of the Constitution is too often rampant in the United States. Few have a concept of the Established English Church that prompted that clause in the Constitution. Freedom of religious expression is guaranteed by the document, not inhibited in any way. Nowhere in the Constitution is a total separation of church and state called for.
The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors is not Congress and they made no law. A posting of the national motto in no way establishes a religion. The use of those words does not prohibit the free exercise of any religion. The people who chose to post “In God We Trust” must remain silent and accept it if someone posts “Allah is Great,” or “God is Dead.” Too often it is the ones living on the left side of the map that insist that the behaviors of others be inhibited.
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