‘In God We Trust’ stickers proposed for Brunswick County vehicles

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Brunswick County could have a new addition for county vehicles. The proposal, to inscribe the phrase ‘In God We Trust’ on the cars underneath the county seal.

“It basically is an aspect of patriotism in a lot of respects,” Brunswick County Commissioner, Marty Cooke said.

Commissioner Cooke brought up the idea of adding the phrase to all Brunswick County vehicles after a trip to Watauga County. It is a proposal many, but not all, agree with.

“I’m in favor of it,” Arrell Holden, who supports proposal, said. “I think that everybody should put God first in their lives and if we don’t put him first then we’re in trouble.”

“Government property should welcome and serve all members of community equally, regardless of their religious views,” American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Spokesman Mike Meno said.

The phrase, ‘In God We Trust,’ became the country’s motto in 1956.

“I don’t think religion has anything to do with it,” Holden said.

“Essentially it’s a national motto. And people would say well that’s only for a Christian perspective. Well, not necessarily because the thing about it is, it’s in the bible but it’s also in Jewish text as well as it’s found in two places in the Quran,” Cooke said.

The phrase already hangs on the side of the David R. Sandifer building in the county government complex.

“The more that the public has a vision of that the better I think it would be,” Holden said.

ACLU spokesman Mike Meno said adding the phrase would be unfair to the residents.

“The problem with displays like this is they can be very divisive because they send a message that the government favors people of certain beliefs over others,” Meno said. “So for county residents who practice a different religion, or no religion at all, they could be made to feel like outsiders and that shouldn’t be the case in their own community.”

Cooke disagrees and said the phrase is already used on license plates in 19 of the 50 states.

County staff plans to present commissioners with a model of the ‘In God We Trust’ stickers at an upcoming meeting. Staff adds the stickers would cost $1,250 which would come from the general fund.