SCVTalk reader and earnest conservative Steve Petzold just emailed to tell me he is victorious in his effort to get the City to remove the superfluous and could-be-thought-of-as-ironic-but-come-on-this-is-SCV quotes around In God We Trust on the wall of the Council Chambers:
Petz writes:
Long time readers of SCVTALK.COM will remember the dismay that Petz felt when our national motto was displayed in council chambers within quotation marks. Petz felt that this was not appropriate since without any other reference they appeared to be “scare” quotations, a literary device meant to convey a sarcastic message or one of disbelief.Late last week, Petz sent an email to all the city council members reiterating the points of my presentation, asking for specific action to remove the quotation marks and have the display conform to the letter and spirit of the agenda item from two years ago.Early this week, Petz was contacted by a council member and advised that his argument was meritorious and that a correction to the display would be made. On Friday morning, Petz slipped into the council chambers and spent some quiet time observing these powerful words. no longer constrained within the punctuation marks which cast a dark shadow across their meaningIt is an important lesson to others that the city council is willing to take corrective action when an appeal has merit.Petz thanks the city council for their respectful consideration of his request. Henceforth, the display of our national motto in Santa Clarita will conform to that on our coins and currency, and the dramatic display over the speaker’s chair in the House of Representatives. Credit must also be given to Jeff’s brother whose reporting on my lonely appeal the next morning helped to overcome some initial despair about wasting my time.Now if we can just get an exclamation mark put at the end
In God We Trust !
To be honest, I’ll miss the quotes. I enjoyed using air quotes with my fingers when I talked about the wall of the Council Chamber (which is something you do often if you blog about the SCV). It just added a richness and levity to discussions of City Hall, a sort of insider’s bit of knowledge that separated true SCV geeks from wannabes.
But Petz is right. The quotes were superfluous and cast “a dark shadow across their meaning” so I applaud his activism and its result. So congrats Petz. This is quite the feather in your cap as you kick off your City Council campaign.
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Lesson learned for the Library folks, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Alternative Lesson Learned: Sometimes the City Council members don’t notice stupid mistakes, even when they’re right in front of their faces.
Actually, they had their backs to the display, maybe it should be oriented so that the leaders of our city see it, rather than the citizens.
If you look at the seal for Ventura county there is a cross on the Mission steeeple and hanging from the priest’s belt. But, let’s keep that little secret betwen us, ok?
Secret’s out. One lawsuit filing and it’s all over. LA tried to fight it and lost in the courts.
There you go, running into that pesky Constitution again, eh?
LA County chose not to fight it.
They better not have wasted money on such a stupid battle.
In the spring of 2003, the wooden cross located in Grant Park was threatened by a potential constitutional lawsuit charging that the principle of separation of church and state was being violated by the City of San Buenaventura’s ownership and maintenance of a cross. Similar lawsuits in other communities had resulted in those cities being forced by the courts to divest themselves of their crosses. The City of San Buenaventura City Council voted on July 31, 2003, to sell the cross and an acre of land surrounding it to the highest bidder. On September 22, 2003, the Serra Cross Park was sold to San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc., the highest bidder, for $104,216.87.
The ACLU knows that there is big money tobe
had in the cross.
Way to go Petz!
Allah be praised!
Petz is not so short sighted to believe that this is a victory,-more like a peaceful resolution to an on going border dispute. The Mission is not Accomplished , the culture war continues. But before Petz dies and goes to heaven, he is going to get that little cross back on the LA County seal.
Yeah, but you’ll have to renounce the Constitution in order to accomplish your mission. Might be hard to do since you may be sworn in to uphold it while placing your hand on the bible. Tricky little conflict there.
You don’t have to renounce if you just ignore the parts you don’t like…
Well Done
That’s one small step for Petz, one giant leap for mankind! Kudos to your determined efforts, good sir!
PS: Don’t let it go to your head!
Let me make it clear that I could care less one way or another about whether the motto had quotes or tuna fish sandwiches surrounding it. I congratulate Mr. Petz on his dogged determination to right what he perceived as a wrong. He set an example for any of us who have what we might think is a legitimate beef with government, and went through the steps to bring attention to the issue.
We may disagree on….well…EVERYTHING, but I still give props to his efforts.
Petz commends the Guru for his keen insight on the need for perseverance in the face of difficulty.
Petz for Council!!!!!
A day which will live in infamy! Oh, wait, make that “A day which will live in infamy!”
There, that’s better.
Petz, way to go man, congratulations, can’t wait for the campaign!
Congrats Steve!
Who can correctly describe the irony involved with the juxtaposition of Petz pictue and the correction of the In God We Trust display ? $5.00 Starbucks gift card to the winner.
The point is, the sign is a lie as applied in the plural. WE don’t all trust in God, a god or any god for that matter.
Why are we spending tax dollars on religious intrusions into government? We do not have a national religion, thank Spongebob, and these attempts to transform America into a primitive culture which oppresses women and anyone unlike themselves is simply unacceptable.
The conservatives said that jobs are their priority but look at the House bills and they are a mandate against women. They are all based on religious beliefs and are unfair to impose on everyone when the talking point was getting government out of our lives. There are no jobs bills. Just anti choice and pro rich. Hypocrisy! Also, Newt? Really?
Remove the display for being dishonest and in my opinion, insensitive. It says that only Christians can expect a fair deal out of this city. Read the writing on the wall!
You go ahead and believe what you want. Just don’t expect everyone to agree.
Great Post.
Personally I am offended that Petz woould make such an obscene gesture… is it really necessary that Petz give Iran, Bangladesh and Thailand their equivalant to the middle finger?
That reminds me of my first time in Saudi Arabia lololol
Look closely at the picture of Petz, something is obviouly wrong. No, his zipper is in the up position.
Thank you for relieving us of the responsibility of checking that part of your anatomy, Petz!
Am I imagining it or is that a dog on your tie? Dog spelled backward is …
They forgot to take down the In God We Trust letters
Congrats Petz!
Today, Santa Clarita. Tomorrow, Carson and Laguna Nigel?
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=57007
http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-03-14/news/28692581_1_lake-forest-council-laguna-niguel-display
Hail Satan!
Great job, Petz – BRAVO!
Hint-Petz is wearing an American flag lapel pin
In God We Trust America is an organization out of Bakersfield dedicated to preserving our national heritage by placing In God We Trust in every government building across the United States. Won’t you join us in this effort?
http://www.ingodwetrust-america.org/
In God We Trust… our heritage since 1956…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust
Long live the real National Motto… E pluribus unum… The one the founding fathers wanted. My question is why does Petz hate the founders motto?
CC….Petz is waiting for some ” love ” before this thread goes away.
Just ran across it Petz. The Borg mentality lives on.
“Kudos”
Let’s not miss out on this teachable moment.
Next hint….what is the proper display for an American flag lapel pin?
Are you referring to Obama’s lapel or regular patriotic Americans?
Regular = White
Isn’t that right, Bill?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xIQmFk1ok0
So right. This guy is a racist birther troll.
Low… Even for a dirtbag like you.
Consider yourself owned, Lil Natie No Show. Ha!
Your “Patriotism” is mind blowing just like the teaparty member who wrote this…
“Those who betray or subvert the Constitution are guilty of sedition and/or treason, are domestic enemies and should and will be punished accordingly.
It also stands to reason that anyone who sympathizes with the enemy or gives aid or comfort to said enemy is likewise guilty. I have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic and I will. And I will because not only did I swear to, but I believe in what it stands for in every bit of my heart, soul and being.
I know in my heart that I am right in my struggle, Steve. I have come to peace with myself, my God and my cause. Blood will flow in the streets, Steve. Good vs. Evil. Free Men vs. Socialist Wannabe Slaves. Pray it is not your blood, my friend.”
Lil Natie No Show has lost it…
President Obama displays his flag pin with proper protocol…. now Petz ????
It should be worn over your heart, on the left side, no?
We have a winner !!!!!! There is the irony. Nice job !
Interesting, though. If one has a lapel pin on each lapel, the reverse may be true. The American flag is always placed “on its own right” when in a room with more than one flag. This is very common with government offices where there is a state flag as well as an American flag.
So in this case “on its own right” would be on your right (non-heart side for us non-Vulcans), not the left.
Do you know if there is a formal protocol to resolve this conflict?
Being a man of his word, Petz wonders when will we meet for coffee?
I am not a coffee drinker, Petz. The glory of answering correctly (after your hint) is enough for me. But I would appreciate you sending the $5.00 to this week’s SCV Helping Hand family as profiled in this morning’s Signal: http://www.the-signal.com/section/36/article/45031/ I can’t imagine being in this woman’s situation….
Petz will move it to $20.00 and send the check tomorrow. Any of our problems pale in comparison to those of this woman. Linda is very generous.
Thanks, Petz. I’m sending a check too. Maybe it will ease things for her just a bit to know people care….
Your part is on the wrong side too. Did someone simply mirror the photo?