# In Allah we trust? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2022, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386 "2022-08-26T09:51:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/1 "2022-08-26T09:51:43Z")
Apparently there’s a new law in Texas which says that if a public school receives a donation of a poster featuring the national motto “In God We Trust,” they are required to display it in a conspicuous place. A bit irritating for those of us who do not trust in God, but they left a loophole of sorts by not specifying the language for those posters. So an activist is raising funds to get a bunch of “In God We Trust” posters made…in Arabic. He’ll be donating these to Texas schools as funds allow. > **[Florida political activist plans to donate Arabic "In God We Trust" signs to...](https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/25/us/florida-activist-donate-arabic-in-god-we-trust-signs-texas-reaj/index.html)** > > After Texas school districts started receiving donated posters and framed copies of the national motto, "In God We Trust," which they are required to display in accordance with a new state law, a political activist in Florida has started a GoFundMe... ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/2 "2022-08-26T11:28:59Z")
Can someone explain the precise translation here? Why not simply write “بالله نثق” ? ---
**Author:** ![FrenchDunadan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frenchdunadan/32/5449_2.png) [@FrenchDunadan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrenchDunadan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/3 "2022-08-26T14:12:36Z")
is other phrasing as “Für Wotan” or “Blood for the blood God!” authorized as translation? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/4 "2022-08-26T14:31:10Z")
This sounds like an asinine law even by Texas standards. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/5 "2022-08-26T14:34:58Z")
49 states: “Texas, that is an absurd law!” Texas: “Hold my beer!” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/6 "2022-08-26T14:35:47Z")
“_Sounds_ like”? I expect that the specific wording is important, and probably written into the law, but I’m also betting they never even conceived of using the same words from different languages, or transliterating it into a different alphabet. Because Texas, of course. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/7 "2022-08-26T14:42:24Z")
I love this! I’m reminded of the school district in Texas that had to remove a book that contains graphic depictions of rape and genocide – the Bible – from its shelves according to its book-banning rules. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/8 "2022-08-26T14:43:19Z")
I think it’s funny how often Twitter users are accused of virtue signaling because they support some cause or another, and here’s a whole state government doing actual virtue signaling. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/9 "2022-08-26T14:43:53Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I expect that the specific wording is important, and probably written into the law, but I’m also betting they never even conceived of using the same words from different languages, or transliterating it into a different alphabet. Because Texas, of course. [https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB00797I.htm](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB00797I.htm) The relevant part: > Sec. 1.004. DISPLAY OF NATIONAL MOTTO. (a) A public elementary or secondary school or an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003 must display in a conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto, “In God We Trust,” if the poster or framed copy meets the requirements of Subsection (b) and is: > > (1) donated for display at the school or institution; > or > (2) purchased from private donations and made available to the school or institution [in each classroom, auditorium, and cafeteria]. > > (b) A poster or framed copy of the national motto described by Subsection (a) must contain a representation of the United States flag centered under the national motto and a representation of the state flag. So they didn’t explicitly say “must be rendered in English”, although the exact words there are “In God We Trust.” I imagine it won’t take long for xenophobic white Christians to take this to court. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/10 "2022-08-26T14:44:24Z")
For what it’s worth, the bill’s author contends that because the legislation uses quotes to specify that “In God We Trust” must appear on the poster, those exact words must be used. The posters must also depict the US and Texas flags and cannot include any other words or images. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/11 "2022-08-26T14:47:17Z")
It didn’t specify font size, or prohibit other things from be added to the poster. So “In God We Trust” printed in English in 10 pt font down near the bottom, and 200pt Arabic above it. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/12 "2022-08-26T14:48:23Z")
OK, two questions. First, if there are any “En Dios Creemos” signs in any Texas school (and there probably are), then the language issue is settled. Second, are “Allah” and “God” the same word in Arabic? Like in English we use the word “god” for any god of any religion, and we call THE god “God.” Or does Arabic have a different word for lesser gods, and “Allah” is analagous to Vishnu or some other god (vis a vis naming)? If so, that could be an issue down the line. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/13 "2022-08-26T14:53:49Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It didn’t specify font size, or prohibit other things from be added to the poster. That’s the introduced version of the bill you linked to. The final version includes the provision that the poster “may not depict any words, images, or other information” besides “In God We Trust” and the flags. [87(R) SB 797 - Enrolled version (texas.gov)](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/pdf/SB00797F.pdf#navpanes=0) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/14 "2022-08-26T14:55:02Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Second, are “Allah” and “God” the same word in Arabic? According to **[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Abrahamic_religions#Islam)**: > Muslims believe that Allah is the same God worshipped by the members of the [Abrahamic religions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions) that preceded Islam, i.e. [Judaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism) and [Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity) ([29:46](https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2002.02.0006%3Asura%3D29%3Averse%3D46)). ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/15 "2022-08-26T14:56:51Z")
That seems like a really poorly written law, but I think it’s a stretch to interpret “must display in a conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto” to mean “must display every poster sent to them.” ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/16 "2022-08-26T14:58:44Z")
The United States national motto isn’t even “In God We Trust”. It’s _“E Pluribus Unum”_, out of many, one. Which is anathema to conservative thinking right now. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/17 "2022-08-26T15:00:34Z")
I bet that they’d like “Novus ordo seclorum” (“A new order of the ages”) even more. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/18 "2022-08-26T15:02:03Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > That seems like a really poorly written law, but I think it’s a stretch to interpret “must display in a conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto” to mean “must display every poster sent to them.” Actually, I think that’s pretty clearly the requirement, as long as each poster meets the requirement of the law. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/19 "2022-08-26T15:02:23Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > That’s the introduced version of the bill you linked to. The final version includes the provision that the poster “may not depict any words, images, or other information” besides “In God We Trust” and the flags. > > [87(R) SB 797 - Enrolled version (texas.gov)](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/pdf/SB00797F.pdf#navpanes=0) Whoops, thanks for clearing that up. Alright then, it’s down to just a question of whether the national motto can be rendered in languages other than English. Interesting to note that in 2018, a Virginia high school had kids reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. Parents were not amused. > **[Spanish Pledge of Allegiance Short-Lived in High School](https://www.newsweek.com/spanish-pledge-allegiance-short-lived-fairfax-county-high-school-1234525)** > > Spanish Pledge of Allegiance short-lived in Fairfax County High School. > [@ekedolphin](#): > > The United States national motto isn’t even “In God We Trust”. It’s _“E Pluribus Unum”_, out of many, one. It used to be the latter, now it’s the former: > **[In God We Trust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust)** > > "In God We Trust" (also rendered as "In God we trust") is the official motto of the United States as well as the motto of the U.S. state of Florida, and Nicaragua (Spanish: En Dios confiamos). It was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1956, replacing E pluribus unum ("Out of many, one"), which had been the de facto motto since the initial design of the Great Seal of the United States. > While the earliest mentions of the phrase can be found in the mid-19th century, the origins of this phrase as a ... ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386/20 "2022-08-26T15:02:24Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Apparently there’s a new law in Texas which says that if a public school receives a donation of a poster featuring the national motto “In God We Trust,” they are required to display it in a conspicuous place. So if I’m reading the law right, any Texas school that receives a poster with this message would have to display it. > **Donald Trump has committed crimes and treason and > as Christians we want to see him charged, convicted, and > imprisoned. This school administration and the Texas > state government support this goal. In God We Trust.** eta: I know. I read the other posts and see this wouldn’t be allowed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-allah-we-trust/970386.md?page=2)