The Hound was shocked when Lake County Circuit Court Judge David Hall allowed a man from Zion to legally change his name last week to "In God We Trust". Guess being the national motto of the United States since 1956 and being on coin of the realm since the 1830s didn't protect it from being used for commercial purposes.
Wonder if Florida, which adopted "In God We Trust" as its state motto, knows about this. This could get ugly if they get mad. Any more of these type rulings and Judge Hall might be ready for the monicker of "Judge Goofy" around the courthouse. How many judges can claim they named a deity? It's not like changing a guy's name to Santa Claus.
A 57-year-old artist and bus driver (now there's a combination), Steve Kreuscher took his $600 economic stimulus rebate check and filed to legally change his name. Did President Bush know that's one use the money would go toward?
Kreuscher is now legally known as "In God" as his first name and "We Trust" as his surname. Will be interesting to see what happens to Mr. We Trust when he applies for a U.S. passport. Does this mean his children become something similar, like trustees?
While the newly annointed We Trust says changing his name represents devotion to God, it sounds to The Hound the real reason he did it was to have a name that stood out so he could sell his art for commercial purposes. In The News-Sun account on June 14, We Trust said he's already starting signing his name to canvas. "There are billions of artists out there. If you don't do something to stand out in the crowd, the world won't recognize you," he said. Don't stand too close to this guy --- there might be lightning bolts aplenty.
Isn't using the motto of the U.S. for commercial purposes against federal law. Where's the U.S. attorney's office on this matter? Or is this merely a free speech issue? And how do we know there isn't another "In God We Trust" living in Lake County. If there is, how do we differentiate them? Middle initials?
This is one of the loopiest judgments The Hound has heard coming out of a Lake County courtroom. For all you folks who want to change your name to something odd, you should obviously head here.
The Hound understands "E Pluribus Unum" is still available, but you better move fast. And ask for Judge Hall to be assigned the case.
Expression of identity is essential to freedom.
Judge Hall (and the government) should only restrict people's freedom when absolutely necessary.
Is it necessary for the government to tell citizens what they may call themselves? Nope.
Motion granted, next case.
THE HOUND SAYS: Does one detect a sardonic bite to Tim's posting? By the way, the origin of sardonic comes from supposedly eating a plant on the large island of Sardinia which produced facial convulsions as if laughing maniacally. All scorn, mockery and cynicism aside, if it isn't necessary for the government to tell citizens what to call themselves, why did the former Steve Kreuscher march into court and seek government permission to legally change his name to In God We Trust? He could have signed his artwork In God We Trust without Judge Hall's fiat. The reason is he wanted to make it official so his (commercial) art work would be legitimized. The Hound wonders how "Judge Judy" would rule on this case.