State Offers Cross on License Plates

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http://news.aol.com/story/_a/state-offe ... 1200410148

Its a license plate not an advertisement for wither people believe or not, its a violation of church and state, I wonder
if they have plates for other religions, such as jewish, muslims, buddhist, or the ever present atheist agnostics.

Thats what I think. If they have a license plate for one religion, and not the others, it shows that they *are* advertising this religion.

I was thinking it would be funny if it started a crusade on the highways in those states

As a fan of vanity plates, they are sponsored by an organization and if sufficient interest and funding is provided, the plate is issued if approved by the legislature. Jewish groups, Buddhist groups, civic organization, etc. can apply for vanity plates. Here in Florida we have "choose life" plates. I guess NARAL could commission "choose death" or "choose abortion" plates if they wanted.

If other groups want their own vanity plates, so be it I say. Let's just remember the original purpose and function of the license plate. IF things go too far with this, we could end up with all kinds of crazy billboard-like plates with rentable ad-space, digital scrolling marquees, etc. The personalized Christian license plate is a reflection of the vehicle owner's personal beliefs. It does not constitute any sort of state endorsement of the Christian faith. The people who oppse this are the same people who turned "Christmas" into "X-Mas," and "Merry Christmas," into "Happy Hannukah."

Meh.

Exactly. I remember when each state had 1 basic design. You could tell from a distance if a plate was from Colorado or Illinois or Florida. Now, some states have more than 100 different affinity plates. Some are so busy that it is hard to read the letters/numbers of the tag.

I say we go back to one design for each state. If people want to advertise a cause, let them get a bumper sticker.

Last edited by monty on 06 Jun 2008, 4:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Incorrect. Many Christians use X as a symbol of Christ. There was a big X in the graphics on the altar cloth and tapestries for certain months at the Protestant church I went to as a child. In England, the use of X for Christ goes back to religious texts in 1021 A.D., maybe older. Greek and Eastern Orthodox Christians have long used X and XP (Chi and Chi-Rho) as symbols of Christ in icons and in texts, and to consider this profane or anti-religion only demonstrates ignorance and intolerance.

No one turned Merry Christmas into Happy Hannukah - are you suggesting that the Jews are behind the War On Christmas?




Too funny - I just noticed that your avatar has the Chi-Rho symbol. Pay attention, Laddy!!

I dont see anything wrong with a cross on a license plate its not like there forcing religion license plate.

I get really tired of people repeating that 'separation of church and state' myth. That phrase is nowhere used in the US constitution, it merely says the government is not to establish or endorse any official state religion, not that the government can never stand on the same side of the street with people of faith. Personally, I don't endorse any specific religious faith, but I hold no prejudice against those who do just for believing. Some people think Madonna is talented and I don't spit on them for thinking so.

These plates are not to be issued randomly to people who don't want them. You not only have to request one, it costs extra. Environmental groups have been advertising themselves on vanity plates like this for years, and I'm sure any other organization that wanted to petition for approval could do so as well, as long as they could make a case for at least an equal financial return on the investment in materials.

Before you say "Oh, does that mean groups like the Ku Klux Klan could have their own plates?" - I say, yes. If you want to advertise that you're an @ssh0le and risk getting physically assaulted every day of your life, I'm all for that. Good luck. It'd be the exact opposite of BABY ON BOARD; when you found yourself careening out of control, you'd know which car to hit to stop yourself.

Ah, a private individual voluntarily displaying a cross on their personal license plate is a violation of the "separation of church and state". It's the kind of thing I'd use in a reductio ad absurdum, except apparently...

As long as the people are paying for it themselves and anyone can put any religion I find it acceptable.

I happen to live in South Carolina, and I've seen the licence tags mentioned in the article. I think that it's a bad thing due to the fact that a licence plate is an official Government article. Offering only a Christian tag instead of tags representing all other religions is tantamount to official government endorsement of one particular religion over others. --This is in direct violation of Church/State policies.

Is it? Or is it just a realistic reflection of the demands in a state which is 92% Christian, 7% non religious, and 2% other religions.

Really, it's artificial nonsense that "religions" should be granted special recognition as compared to other beliefs.

Except it isn't a private individual's license plate - it is property of the government. A woman requested and was issued a plate in S. Dakota that with the letters MPEACHW as she was in favor of impeaching Bush. The bureaucratic clerk at the DMV didn't catch the meaning and sent out the plate. Somebody complained, and the plate was recalled. The state claimed the right and responsibility to control any and all messages on plates because they are government property.

Since that is the case, they should respect the US Constitution and not take any steps that could be considered establishing a religion - such as favoring one religion or denomination over another when it comes to issuing government property stamped with religious symbols. Lets have a plate for each and every religion, each and every denomination, each and every religious and political slogan or sentiment.