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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 19774
[Civil]
Date Posted:
6/20/2008
5:23:14 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 4,735
RSS: 13,013
Comments: 12
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Group Files Suit Over 'I Believe' Plates In SC
Author: Seanna Adcox, Associated Press Source: Yahoo
Title: GROUP FILES SUIT OVER 'I BELIEVE' PLATES IN SC
A group that advocates separation of church and state filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to prevent South Carolina from becoming the first state to create "I Believe" license plates.
The group contends that South Carolina's government is endorsing Christianity by allowing the plates, which would include a cross superimposed on a stained glass window.
Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed the lawsuit on behalf of two Christian pastors, a humanist pastor and a rabbi in South Carolina, along with the Hindu American Foundation.
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Community Thoughts: There are 12 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| State Supported License Plates | Jun 22nd. at 3:54:58 pm EDT
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foreverknightfan (Dardanelle, Arkansas) - Email Me
I'm not strictly against the Xian " I believe" license plates because there are a number of vanity license plates where motorists can put their personal message on them as well as bumper stickers. If the person registering the vehicle can choose NOT to have this license plate and have an alternative for the same fee, why not? And as another poster points out, if you want to put a religious message on your car, there are always bumper stickers.
I also agree with the point that such prideful and vain displays of one's faith notonly cheapens the actual faith but also makes the displayer look like he or she is treating what should be sacred in such a cheap manner. I have been dismayed on seeing , for example, Christians wearing Graphic T-shirts depicting their savior in horrible agony while claiming that such a vulgar and cruel display passes on the " good news". Their altering of certain brand images such as certain candies to put their faith out seems to me skirting on copyright violations as well as the impression of making what should be a sacred thing into crass commercialism.
Yes South Carlina is one of those states where fundyism is widespread. DIane Wynn had her batttle with the fundy hatemongering threats in that state. It's not just a matter of that religion wanting to have their say by in essence government fiat, it's also a matter IMO of their reacting to the loss of total say they have had in the past by loudly affirming their religion. The fundies don't care about non-Christians. AAMOF some of them WANT to offend other people in ways like this, theold rub it in your face bullying stuff. And if some non-Christian has some bumper stickers they don't like, well they vandalize or harass. We are not talking about a tolerant bunch of people.
I think this instance is just one of many ways teh fundies are trying to reclaim their former unchallenged dominance in our culture. They hypocritically want all the civil liberties and freedoms for themselves while at the same time feel threatened by non-Christian want the same rights. Sadly in their quest for that goal, as in the recent teacher Rainwater case, they allow wrongs to exist for years.
I think the approach should be " well since they have their specialty license plate, how about having the same cosndieration for others?" IOW give the state weenies the image of having to feal with the expense of cateirng to all philosphies rather than one specific one, and I'll bet they will back off of this REAL quick. Give them the message that it would be too expensive for them to risk catering to everyone if they cater to these vocal bullies.
While we're at it, how about license plates showing favorite music groups or TV series or even license plates with various comic strip characters on them, all sanctioned by the state? Camel's nose in the tent scenario. if you cater to one special interest group in the excuse to give the motorists a choice, then go all the way and have hundreds, maybe even thousands of state license plate designs.
Ah well that's what those extra non-state supported vanity plates are for ( for vehcie here the state does not require a license plate in the front and the back)
It does seem to cheapen the faith. But then, they've been doing that for decades now.
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| Wow I Was Right! | Jun 22nd. at 10:37:36 am EDT
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Moonlight Wolf (Bradford, England) - Email Me
There are Christians who say that the license plates cheapen their religion.
Still I suppose nearly everyone would have seen all this coming. Anything is game for a legal battle these days.
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| Only A Blind Person.... | Jun 21st. at 6:58:59 pm EDT
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Aritimi Morgana (RotterdamJct/Schdy/Scotia, New York) - Email Me
would be able to say a license plate bearing an image of a cross isn't blatant religious promotion----they can't see it.
It figures in SC that such flouting of the separation of church and state is considered okay. The moment someone says that it's not fair that Christianity is being clearly promoted, everyone's knickers are in a twist. Oh, so the fundies are mad that other religions want their own symbols of faith recognized on a plate? Really? Could it be that not everyone in SC isn't a right-wing fundie nutcase? Shocking, isn't it?
'Bout time someone rattled the fundies' pulpit. I hope this suit goes all the way and that people make sure all faiths can be represented.
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| .... | Jun 21st. at 3:11:41 pm EDT
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Kristy (West Palm Beach, Florida) - Email Me
I would have less of a problem with the I believe plate, if we were able to have a pentagram, or Thor's hammer or any other religious symbol on the license plate. If we were to come out with our plate and try to get it passed we'd be in for a long fight. Look how long it took for us to be able to put the pentagram on a soldiers' grave. The fundies would be signing petitions and protesting against it as long and as loudly as they could.
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| Freedom Of Speech | Jun 21st. at 10:45:01 am EDT
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Janet (Nashville, Tennessee) - Email Me
and freedom of religion.
people will put what they want on their vehicles regardless of if it is on a license plate or not....i live in the bible belt...and everywhere there are bumper stickers, etc. but also, there are pagan signs. its all good. the state, in my opinion, is just finding another way to cash in. i've seen, here in tn, vanity plates that "say" religious things....albeit in shortened form. ex: 1forgod...etc....and my personal opinion is who cares? we have freedom of speech and freedom of relgion. as long as i am not forced, nor anyone is forced to participate, let them be.....
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| Gee, Could I Get..... | Jun 21st. at 10:13:32 am EDT
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Mariah Windrider (Grand Terrace, California) - Email Me
"I KNOW" plates?
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| MY @ CENTS.... | Jun 21st. at 4:57:43 am EDT
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Whitewolf (Schenectady, New York) - Email Me
I have to agree.... it's THEIR privlige, as long as I'M not made to do it. I can't see WHY we can't have a licence plate with a small, tatseful Pentegram on it! What's fair is fair. And as to the "seven deadly sins" thing. THE XTIAN GAWD HAS COMMITTED ALL OF THEM!!! puh-leeze....
Love to all
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| Comment Short And Sweet... | Jun 21st. at 4:53:14 am EDT
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James (Boise, Idaho) - Email Me - Web
...or at least as short and sweet as I can make 'em.
Granted, I am not a religious and civil liberties scholar. However, I am what can politely be referred to as an informed activist and this appears to clearly be an unconstitutional "endorsement" to me.
Still, the trickster in me would want to order one, personalize it with the letters "BAAAA", frame it, and hang it out in the garden.
Bright Blessings.
Find More info -- HERE
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| The Brick Wall... | Jun 20th. at 11:09:04 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
As long as they are not mandatory for everyone, if they want to stick a cross on their behind, that's up to them. After all, they are paying for the privilege.
Personally, a vanity plate like that sort of negates their biblical teachings anyhow, since vanity is a sort of pride, one of their seven deadly sins. And there is nothing more prideful than a Fundie trying to wear his faith on his sleeve -and in everyone else's face to prove a point, all the while condemning someone else for daring to display a differing opinion.
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| Bumper | Jun 20th. at 7:34:37 pm EDT
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Lokari (Plainfield, Illinois) - Email Me
"residents asked for a way to express their beliefs, and legislators responded"
Hey redneck fundies... ever hear of "bumper stickers"? Slap a couple of them on, toss in a few of those absurd ribbons, and express the hell out of yourself. Go crazy. Knock yourself out. Problem solved.
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