Jesus on my license plate!

Published on April 29, 2008 By SanChonino In Religion

Gotta love those crazy Floridians.

It seems as though there's a motion being put forward to make a new specialty license plate that you can purchase in the 'great' state of Florida. Yes, that's right - rather than plastering another in your fleet of Jesus fish on the back of your car, you can slap a cross on your actual license plate.

Wanna see what they're considering? It's just glorious, let me tell you.

Wow. That's just . . . special.

My issue with this, however, runs deeper than my distaste for gaudy crosses. The problem? What happens to the other religions? Are we going to offer a nice Buddhist license plate with a silhouette of the Buddha or perhaps a nice wheel with eight spokes? Or one with the moon and star of Islam? Or one with a big, gold Angel Moroni for us Mormons?

And where's my Flying Spaghetti Monster one?

Frankly, I think that Florida may have opened a can of worms it won't know how to close if this is actually created. Offering from a state office certain religious symbols without making equal consolations for all other faiths will be a mess, and the creator of this initiative will be crucified in court.

The ACLU has made a statement about it, saying,

The problem with the state manufacturing the plate is that it “sends a message that Florida is essentially a Christian state” and, second, gives the “appearance that the state is endorsing a particular religious preference,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

I agree with them completely. This is wholly inappropriate in just about every way you can slice it. You've got to love this quote, though, from Rep. Kelly Skidmore about this situation:

“It’s not a road I want to go down. I don’t want to see the Star of David next. I don’t want to see a Torah next. None of [those other religions that I am not a part of] are appropriate to me,” said Skidmore, a Democrat who voted against the plate in committee. “I just believe that.”

I wonder if this passes, will Atheists be offered one that says "I DON'T BELIEVE"?

This is the one I'd go for . . .

PS I know I promised my murder story next, but it's taking a long time for me to write it. Longer than I thought. I guess I still haven't completely processed what happened that night. I'll get it done soon, I hope.

Comments (Page 3)

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Apr 30, 2008

I don't see the problem here....only the bias against Christianity.

Florida drivers can order more than 100 specialty plates celebrating everything from manatees to their favorite sport's teams....but wow mention Christianity and all HELL breaks loose. I'm sorry to inform you but there are people who believe in Christianity as much as others believe in their sports teams.

The reason this is even being discussed is because it's sponsored by Rep Bullard. He said:

"People who believe in their football team already have license plates they can buy. The new design is a chance for others to put a tag on their cars with something they believe in."

So what's the problem? One driver "believes" in the Miami Heat and another "believes" in God. Who cares? If someone else wants to put the Star of David on their plate....more power to them. Atheist? Go for it! Who cares? You can get bumper stickers that say these things.

The ACLU has made a statement about it, saying,The problem with the state manufacturing the plate is that it “sends a message that Florida is essentially a Christian state” and, second, gives the “appearance that the state is endorsing a particular religious preference,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Good ol' ACLU....gotta love em! Who pays for the court costs when they get involved in such trivial stuff?

Really tho? How so? If you can put a manatee on your plate does that mean the State is endorsing Manatees? How about a sports team?

Keep in mind that a "Trust God" and a "Trinity" plate has already been denied.

SetarcosNous

on Apr 30, 2008

I don't see the problem here....

Wow, way to ignore the whole thread.

OckhamsRazor

on Apr 30, 2008

I don't see the problem here....only the bias against Christianity.

Fair warning, Florida: If your Christian plate is approved, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster WILL seek our own plate promoting Pastafarianism.

So I hope the Christian plate is approved. I want a FSM plate

Adventure-Dude

on Apr 30, 2008

Mainly just religious based, as the government is violating its own laws by favoring one in some manner over another.

Which laws and how would they be violated in your view?

My guess is that you are referring to separation of Church and State. I guess I'm not seeing how the lines are being crossed. If some portion of that money goes to a religious organization like the University plates do in CO then I would support your argument.

Adventure-Dude

on Apr 30, 2008

I'm not sure how Florida generates ideas for these plates. Having been part of an effort to get a set of plates here in Virginia (the yellow and white with the funky looking house on it for Home Educators, for all you Virginians. Don't blame me ... I just ran the petition, I didn't design the damn thing), I can say that it's not an act of the legislature that gets it approved. All you have to do is have a design, a petition (minimum of 250 signatures) as well as 250 preorders (PAID preorders, at that). Once you meet those, the design gets run through the DMV's system and it's ready to go. From that point on, anyone can pick it out of the lineup at the DMV (and the nice display that covers 3 walls in the local offices is tres gauche).

I suspect this to be the same in most states. If this is the case in Florida then I totally support it.

Side Note: I support the FSM plates too

Adventure-Dude

on Apr 30, 2008

Against? It's the only religion that got a plate...how is the bias against and not for? You can't, as a Buddhist or a Muslim, for example, request a personal plate for your own religion. You don't see anything wrong with that? Really?

Fortunately the Pastafarians have gotten involved. Quote from their site on the subject:

Fair warning, Florida: If your Christian plate is approved, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster WILL seek our own plate promoting Pastafarianism.

So I hope the Christian plate is approved. I want a FSM plate

I totally support this WHOLE thing.

If 250+ people want a special plate and want to pay extra for it....by all means GO FOR IT!

My concern is this. If we say a religious organization can't do this.....it continues from there. I look at the religious organizations relatively similar to the 'special' interest organizations. Once you start restricting one over another...it seems like it becomes a slippery slope.

JMO

SetarcosNous

on Apr 30, 2008

My guess is that you are referring to separation of Church and State.

Yep, that would be it.

I guess I'm not seeing how the lines are being crossed.

A line may not technically be being crossed here, as it is not the federal government acting here, and it can't really be said that a law is being passed in this case. It just strikes me as wrong on more a matter of principle.

SetarcosNous

on Apr 30, 2008

If this is the case in Florida then I totally support it.

Actually, I think it was proposed by some councilperson or something, but I could be wrong.

My concern is this. If we say a religious organization can't do this.....it continues from there. I look at the religious organizations relatively similar to the 'special' interest organizations. Once you start restricting one over another...it seems like it becomes a slippery slope.

I think we see/saw the slippery slope at different points, though your post makes me wonder if the slope was already crossed and is the source of the problem. The slope I worry about is religion insinuating its way further and further into government; but as you observed, in some ways religions are no different than other special interest groups, which makes me wonder what business government has endorsing any of these.

Considering the 250 signatures option some states have, it makes it plain to see that it does not constitute an endorsement in those states (though I have to wonder if they would allow Satanic symbols or inverted crosses or deem them "offensive"). And the requirement of 250 signatures might constitute discrimination of religions with low concentrations of adherents in the area. However, as I said before, I think the Florida plate may have more to do with a government official trying to push this through than public demand. The demand probably is there, but if there is no formal way for it, or "competing" designs, to be satisfied outside of legislator influence then this is a problem and perhaps the legislators of Florida should be trying to represent all interests by passing a general procedure like has been previously mentioned rather than pushing for an exception just for their favored religion.

dynamaso

on Apr 30, 2008

So I hope the Christian plate is approved. I want a FSM plate

Unfortunately, it is a lot harder to arrange for speciality plates in the state I live in here in Australia. That said, I would love a set of FSM plates too.

Zoologist03

on Apr 30, 2008

Unfortunately, it is a lot harder to arrange for speciality plates in the state I live in here in Australia. That said, I would love a set of FSM plates too.

I would love to see people's reaction to them.

"What the hell is that?"

"Are you dissing my religion, bitch?"

"You worship that?"

"Yeah, something wrong with it? Do you dare question the noodly divinity that is our lord?"

And about that time they'll be walking away.

~Zoo

Adventure-Dude

on Apr 30, 2008

I would love to see people's reaction to them.

"What the hell is that?"

"Are you dissing my religion, bitch?"

"You worship that?"

"Yeah, something wrong with it? Do you dare question the noodly divinity that is our lord?"

And about that time they'll be walking away.

~Zoo

Zoo represents, Yo!

I don't care about the noodly divinity, I just think it would be fun to have the

"What the hell is that?" reaction!

Adventure-Dude

on Apr 30, 2008

Fair enough. It sounds to me that we agree for the most part then. I agree if they refuse another special interest organization that wants an upside down five pointed star or upside down cross even though they meet the requirements (ie 250 signatures, etc) then the line has been crossed (no pun intended).

cactoblasta

on May 01, 2008

I think they should ban these Jesus plates, if for no better reason than that they are horrendously gaudy and ugly. A licence plate that couldn't fit in perfectly with a black sports car has no business being used in a nation of the civilised.

Just look at the thing. It's like a sunrise vomited and its vomit turned into a stained glass window and then someone stuck a shiny plastic cross onto it to cover its shame. It's the kind of licence plate that encourages public violence.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on May 01, 2008

well you don't have to worry.....it's all been thrown out. There will be no "I Believe" plates in Florida. So if you're going to believe in anything it's not going to be Christ.....at least on your license plate. (

Adventure-Dude

on May 02, 2008

I have no problem with the Jesus plates...IF the State of Florida allows ALL groups of 250 or more pre-purchasers to participate as well. The moment they start picking and choosing which groups are 'worthy' of participation, they're violating the Constitutional rights of those they would prohibit.

Woohoo LW, and I agree. *Marks calendar* j/k

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!