Crosses on Lisence Plate

[Strav]

Now, I don't know if this is the right forum for this, and if it isn't, I'm very sorry, I'm kinda new.


But has anyone heard about this?

Yes, recently I have noticed more and more different kinds of lisence plates. Breast cancer, animal help, and a whole lot of other. So one state finally decided they wanted a cross for their lisence plate. I can't remember which one, but I'll find a link to the story and post it here in a while.

When other people heard of this idea, they became outraged, and some people even sued the Christians who came up with this idea, saying it's unfair.

Unfair?

Isn't this country all about Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion? This one really bothers me. Because a statemen who claimed to be a Christian was even against this idea.

I just find it interesting that if a Christian gets involved in anything, it's wrong.

I'm so very disappointed that people have actually been driven to hate Christianity that much. It's only a lisence plate...

 

[awitch]

It's not that people are against Christians or the plates. The non-Christians are upset because the government is officially endorsing Christianity (which it is not supposed to do). Also, if the Christians can have a license plate, why can't I, as a neopagan, have a big pentacle on my plate?

 

[rodofjesus]

There are plenty of ways to demostrate one's faith. On a license plate should not be one. The purpose of a license plate is for authoritys to quickly and easily identify your vehicle.

 

[awitch]

There are plenty of ways to demostrate one's faith. On a license plate should not be one. The purpose of a license plate is for authoritys to quickly and easily identify your vehicle.

Good point.

No one would care if it was a bumper sticker with the same image.

 

[JTLauder]

Well, are the crosses to be a standard image on all license plates for that state? If so, then, Christianity would declared to be the state sanctioned religion.
But if it's one of those optional plates some pays extra for, then that's your choice, but it should also offer other images too.

 

[awitch]

Found some info on it from the NY Times (but I can't externally link to it).

There are 200-some specialty plates to choose from which average about $70 to get and the proceeds go the sponsoring organization.

The "I believe" plates only cost about $5 to cover the cost of the manufacturing and there are no proceeds. That sounds like a little favoritism to me right there.

Second, the plates came about from a bill passed by the state legislature which requires the department of motor vehicles to offer the plates. That definitely sounds like state endorsement to me - especially since the bill only authorizes the Christian symbology, and no others.

If, somehow, there were pentacle based "I believe" plates, I would oppose those also.

There is no curbing of freedom of speech (get a bumper sticker), and there is no curbing of freedom of religion (there is no "thou shall have a nifty license plate professing your belief" commandment).

 

[4ng3l0fd34th]

If I heard correctly, the problem with crosses on the license plates (I believe it was in South Carolina, btw) was that they were going to make it the default license plate. Therefore if anyone wanted one without crosses, they'd have to pay extra to get something different. Personally, I think it's quite a bad idea. I don't have a problem with producing license plates with religious symbols but I don't think they should be made the default ones. It shouldn't just be the Christian cross either. It's an all or nothing kind of deal.

 

[awitch]

If I heard correctly, the problem with crosses on the license plates (I believe it was in South Carolina, btw) was that they were going to make it the default license plate. Therefore if anyone wanted one without crosses, they'd have to pay extra to get something different. Personally, I think it's quite a bad idea. I don't have a problem with producing license plates with religious symbols but I don't think they should be made the default ones. It shouldn't just be the Christian cross either. It's an all or nothing kind of deal.

I don't think that's accurate...I understand the specialty plates have to be requested - they would not be a default, standard issue plate that anyone would have to get.

I think it stinks for the tax payers of South Carolina because they have to pay the tons of money for the lawsuits already filed by a Rabbi, 2 Christian ministers, a humanist pastor, and the Hindu American Foundation. Clearly, the state reps would have seen the lawsuits way in advance, but chose to pursue it at the taxpayers expense so they could buy the votes of the Christians living there.

 

[exxxys]

I don't care, personally. Put crosses on the license plates.

But DON'T, I repeat, DON'T, make a huge scandal when this goes on mine:

 

[awitch]

I don't care, personally. Put crosses on the license plates.

But DON'T, I repeat, DON'T, make a huge scandal when this goes on mine:

Good luck getting the state legislature to pass a bill authorizing that one, exxxys.

 

[exxxys]

Good luck getting the state legislature to pass a bill authorizing that one, exxxys.

Awwwe

But shouldn't it be fair that if they legalize the cross to be on license plates, why not the pentagram, or while they're at it, the Baphamet?(SP?)

 

[awitch]

Awwwe

But shouldn't it be fair that if they legalize the cross to be on license plates, why not the pentagram, or while they're at it, the Baphamet?(SP?)

I don't think we should have any of them (it's still government endorsement). Besides, would you feel safe with one of those on your car?

How about a Darwin fish plate? It's not religious and then maybe people would stop stealing the magnet/stickers that I have (...or had).

 

[exxxys]

AHHA, my sister told me about those!!! I don't drive yet, but when I do, oh when I do.....

I don't know if I wouldn't feel safe per se, but I would probably invoke some road rage. LOL

 

[eri]

As a resident of South Carolina who recently spent several long days at the DMV, I thought I'd chime in (a bit late). We currently have two 'free' license plates (ones you don't have to pay extra for) - the palmetto tree is one, and the other has the US and SC flags and says 'In God We Trust'. Already right there that's a problem, since if I want the 'In Reason We Trust' plate (and we DO have one) I have to pay about $50 extra - I think it was $25 for the plate and $25 for a special membership number.

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with a cross on a plate as long as every other religion and lack-thereof could have their own plate as well. We've already got about 40 options for plates. But it doesn't seem like that's what they wanted - just their own plate. That was the case in FL, anyway, when the proposed an 'I Believe' plate, but the people pushing it said they would protest against an 'I Don't Believe' plate. That's certainly not in the spirit of the law.

 

[awitch]

As a resident of South Carolina who recently spent several long days at the DMV, I thought I'd chime in (a bit late). We currently have two 'free' license plates (ones you don't have to pay extra for) - the palmetto tree is one, and the other has the US and SC flags and says 'In God We Trust'. Already right there that's a problem, since if I want the 'In Reason We Trust' plate (and we DO have one) I have to pay about $50 extra - I think it was $25 for the plate and $25 for a special membership number.

Do you need to pay a "membership fee" for any other plates? That sounds mighty suspicious to me.

We have about 20 different plates here in NJ. Most are conservation, animals, cure-for-disease, or NJ landmark themed. They are all $50 (except for a $20 agriculture plate), with a $10 yearly renewal (except for the Battleship New Jersey plate which is $15). No mention of religion as far as I can see.

 

[eri]

You need to be a member of the Secular Humanist organization and present your membership number in order to get the plate. I'm not sure if this is standard for say, getting a boy scouts plate or something. But it reflects a particular organization instead of the general population.

 

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