Religious License
South Carolina passed a law this month allowing it to become the first state in the nation to offer its citizens specialty license plates that carry a Christian message. Adorned with a stained-glass window, a cross and the words "I Believe," the plates are already inciting protests from, among others, the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Jewish Congress; and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit Thursday.
Then there's the matter of equal time...
(Click the image below for a larger PDF file.)
This piece ran in The Los Angeles Times on June 21, 2008.
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""Delivers a double-barreled blast of satiric buckshot."
--Arianna Huffington
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OMG! What do we live under the Taliban now?
People cant have the freedom to put whatever plate they want on their own cars?
Isn't this a free country? Nobody is forcing anyone to buy and display the plates.
It is things like this that make me feel a bit ashamed of my fellow liberals...when this sort of intolerance rears its ugly head. Can't people believe in God if they want to and be free to display and express their belief in a peaceful and non-violent way?
Come ON people! There are soldiers dying and homes flooding and our economy is crumbling, who gives a cr@p about some small sheet of metal that someone hangs on the back of their cars?
The cheesey slickness of the plates' design seems pretty representative of what passes for Chrisianity in SC.
As someone who grew up in South Carolina, has three generations of family still living there, and property dating back to 1790, I can see many points of pride. The area where I can only feel shame, however, is religious intolerance and bigotry. I've lived in every region of the US, and also in France, and nowhere have I seen this level of small-mindedness. It's something you really have to see from afar in order to fully appreciate the ways this mindset holds the state back. A state filled with otherwise very good people. I'd like to see positive change, a new state gov't, pretty much top to bottom, would be a good start.
I feel honor-bound to rebut this. I respect your opinion madam but my experience differs. I too come from a proud Carolinian stock: my ancestors shed blood to create this Union (SAR, SCV). This state is filled with good people - on that point I concur. But I believe you give too little credit. Proclaiming adherence to a faith or creed is so disparaged by society today; what's the harm in allowing a few private citizens the right to honor their Lord in their own fashion? It is not being forced upon anybody.
No one is taking away your rights to worship as you please.
Why do you need a taxpayer funded, pulicly sponsored declaration of faith, available only to one faith?
No other state in the US feels the need to do this.
I'm a native of Spartanburg, SC and this blog got my attention. My brother and his wife always joke that the first thing someone asks you when you meet there is "where do you go to church?" If you say "I don't," you might as well say you just choked a puppy to death.
I had to look up the Secular Humanist Society plate that says "In Reason We Trust." Although the SC DMV says you have to be an "active, paid member" of the group to get the plate, if you go to the Secularist's website they have a membership card that anyone can download without paying dues for the purpose of getting the plate. Unlike other non-profits, the state won't give the secularists any proceeds from the sale of the license plate. The "reason" plate sets you back $30, but if you want "In God We Trust," South Carolina is happy to provide that at no additional charge!
The wording is a bit confusing, I'll admit, but "In God We Trust" has a $24 Biennial fee in addition to regular registration fees - so it's not at no additional charge.
And kudos to the Secular Humanists, who have forgone a fee greater than $30 for their plate. By not asking for financial support from the sales of their plate, they make it more affordable!
I see what you're saying. Maybe the words "no additional registration fee" mean something else in Columbia.
As a resident of the great state of South Carolina, I can reassure your readers that we are well aware of the importance of the freedom of religion. It was a concept we were founded on, as written into our Fundamental Constitutions by the philospher Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, and his personal secretary, John Locke. Ya'll might recognize the second fellow; supposedly Jefferson and others took a few concepts from his teachings.
The Carolina colony accepted all faiths, including Jews (we had the largest Jewish population in the US until the late-19th century), and were even tolerant of those who chose not to practice any religion at all.
Rest assured, South Carolinians are not forced to purchase the Christian Identity plate, any more than they have to buy the Clemson Univeristy one. But isn't it nice to have the ability to make your own choice? Or is it a hint of jealousy from those who live in states with boring plates?
http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/PlateGallery.aspx?q=All
Hey buddy my states plate has a moose or a loon, thats what I call excitement. If you choose the christian plate do you still need insurance? or does the higher power clause kick in?
Haha! I think it night - but you probably have to have a "God is My Co-Pilot" bumper sticker as well!
(Didn't mean any offence to states with boring plates)
Your argument might carry some weight if your "great state" actually offered license plates for other religions and beliefs. Since they evidently don't do that, then I believe that this constitutes a state establishment of religion.
"The Carolina colony accepted all faiths, including Jews (we had the largest Jewish population in the US until the late-19th century), and were even tolerant of those who chose not to practice any religion at all."
How nice for you. And, what about now?
Actually, I've found SC very tolerant of many different faiths. Here in Charleston, we have thriving Jewish, Muslim, B'Hai, Wiccan, and other non-Christian communities.
I will disagree that this represents state establishment of anything. If that's you're argument, then you'd also have to say that the state has established NASCAR as its official motorsport; it's popular, but not state established. And if another group wanted to create a custom plate, they certainly have the opportunity to do so. SC hasn't said no (as evidenced by the Secular Humanist plate) to groups with non-christian viewpoints.
I'd also like to point out in the collection: the "Secular Humanist" plate.
The Constitution isn't *against* religion, it's against *forcing* a state religion upon us.
For Chrisakes, let EVERYBODY espouse their beliefs-- or non belief! That's what America is all about!
I know what you mean, and I couldn't agree more.
Those kids that died recently because their parents practice a religion that doesn't believe in medicine have every right to be killed by their folks. That's what America is all about!
Hooray, sky god!
Where's the FSM or TIPU (PBUH)? Those are WAY better religions...
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