South Carolina plans license plate for Christians

[Dope Nose]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/07/sclicense.plates/index.html

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- Unless a federal court intervenes, South Carolina drivers may soon be able to profess their Christian faith with a state-issued license plate.

The state plans to issue plates featuring a Christian cross and the words "I Believe," but a group advocating the separation of church and state says that goes too far.

A similar design had been considered by Florida's lawmakers, but it was rejected there because of concerns over separation of church and state.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which includes Christian, Jewish and Hindu clergy, filed a federal lawsuit last month. The group contends that the plates violate the U.S. Constitution's prohibition against government favoring one religion over another religion or non-religion.

South Carolina became the first state to offer Christian car tags last month, when Gov. Mark Sanford allowed the bill to become law without his signature. The state legislature had passed it unanimously.

"I think it allows people of faith to profess that they believe in a higher calling, they believe in God," said Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

Bauer has offered to personally pay a $4,000 deposit required for the Department of Motor Vehicles to begin producing the plates. The fee would be returned to him later.

The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Bauer's willingness to pay the deposit "more deeply confirms this is a government-sponsored program."

"I don't believe that these license plates will ever be on any car in South Carolina, because I think our Constitutional claim is so strong," Lynn said.

South Carolina's legislature has not made a similar specialty plate available for any other faith, he said.

While individuals can ask the DMV to print plates for other faiths -- for a $4,000 fee -- the request would be subject to significant limits and rules not imposed for the Christian plate. Other tags could feature a religious symbol -- such as the Star of David -- but no words would be allowed.

The Christian plate will include the words "I Believe" and a bright-yellow cross on a multicolored stained glass church window.

Lynn's group said in a news release "that other religions will not be able to get similar license plates expressing differing viewpoints, nor can a comparable 'I Don't Believe' license plate be issued.

"The state has made believers of non-Christian faiths feel that they are second-class citizens," Lynn said. "Under our Constitution, that's impermissible."

Bauer said allowing Christians to have a specialty license plate is freedom of speech. He said those who oppose are prejudiced against Christians.

"We're not going to back down," Bauer said. "We're going to fight for a change. I'm tired of seeing Christians back down in fear of a lawsuit."

Bauer also said he is not afraid of a personal political backlash against him.

"If I were never to get elected or serve in another capacity because I pronounce my faith as a Christian, I don't have a problem with that," Bauer said.

South Carolina's plate is based on a design by Florida, which was rejected by the state.

 

[Prison Mike]

I have a feeling Stephen Colbert is going to mention this on his show. lol

 

[jaguarr]

I support this. It's sort of like putting a "Scarlet S" on them.

jag

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Cool. When will the Satanist license plate be available?
Have a wicked pentagram in the "O" of South Carolina

 

[The Nose Goblin]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/07/sclicense.plates/index.html

Its stupid **** like this that shows how soon this country is going to fall.

And by the way, this whole 'we are so persecuted' thing is unique to American Christians when someone even dares to politely refute their religion or say 'what about separation of church and state' and I'm not sure what it is rooted in.

"Lynn's group said in a news release "that other religions will not be able to get similar license plates expressing differing viewpoints, nor can a comparable 'I Don't Believe' license plate be issued."

Why can't they see how hypocritical they really are?

 

[Raiden]

This is ridiculous, and I haven't found any comment from this law's supporters how this is Constitutional. This is blatant rejection of the whole separation of church and state doctrine.

 

[jaguarr]

Its stupid **** like this that shows how soon this country is going to fall.

And by the way, this whole 'we are so persecuted' thing is unique to American Christians when someone even dares to politely refute their religion or say 'what about separation of church and state' and I'm not sure what it is rooted in.

"Lynn's group said in a news release "that other religions will not be able to get similar license plates expressing differing viewpoints, nor can a comparable 'I Don't Believe' license plate be issued."

Why can't they see how hypocritical they really are?

That is exactly what will take this initiative down.

jag

 

[Superman4ever]

I'm all for it, but Muslims get to have a license plate. The Jewish community gets one. So do Buddhist, Hindus, Atheists, Wickans etc.

George Washington talked about this type of fairness hundreds of years ago. James H. Hutson's, the author of The Founding Fathers and Islam, showed that George Washington, in response to a Virginian bill that would lay taxes to support Christian worship, suggested ways for Muslims to “obtain proper relief”.

 

[Raiden]

I'm all for it, but Muslims get to have a license plate. The Jewish community gets one. So do Buddhist, Hindus, Atheists, Wickans etc.

George Washington talked about this type of fairness hundreds of years ago. James H. Hutson's, the author of The Founding Fathers and Islam, showed that George Washington, in response to a Virginian bill that would lay taxes to support Christian worship, suggested ways for Muslims to “obtain proper relief”.

Well, according to the story, only Christians get the license plate, and none of the other religious groups can have them. Why SC think they can make this happen despite its discrimination against other religions and that it's against the Constitution is beyond me.

 

[Superman4ever]

Well, according to the story, only Christians get the license plate, and none of the other religious groups can have them. Why SC think they can make this happen despite its discrimination against other religions and that it's against the Constitution is beyond me.

And like Jag said, this is going to get shot down. And most likely be trumpeted as an attack against Christians (or the way they'd spin it, "an attack against the faith-based community).

 

[Leto Atrides]

I didn't see what the problem was until I got to the part where other religions couldn't have text on a similar plate. There has to have been some misunderstanding here, and they meant other religions couldn't use the same exact design with a different symbol and text or something. There's no way they are blatantly only allowing a special privilege to Christian groups. Also, is this for a charity of something? I thought that was the point of specialty plates, breast cancer, ASPCA, environmental causes, etc.

Having a license plate for Christians isn't by itself a violation of the Establishment clause, but not giving other religions similar freedom in creating a design sure is. Also, that design is super ugly and tacky.

 

[MattBearPig]

The fish weren't enough, I take it?

 

[Super Kal]

personally, I prefer the simple fish... there's absolutely no need for a license plate.

just another way to pimp Christianity

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I think they should re-do all of the stop signs too, so they say,

STOP
in the
name of
JAYzus

 

[jaguarr]

I think they should re-do all of the stop signs too, so they say,

STOP
in the
name of
JAYzus

...before you break my heart!
Think it oh-oh-verrrrr!
Think it oh-oh-verrrrr!

jag

 

[Leto Atrides]

there's absolutely no need for a license plate.

I'm pretty sure they do only do a new license plate design if they find out enough people want it. So someone must be clamoring for a kitschy Thomas Kinkade-esque expression of their faith.

 

[bell110]

Damn it, I want my "may the force be with you" plate.

 

[Arc-Light]

I'm all for it, but Muslims get to have a license plate. The Jewish community gets one. So do Buddhist, Hindus, Atheists, Wickans etc.

George Washington talked about this type of fairness hundreds of years ago. James H. Hutson's, the author of The Founding Fathers and Islam, showed that George Washington, in response to a Virginian bill that would lay taxes to support Christian worship, suggested ways for Muslims to “obtain proper relief”.

They already use Atheists license plates, every state does, you know the ones with the numbers on it.

 

[chaseter]

They already use Atheists license plates, every state does, you know the ones with the numbers on it.

This was funnyt:

 

[danoyse]

Well, according to the story, only Christians get the license plate, and none of the other religious groups can have them. Why SC think they can make this happen despite its discrimination against other religions and that it's against the Constitution is beyond me.

I know one family who lives in SC...and they're Jewish.

One of their neighbors asked them why they didn't have a Christmas tree. They explained that they were Jewish. The neighbor asked why couldn't they just get a Christmas tree.

They have a son in preschool, but they couldn't find a decent non-religious preschool for him in their neighborhood. During a Christmas party she asked if it would be OK if her son brought in a Hanukkah treat so he could feel more included. She was told "Absolutely not."

I'm sure they're delighted by this news (they're looking to move soon).

 

[Leto Atrides]

They have a son in preschool, but they couldn't find a decent non-religious preschool for him in their neighborhood. During a Christmas party she asked if it would be OK if her son brought in a Hanukkah treat so he could feel more included. She was told "Absolutely not."

My brother and I went to a Jewish preschool, similarly because it was the best one in the area. We just went ahead and participated in Chanukah, Passover, etc. ceremonies, respecting that it was the Temple's school. We had a good time and learned about other religions. I don't see what's so terrible about this. If that was actually how it was put, then yeah it wasn't very polite, but still.

 

[hammy]

I know one family who lives in SC...and they're Jewish.

One of their neighbors asked them why they didn't have a Christmas tree. They explained that they were Jewish. The neighbor asked why couldn't they just get a Christmas tree.

A fair number of Jewish people do have Christmas trees these days. The whole Santa / tree thing really has nothing to do with the Christmas story, anyway.

But I don't see this license plate thing as a constitutional issue. It's not like the state is insisting that all drivers have the religious plates. And if other religions want them and there is enough demand, I'm sure they'll get them.

 

[Leto Atrides]

But I don't see this license plate thing as a constitutional issue. It's not like the state is insisting that all drivers have the religious plates. And if other religions want them and there is enough demand, I'm sure they'll get them.

The problem is they're saying that other religions can't get similar designs, and that they're giving the Christianity one some special freedom of design. Apparently you're not allowed to use text on plates, and they specifically said one for any other religion would not be allowed to, but this one still is allowed to have the "I Believe" part. There are some people too in the article complaining that the government should make anything with a religious symbol on it, but the first reason is the one that's a real complaint.

And technically it shouldn't be a constitutional issue at all, since it's a state government.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

We have a couple custom plates in South Carolina already, some of which display very personal imagery and express certain traits of the individual, so this really doesn't bug me all that much. It's not like this is becoming the standard plate. Also, this is a very Christian state, so this'll probably end up being a pretty wise investment.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Goes great with a Jesus fish