No Blessings for "I Believe" in FL; SC Considers Plate Too
Thursday May 15, 2008
Remember the "I Believe" license plate theme that Florida lawmakers were thinking about adding as a custom option? Well, it's been rejected by legislators. However, never fear -- if you want a religious license plate you might be able to get one soon in South Carolina instead!
South Carolina senator Yancey McGill thinks a religious plate is a great idea, although he's decided Wicca isn't really a religion, and he's apparently not sure about them thar Buddhists either. Meanwhile, Floyd Abrams, a well-known freedom of speech attorney says of the bill, "It raises significant constitutional issues... a serious constitutional argument can be made that the issuance by the state of license places with a religious affirmation on them violates the First Amendment."
South Carolina senator Yancey McGill thinks a religious plate is a great idea, although he's decided Wicca isn't really a religion, and he's apparently not sure about them thar Buddhists either. Meanwhile, Floyd Abrams, a well-known freedom of speech attorney says of the bill, "It raises significant constitutional issues... a serious constitutional argument can be made that the issuance by the state of license places with a religious affirmation on them violates the First Amendment."
Comments
Sounds like McGill could use some education.
sounds more like McGill is beyond being educated and not worth wasting breath or energy on. Beter to save that for better things.
Mr. McGill is apparently the self-proclaimed determiner of what is and is not a “religion”.
Since it’s his opinion that Wicca is not a religion, it’s my opinion that he’s a f***ing moron.
Goddess bless him, anyway.
His statements are exactly why the amendments were added to the Constitution, and why “Freedom of Religion” is in the first one: The government is PROHIBITED from determining what is and isn’t “Religion”.
Aside fromn the potential church/state issues, have you actually looked at the plate? Ugliest thing I’ve seen in a while.
Putting that thing on the back of your car would say either “I have no taste” or “I’m so desperate to prove that I’m Christian that I’ll put this monstrosity on my car and pay twenty-five dollars for the privelidge!”
Idiots.
You know, it’s funny you say that, because when I saw it the first time, I thought maybe someone had put it together as a sample with some Microsoft Clip Art, but it turns out that’s the actual plate.
If I was a Christian, I’d probably be embarassed to have that one on my car.
patti
Hi! I think that the only fair way to go with the liscense plates, would be if the supporting state made the liscense plates customizable, with the purchaser having the ability to place a Pentagram, or a David’s Star, or even a Cross if they like. For it to be fair, religious symbols that will be presented on the liscence plate must be interchangable, to suit each person. Of course, I do think there might be a problem with a Satanist placing an inverted Cross (or inverted Pentagram (so trivial, as some Pagans identify with the inverted Pentagram)). Another idea might be to get rid of the religious symbols all together! how about letting the person write out their religion on the plate. I mean, at least with Texas, you can already choose a custom phrase or saying that is unique to you such as “PufDdy” instead of the pre-made ones. I think it would nice to have a medium sized banner run accross the bottom or top of the plate, that says I Beleive in Paganism, or Wicca, or Buddha!
Blessed Be!
Colt Barnett
Visit me at www.EssenceOfWitch.Com for my Podcasts, and a Majickal Grimoire among other splendid findings!
I haven’t actually seen the proposed plate. But I have no problem with anyone or everyone having a plate that reads “I believe”. Wouldn’t that encompass all religious and nonreligious beliefs? If it were a simple plate without any specific symbology it wouldn’t be so controversial. Everyone ‘believes’ in something.
Blessings,
Lisa
It’s High-Time We Americans Stood-Up–for God & Country! Francis Scott Key wrote our Motto–”In GOD is Our Trust!”
–on 14 Sept., A.D. 1814! “Left-Wing-Liberals” SHOULDN’T-be-Allowed to “Give God-their-Boot”!!! –MIKE RORER
Yes, but Mike, which God are you referring to?
Haha good point Alicia!
Since when has Wicca not been a religion? He sounds as bad as the guy from Yahoo who decided that apparently Christianity [no offence intended here] is the only true religion and all other religions are falsehoods…. Uhhhm, No. Wierdo.
And, this is why I just put a lovely “Cthulhu” fish on the back of my car. Want one? www.arkhambazaar.com
Here’s a link to what the plate was to have looked like:
http://www.faithinteaching.org/
So, Lisa, no, that wouldn’t cover all religions — it is DEFINITELY ONLY Christian. Like you, I first thought it wouldn’t be too bad, I could live with a simple “I Believe” and leave it up to the imagination what I believed. This proposed plate makes it clear you’re saying you’re Christian.
sounds like a lot of people need a little education about other religions… faith is something essential, regardless of what you have faith in…. blessed be
i say that if we can put on bills and other things “in god we trust”, and the goverment has no objections. then other religions may use what they want on there cars. we own our cars, we should be alowed to put on there what we wish, its not as bad as seeing something like “hotstuff ” or ez2njoy” ect. even ppl who personalize with there own names. im mean once we pay for a personalized plate, it becomes personal property, (a friend told me thats why there were more expenseive is that you dont return them, they are yours.)
I love the American Constitution! There were a lot of very intelligent men over three hundred years ago doing some serious long term planning. I don’t like anything or anyone that wants to add or substract to the Constitution. The number one reason that people started immigrating to this country was for Religious Freedom. However, I believe the First Amendment gives all Americans the Freedom for, of, and from Religion!