Religious License Plates?

everbran · GTA Revived The Radio Star

Religious License Plates?

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

I just read this, I think that if someone wants to purchase the vanity plate they should be allowed to. I would if my state offered one

KaeEll · Original Soap Dish Diva

No. Keep the government out of religious issues. Separation of church and state is a foundation for modern democracies. The license plate is a public ID for law enforcement, not a billboard for personal beliefs.

TinaLord68 · The Smiling T.L. Fan

Oh I love polls

I said yes.

For what we pay for our license plates, we should be able to put whatever we want on them

KaeEll · Original Soap Dish Diva

Just because there is a fee for the things we must use on vehicles, doesn't mean we are entitled to express whatever sentiments we wish to on it. There are far more important principles at stake. It's not worth it to me, or to my country to allow that kind of sentiment on a government issued ID.

The clear delineation of church and state must be beyond compromise. Screwing around with that is a dangerous thing to do, a ticket back to a time when oppression was rampant, and free choice a luxury few had.

Religious preferences are a very private matter. The state should never allow identification symbols on their compulsory plates or documents.

BTW, it's not that I personally object to somebody wanting to do this, it's that the principle behind disallowing it is SO much more important.

everbran · GTA Revived The Radio Star

Yeah but in a wonderous environment where people can get pink licenses plates to promote breast cancer awareness, where you can get different colored license plates, or cennential license plates, or veteran of war licenses plates, it's hard to say, okay why shouldn't we allow license plates for people if they're willing to pay the fees to get them printed up.

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

Brandon, I kind of agree with you. And at this point I have a relatively religious phrase on my plate with a light house on it. I have heard/read lots of people say that they can see a light house being a religious symbol because it guides you through the dark.
Anyways, I kind of think that its not a far stretch for someone having a religious word or bible verse as their plate number to putting a cross on it. And like I said, if it was an option I would totally get one.

Moore ideas · Moore Ideas Not More Ideas!

I'm too tired this afternoon to make an intelligent post about this, and I haven't voted yet, but here's my thinking at the moment:

In some ways, I see this as a separation of church and state, but frankly those license plates are going on our own personal property! The license plates are a means of identifying who we are, while also raising revenue for the state in which they're issued, but that's a very limited governmental function.

I think that Brandon makes a good point by saying that other "causes" are represented on license plates, so I'm not sure that it's inappropriate for a Christian to express their alignments as well.

As I said, those plates are screwed onto one's own personal property! And, does this cross over into a "freedom of speech" issue? What about those Confederate flags that decorate the back windows of people's trucks!?!

TinaLord68 · The Smiling T.L. Fan

Good point Moore. Once you pay for the plate, it's your personal property.

I think our country goes too far in trying to be politically correct. Why should we be offended by a cross when some truckers put obscene items on their vehicles and gang bangers have their symbols or whatever.

And many causes now have plates, for the life of me can't think of one.... But here in Illinois I've seen them for charities.

jojolin · The Naughty Bad Girl

I'll break with the majority of the group and agree wholeheartedly with Kae. I don't want the two mixed. Period. It may sound a tad harsh, but like Kae said...these are ID tools for law enforcement.
I understand it's our personal property, but stickers brandishing a confederate flag, our favorite sports team, or whatever are not government related items that we must pay a fee to said government for.

I have never been inclined to want a license plate with a cause, university, or something else on it. I'm just fine with my state identification. If I want to show the world what I support, I'll slap a sticker on. Like I've done the stickers I have on my back window declaring my favorite NASCAR drivers.

Church and Government do not belong together, and I'm sorry if that offends folks, but it's just the way I see things, and the way I believe.

I do not mind folks wanting to express their personal beliefs, as I consider myself pretty open when it comes to listening to other beliefs and ideas. But, put a peel-able sticker on your window. Don't put it on a government issued license plate.

KaeEll · Original Soap Dish Diva

Moore ideas wrote:

I think that Brandon makes a good point by saying that other "causes" are represented on license plates, so I'm not sure that it's inappropriate for a Christian to express their alignments as well.

A Christian?! What about Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and the myriad of other religious groups?

I stick by my original vote and say NO.

Bumper stickers and window decals work just fine making a statement. Leave government issue out of it.

everbran · GTA Revived The Radio Star

Cool then I'm calling for all specialty license plates to be pulled from sale. Everyone will have the same plain colored license plates except for government vehicles. No supporting your awareness, no care for your Indian background, don't give a crap if your war veteran or not. Why should they be allowed to express their individuality on their license plate and not others?

Do you see my point? We're all ready doing it, the government is just holding back on allowing specific types of expression of individuality.

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

Wow, seriously Brandon. Good job picking out such a controversial subject

-- Edited by shellyinphx at 08:20, 2008-07-08

TinaLord68 · The Smiling T.L. Fan

and it makes playing license plate bingo alot more fun!

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

haha, good call Tina. Makes for funner road trips

jojolin · The Naughty Bad Girl

everbran wrote:

Cool then I'm calling for all specialty license plates to be pulled from sale. Everyone will have the same plain colored license plates except for government vehicles. No supporting your awareness, no care for your Indian background, don't give a crap if your war veteran or not. Why should they be allowed to express their individuality on their license plate and not others?

Do you see my point? We're all ready doing it, the government is just holding back on allowing specific types of expression of individuality.

I see your point, and I say good. Recall all the license plates that have different beliefs, groups, ideas and what not on them. Fine by me. I'll deal with have the same colored state license plate as everyone else, as I do now, and I'll just slap a sticker on my window.
Keep religion out of government, and off licence plates, and keep everything else off the plates too.

KaeEll · Original Soap Dish Diva

Brandon, I agree with your point about expressing individuality, but there is a responsibility to be respectful of what some may find objectionable. I've included a link to Ontario's guidelines for personalised plates. It's written that there are 5 categories considered objectionable: derogatory, profane, racist, sexual, religious.

I have no problem with that at all. If our elected officials determined that religious references are offensive, sobeit.

Ontario's Licence Plates

everbran · GTA Revived The Radio Star

See you do have a good point. Flipside is what if the KKK or an anti-Christian group wanted a specialized license plate, do you deny them but let Christians, Mulisms, etc get their plates?

But bottom line on this for me, there's too many damned customized license plates. And it appears Canada is no exception if you look at this page:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/graphic1.htm

I mean dang, that's a lot of plates. But then another side of this is, you offer special plates you get charge and make some money on those plates. That's why I get the standard plates, they're cheaper! :)

TinaLord68 · The Smiling T.L. Fan

Ok not to be really arugmentative, but how can they find religion to be as offensive as something that is racist and sexist?

I don't understand why people get so upset over religion. It's supposed to be a good thing.

I mean yeah, there are those fanatics out there, but you get that with anything.

My husband would love if they came out with "White Sox" plates. And I'd get "Cubs" just to annoy him!! ;)

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

Like I have said, i have the light house one. When I was in AZ I had the child abuse plates. It was cute, had little hands all over it.

KaeEll · Original Soap Dish Diva

Tina, the reason religion is amongst those objectionable others is that people of varying faiths don't like having different ones stuck under their noses. It's like at a dinner party, religion and politics are taboo topics, lest they offend. It's just a social nicety, out of consideration for others. Not everyone thinks religion is a good thing.

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

Yeah politics and religion are seriously the 2 most controversial subjects, and as a devout Christian I can see why. A lot of religions are really bad about other religions, as in they think that the other one is wrong...I can definitely see how that would offend people.

jojolin · The Naughty Bad Girl

Tina, not everyone agrees that religion is necessarily a good thing. Me? I don't know. I'm not religious, as I'm still studying and researching the subject for my own personal enlightenment. I'm just saying there are folks out there who don't believe in religion. It's not for you to get, it's just their opinions and beliefs.

TinaLord68 · The Smiling T.L. Fan

I know Jojo.

but I don't get how a cross can be on the same offense as say a racial slur, which is based on hate not love.

Most religions that I've read on are trying to help people on the path to spirituality and enlightenment. To be closer to God or the Creator. To be filled with peace, joy, love.

and yet so many wars are fought when we really have so much in common.

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

Well the biggest war being fought is the Holy War and it will continue until the war ends. All of these wars are on holy grounds. Even the one in Iraq

KaeEll · Original Soap Dish Diva

Until all the people on earth come to the realisation that we really all are in the same boat, all looking for peace, love, joy, there will be wars, not only over supremacy and real estate, but out of the deeply misguided belief that one approach to holiness is better than another.

I think that reason alone is enough to keep religious symbols out of publicly issued ID's.

jojolin · The Naughty Bad Girl

KaeEll wrote:

I think that reason alone is enough to keep religious symbols out of publicly issued ID's.

Ditto on that.

shellyinphx · Long Lost DiMera Daughter

Well, as my final statement on this. I don't think it really matters. There are enough people in this country who won't allow it to happen. As many religious things that have been taken away from religious people over the years is proof that we will never be allowed to have plates with crosses on them. Just means that drivers have to be creative with the plates they do offer. If you come up with the right wording it would be religious anyways.

I would never say no to any kind of specialty plates because I know that a lot of the money goes to good causes. Like my light house one, a lot of that money goes to preserving the light houses. Which as a sailor are very important to me. And I think that if someone survives cancer they should be allowed to have whatever license plate they want. Anyone who is that strong, in my mind, deserves it.

Oh and seriously, what does it hurt for people to want to be a little different. I have had those pink magnets on my car and people steal them. They are far less likely to steal a license plate. If it bothers people so bad then they don't have to look at the plates. They aren't that big

-- Edited by shellyinphx at 13:46, 2008-07-10

TinaLord68 · The Smiling T.L. Fan

I had one more thought on the matter, the plates are optional, therefor those who want to express themselves can, and others that wish to stay with the regular plates have that option.

jojolin · The Naughty Bad Girl

Final thoughts? I'm good for one, always, LOL.

I say no to special license plates of ANY kind. Slap a sticker on your window or bumper, or donate to your favorite cause.
There are other ways to show your support for a cause, or show that you are a survivor, than to have it on a plate.
Sure, if you survive breast cancer, you certainly have the right to show that, but does it have to a plate? Nope.