The Dumnshine state strikes again: Christian licence plates!

[bushmeister0]

CNN:

Some of you might have thought they already had them, but no . . .

CCN:

"Florida drivers can order more than 100 specialty license plates celebrating everything from manatees to the Miami Heat, but one now under consideration would be the first in the nation to explicitly promote a specific religion.

The Florida Legislature is considering a specialty plate with a design that includes a Christian cross, a stained-glass window and the words 'I Believe.'

Rep. Edward Bullard, the plate's sponsor, said people who 'believe in their college or university' or 'believe in their football team' already have license plates they can buy. The new design is a chance for others to put a tag on their cars with 'something they believe in,' he said.

said approval of the plate could prompt many other groups to seek their own designs, and they could claim discrimination if their plans were rejected. That could even allow the Ku Klux Klan to get a plate, Simon said."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/24/license.plate.ap/index.html

What about a "jihad" plate or a plate saying "I love Satan?" What's good forthe goose . . .

Don't people in Florida ever get tired of the crazy shit that goes on in their name up in Tallahassee? God, why do they keep re-electing these dumnass rednecks over and over again?

[knight_of_the_star]

1. The people get the government they deserve

I rest my case

[On the Road]

2. I Don't See What's Crazy About It

by treating Christianity as a separate group equal to colleges and nonreligious organizations, it seems to be drawing a pretty clear line of separation between church and state.

[yardwork]

5. No. Putting a religious message on a license plate issued by the state of Florida

is not separating church and state. These aren't the logo plates that people put on the front of their cars. You can put anything you want there.

These are the official State of Florida license plates advocating a specific religion.

[On the Road]

9. The Other License Plates

are not state advocacy for the specific university or organzation that appears on them. I think ordinary people understand that when they see the plates.

[yardwork]

10. Sure they are. If it's on the state license plate, the state approves it.

[rurallib]

29. Extra fee collected

"Florida's specialty license plates require the payment of additional fees, some of which go to causes the plates endorse."

Looks to me like a direct funding of religions.

[HockeyMom]

7. Are you ready to have plates

for all the other religions????? Do you really think they will issue a Muslim plate or a Wiccan plate?

They have been trying to issue a Pro Choice plate to counter those Pro Life plates, and that hasn't happened.

It is only the one PREFERRED view that is allowed to have any say.

[Ilsa]

20. That's what bothers me: if they allow one political message,

they have to allow the counter political message. I'd love to see other religions on people's plates. I would love for the wingnuts to realize that there are plenty of other beliefs alive and well in the US.

[HockeyMom]

22. As someone said,

Southern Florida has a very large Jewish population. When will they be issuing plates with the Star of David? Hate to say this, it won't happen because they don't want differing points of view, only THEIR's.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

27. That is pretty much

what I said when I saw the story on the news... I wonder how people will feel when the American Nazi Party has their license plates approved - :shrug:

[On the Road]

30. If It Stays Limited to Christianity,

that yes, it is official discrimination in favor of one religion. It depends on the process for creating a new plate (eg, do universities have to apply to the state government to get their plates created?), but other religions should not be prohibited.

[yardwork]

37. Once they start approving various religions, there's no logical place to stop.

Every denomination, every sect, every world religion, everyone's backyard religion will demand equal time. I almost hope that Florida approves the Christian plate, just to see them waste tons of time and money defending this!

[Warpy]

3. The ACLU needs to be involved here

Conspicuously Christian dumbasses can pay for license plate rims that will tell the world they're Jesus's best friends. Having the state issue plates for one religion but not all of them, including atheist plates, is too close to a state endorsement of one religion.

The conspicuous Christians are just going to have to be content with silly fish magnets, bumper stickers proclaiming hatred of their fellow citizens, and license plate rims.

[flvegan]

4. I'd get one. If I could get "BUSH SUX" on it.

Because, "I believe" that Bush sucks.

[bushmeister0]

8. Or "Dan Marino is God!" This I believe. Amen.

[yardwork]

11. That one is probably already taken.

[HockeyMom]

6. Welcome to the theocratic state of Florida

Not only can you proclaim your christianity on the plate of your car, you children can now be taught creationism in public schools.

Not to mention, be allowed to bring your guns to work (better than kids to work), be required to have a ultrasound before an abortion and pay for it yourself, be prosecuted for killing a fertilized egg when attacking a pregnant woman.

You really think a Democrat is ever going to win this theocratic state?

[bushmeister0]

12. The state that makes Texas look liberal

From the same people who brought you: The 2000 election mess (and the 1876 election mess, too); Elain; Terry Schiavo; the Jebster, Mark Foley; The abortion clinic bombings; incessant phone call form your mom; the Cuban Embargo; the list goes on and on.

The 2000 election was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.

Not that I ever miss a Dolphins game, though. (Despite the lousy seasons we've been having lately.)

[sinkingfeeling]

13. I wonder how the large Jewish population of South Florida will like the idea.

[bushmeister0]

15. Yeah, good point. The Jews in Boca and Aventura might want to consider

taking their money elsewhere. This type of thing really says "welcome."

[movonne]

14. Didn't most of this crap in Florida started when jeb bush and his

gang of thieves became Governor...

[bushmeister0]

16. "Walkin' Lawton" would have never done this.

[Ilsa]

17. As long as they have to pay for them like other vanity plates, I don't care.

Maybe they'll behave better when they are driving if they remember they are "driving as a representative of the Lord".

[bushmeister0]

18. Yeah, but they think he's their "co-pilot."

I don't think you want to be driving next to someone who thinks no matter how bad they drive, "He's" there to protect them from crashing.

[Ilsa]

23. Hey, it's better that we have them identitfied. We can move away

from the ones that drive like they believe God is going to protect them from the laws of physics.

[depakid]

19. Just inviting another expensive lawsuit

Why do people in these states like wasting taxpayers' money on obviously unconstitutional laws?

It's like these folks are still fighting the civil war....

[bushmeister0]

24. The ones north of Palm Beach County are anyway.

Bugs Bunny was right. In the episode 'Rebel Rabbit" he saws off Florida from the US: "South America, take it away!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Rabbit

[FiveGoodMen]

21. Florida?! But that's America's wang!

-- Homer Simpson

[bushmeister0]

25. It needs some Viagra

[HockeyMom]

33. It is to be cut off

and sunk into the ocean. Just give me a little advanced notice so I can get out.

Damn, how I hate this state.

[A HERETIC I AM]

40. You're in Naples?

I'm right up the road. In the county that houses all your employees!

I don't hate it here, I'm just a bit annoyed at it at times. But at least Lee County doesn't have "Ave Maria" being built here.

[FiveGoodMen]

35. At this point, I think it needs to be amputated.

Come to think of it ... climate change may just about achieve that.

[TechBear_Seattle]

26. Can I buy one with a pentalcle and an erect phallus that also says, "I Believe?"

I mean, if they are going to promote one religion, surely they are willing to promote all of them. Right?

[VOX]

28. Florida: The Persistent Vegetative State.

One of the oddest states in our nation. A place of immense beauty -- the everglades and coasts -- and yet home to some of the craziest right-wingers to ever come down the pike.

[bushmeister0]

31. Just look how the state was "settled"

The Seminol leader Osceola couldn't be defeated by Jackson, so they captured him under a flag of truce.

"Osceloa became a leader during the second Seminole war in 1835. He was opposed to the Indians removal from their land and being sent west. As a result of his opposition he was sent to prison. After he was released he killed the Indian agent and began attacks on the Americans which began the warfare. Osceloa defeated force after force that was sent against him. General Thomas Jessup asked Osceloa to discuss a truce. Under a flag of truce Jessup seized Osceola and had him imprisoned. This treatery, plus imprisonment, lead to his death in the Fort Moultrie South Carolina prison in 1838."

http://goodies.freeservers.com/osceola.html

Now the Seminoles sell cheap cigarettes in Hollywood from their trailers.

[OmahaBlueDog]

32. They've already got "Choose Life"

They'll get this -- or something masked that's close like "Family Worship."

And an "Israili Heritage" plate won't be far behind.

[The Straight Story]

34. Well, I guess we will know which cars will be unmanned during rapture

:rofl:

[bushmeister0]

36. They already are, I think. Ever tried to get through the Golden Glades at any time of the day?

[yardwork]

38. ROTFL!

[A HERETIC I AM]

39. Florida has 117 of these fucking stupid ass theme plates already

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/specials/orl-licenseplates-sg,0,7492181.storygallery

If I remember correctly, there was a fella in Gainesville a few years back who ordered a plate with "Atheist" or a similar sentiment on it and the state made him give it back.

"It's ok to love the Florida Panther and the UF Gators, but don't tell us you don't buy the god bullshit"