DOES YOUR CAR PROCLAIM YOUR FAITH?

Hi y'all!

There is a big controversy stirred up in the Great State of Florida over a proposal to offer a "specialty license plate" that says, "I BELIEVE!" The plate obviously expresses Christianity as the driver's faith (unless the car is stolen).


This is causing a big old fight in the Florida legislature, the Florida ACLU, Christians in Florida...and I am sure it's being "cussed and discussed" all over the Sunshine State.

I thought that I would let y'all know what one Redneck thinks about the whole deal. First off, I am a Christian! I believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, and that His blood has atoned for my sins. Second off, I think specialty license plates are ignorant. Let me explain my thinking on this whole deal.

Question 1) Do "specialty plates" make a difference?

I'm gonna start off by giving y'all the dirty little secret on specialty license plates. Specialty license plates are a great contrivance by States to use the emotions of their citizens to raise more revenue for the State coffers. Oh yea, they give a small percentage of the increased cost of specialty plates to the organizations that do whatever work the plate promotes...but the lion's share goes to the State. That's ignorant. People that buy specialty license plates to promote a particular cause could do a whole lot more to help the cause by just giving their favored organizations the extra $25 per year...not the $2.50 that they will get from the State.

Heck, send your favorite environmental nut-job organization $25 bucks a year, and put a $1 bumper sticker on your car that says "I'm Green, and I'm not from Mars", or whatever. Your organization gets way more benefit than the pittance they get back from the State. And besides that...as an always alert driver, I can tell you that I notice bumper stickers a whole lot more often than license plates. I mean, I ain't a cop...

(In truth, I've seen a bunch of folks with a "Follow Me To (insert Church name)" bumper sticker on their car that I wouldn't dare go to their church after watching the way they act out in traffic. Shoot, I might accidentally sit in their regular spot on the pew...not a pretty thought for sure.



Question B) Shouldn't everybody be included in specialty plates?

Okay, let's say that I live in the panhandle of Florida, and I'm from Alabama, or Georgia originally. I am pretty sure that Florida offers a "Go Gators" specialty license plate of some type. But I am a huge 'Bama Tide, or Georgia Bulldog fan...and a whole bunch of people that live here in the panhandle are, too. Shouldn't the State of Florida give me the opportunity to have a specialty Florida license plate that says "Roll Tide, Roll"...or "Bow Wow - The Gators Have Gingivitis"?

We have been through this kind of controversy down here in Louisiana in the last few years. The Louisiana Legislature authorized a "Choose Life" specialty plate a few years back to promote the anti-abortion movement (which I believe deeply in). Then all Hades broke out! The ACLU filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to declare the sale of that plate "unconstitutional."

It came down to a Federal Judge halting the sale of any specialty license plate at all in the State of Louisiana, because somebody might get ticked off by what the State of Louisiana was promoting. Fortunately, the appeals court threw the whole thing out, basically saying that this was too ignorant to look at, and that the State Courts ought to be deciding it. You can look at an article about it here if you want to.

In the end, we got the "Choose Life" plates, along with about a zillion others that people wear on their cars. I see these things all the time, and truly I think the term "vanity plates" would be more appropriate.

Example: I love the military, and US Air Force. Barksdale Air Force Base is a huge part of our local fiber. But come on...I have seen a gozillion "US Air Force Retired," and "P.O.W." specialty plates. I wonder if those guys think it's gonna keep a cop from writing them a ticket because of their service and sacrifice. I wonder if they think it's going to make me have more grace for them when they veer into my lane, or almost make me tinkle when they turn left from the right lane right in front of me! Don't get me wrong, I love and appreciate these guys...but come on...it's just vain.

The arguments:

The arguments that the ACLU, and some of their comrades in the Florida Legislature are making actually make some sense. One argument is that it might appear to folks that see this plate may think that The State of Florida is actually promoting Christianity over other religions. Now, Florida could counter that by offering an "I Love Allah, and I took Flying Lessons in Florida" plate, or a "Hitler Was Right!" plate...but that would probably send a bad message to folks, too. (Plus, I don't think they would sell many of those...talk about "road rage" down in Florida!)

So, to wrap this all up I will say that I don't think that any "specialty license plate" is a good idea. They cost way too much. The organizations that sponsors them get way too little out of them. The State gets way too much from them. And, even though "I BELIEVE," I hope that folks see it in my life, not on the back of my raggedy old truck.

I gotta confess that I do like some "vanity plates." I have seen "BALDMAN," " JSUSFRK," "HOTCHIK," "GOLFER9," "STUPID," "BACKOFF," "PACKING," and "LSUFAN."

I told the Mrs. once that I wanted to get a vanity plate for the truck that said "IGNURNT"...made her laugh! My goal for the day was accomplished. (but it was extra money, so I decided against it, figuring everybody looking at my truck would know anyhow)

Here is the AP article on the whole controversy. I report, y'all decide...

Florida Considers Christian License Plate

By JESSICA GRESKO

MIAMI (AP) — 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. (more)