Florida license plate with Christian Cross and "I Believe"

[crazyfingers]

I started this topic on a different board a few days ago. Why not start it here?

There is a bill being pushed in Florida that, if passed, would have the state sponsor auto license plates with the Christian cross and "I believe" on it. It would also set the state up as a fundraising arm for a religios organization.

"The extra money earned from the sale of the ''I Believe'' license plate would go to an Orlando based nonprofit called Faith in Teaching that says on its website that money from the plates would be used for grants to ''continue faith-based education for the youth of Florida.'' The group did not return a call seeking comment."

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/493547.html

[ravenscape]

That's nucking futz. Has the ACLU gotten a good bite of them yet?

[AthenaAwakened]

I started this topic on a different board a few days ago. Why not start it here?

There is a bill being pushed in Florida that, if passed, would have the state sponsor auto license plates with the Christian cross and "I believe" on it. It would also set the state up as a fundraising arm for a religios organization.

"The extra money earned from the sale of the ''I Believe'' license plate would go to an Orlando based nonprofit called Faith in Teaching that says on its website that money from the plates would be used for grants to ''continue faith-based education for the youth of Florida.'' The group did not return a call seeking comment."

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/493547.html
Alright

I don't have a problem with the plates. My cousin in DC single-handedly got the required number of signatures on a petition to get the District to press DC tags with the NCA&T seal on them (Yes, he is a VERY SERIOUS AGGIE). If you are gonna pay extra for a prestige tag, then you should be able to get it to say what you want.

But giving the STATE REVENUE money to a faith-based institution???

Dare I say

HELL to the NO!!!!!

[Hedwig]

I started this topic on a different board a few days ago. Why not start it here?

There is a bill being pushed in Florida that, if passed, would have the state sponsor auto license plates with the Christian cross and "I believe" on it. It would also set the state up as a fundraising arm for a religios organization.

"The extra money earned from the sale of the ''I Believe'' license plate would go to an Orlando based nonprofit called Faith in Teaching that says on its website that money from the plates would be used for grants to ''continue faith-based education for the youth of Florida.'' The group did not return a call seeking comment."

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/493547.html
Alright

I don't have a problem with the plates. My cousin in DC single-handedly got the required number of signatures on a petition to get the District to press DC tags with the NCA&T seal on them (Yes, he is a VERY SERIOUS AGGIE). If you are gonna pay extra for a prestige tag, then you should be able to get it to say what you want.

But giving the STATE REVENUE money to a faith-based institution???

Dare I say

HELL to the NO!!!!!

Seconded.

[crazyfingers]

I think that it is a problem for government issued plates to become advertisements for a religion. That's what bumper stickers are for.

And imagine the uproar if someone managed to collect the required number of signatures for a "God is a fairy tale" plate. Do you think that the Florida government would allow it?

[disgracian]

They already have Jesus-fish and those obnoxious "Where will you spend eternity? Smoking or non-smoking?" stickers. Why is nothing ever enough for them?

Cheers,
D.

[DMB]

They already have Jesus-fish and those obnoxious "Where will you spend eternity? Smoking or non-smoking?" stickers. Why is nothing ever enough for them?

Cheers,
D.

Jesus fish I know (and what a joke they are given that the original meaning of the symbol was a human vulva), but that bit of fuckwittery is new to me. What total idiots!

[AthenaAwakened]

I think that it is a problem for government issued plates to become advertisements for a religion. That's what bumper stickers are for.

And imagine the uproar if someone managed to collect the required number of signatures for a "God is a fairy tale" plate. Do you think that the Florida government would allow it?

I think someone should get the required signatures for just such a tag (although I like the darwin fish better). And for the star of David AND the cresent moon AND for pentagrams AND for any other symbol a person MIGHT want to put on a tag.

Such a move would make the whole endeavor very controversial and lead to people asking questions, people having to DEFEND their beliefs (or the lack there of).

I think it would be GREAT!

As i used to say in my younger days when I felt like partying, "Hey guys! Let's go out and get arrested!"

[crazyfingers]

I think someone should get the required signatures for just such a tag (although I like the darwin fish better). And for the star of David AND the cresent moon AND for pentagrams AND for any other symbol a person MIGHT want to put on a tag.

Such a move would make the whole endeavor very contraversal and lead to people asking questions, people having to DEFEND their beliefs (or the lack there of).

I think it would be GREAT!

As i used to say in my younger days when I felt like partying, "Hey guys! Let's go out and get arrested!"

That would be nice to see. Tough to do though.

[AthenaAwakened]

Things worth doing are seldom easy

[crazyfingers]

Things worth doing are seldom easy

True

[His Noodly Appendage]

Jesus fish I know (and what a joke they are given that the original meaning of the symbol was a human vulva), but that bit of fuckwittery is new to me. What total idiots!

Hmmm

Anyone make hairy fish stickers, then? :D

[shipload]

Bzzzzzzt!!!

Violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments!

Move back three spaces, into your hole in the ground, and lose a turn, troglodytes!

If there be a "christian" license plate, there had better be one for the Flying Spaghetti Monster worshippers and the Discordians, along with Jews, Muslims, Hindu s(all major sectaries), Shintos, Baha'i, Confucianists, Jains, Buddhists (both boats and the llamas, too), Theosophists, Scientologists, Masonics, Rosecrucians, and each and every animist tradition believer....not to mention those who revere the IPU.

If I were there, I'd be demanding parity for the Circle of Buptkis.

[ravenscape]

Jesus fish I know (and what a joke they are given that the original meaning of the symbol was a human vulva), but that bit of fuckwittery is new to me. What total idiots!

Hmmm

Anyone make hairy fish stickers, then? :D

Pear pimples for hairy fishnuts?

[shipload]

Jesus fish I know (and what a joke they are given that the original meaning of the symbol was a human vulva), but that bit of fuckwittery is new to me. What total idiots!

Hmmm

Anyone make hairy fish stickers, then? :D

Probably not...with all the waxing currently en vouge.

And HNA....Can you provide backing for that "original meaning" claim?

[His Noodly Appendage]

Wasn't my claim.

[crazyfingers]

Jesus fish I know (and what a joke they are given that the original meaning of the symbol was a human vulva), but that bit of fuckwittery is new to me. What total idiots!

Hmmm

Anyone make hairy fish stickers, then? :D

Probably not...with all the waxing currently en vouge.

And HNA....Can you provide backing for that "original meaning" claim?

A quick google provides a reasonably well respected source, and others...

The pre-Christian history of the fish symbol:

The fish symbol has been used for millennia worldwide as a religious symbol associated with the Pagan Great Mother Goddess. It is the outline of her vulva. The fish symbol was often drawn by overlapping two very thin crescent moons. One represented the crescent shortly before the new moon; the other shortly after, when the moon is just visible. The Moon is the heavenly body that has long been associated with the Goddess, just as the sun is a symbol of the God.

...Continues



http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_symb.htm

[shipload]

Kewl, thanks.

[Wolfhound]

Not content to just have those idiotic symbols glued to your back bumper or trunk lid? Well, soon the faithful of Florida could have their delusions illustrated on a new vanity license plate. The good news is that it will open the door for Pastafarians to get their own!

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

[Worldtraveller]

The problem with your last comment is that you are probably wrong.

Before you assume it would be easy to get your FSM or IPU plate, check out the FL DMV procedures. You have to get a petition with several thousand signatures, just to get considered. Now, there may be that many people in FL that would get one of those plates, but what are the odds that one would actually be able to find them all?

Pointing out that the procedure is inherently setup to stop minority beliefs from getting equal recognition, however, may be a good way route to follow if one decides to file a lawsuit against the state. In theory, in order to remain nuetral, the state should have to make a (religiously themed) for just one person. The clear financial cost of this should discourage the state from continuing this practice, but they will have already had several thousand of these made and on the roads.

Lose lose for the first amendment and minority beliefs. Sorry.

It's why we need to be vigilant and not let even the slightest crack appear in the wall (not that there was probably a way to stop this one). Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile. Every little bit of the wedge opens the crack that much further.

[Arctish]

The last line of the linked article is very telling:

Bullard, the plate's sponsor, isn't sure all groups should be able to express their preference. If atheists came up with an "I Don't Believe" plate, for example, he would probably oppose it.

The chances of an unpopular group winning approval for their preferred design are slim to none. No "Allahu Akbar", no "Hare Krishna", no "In IPU we trust", and no atheist or humanist plates are on the horizon, much less on the table. This is nothing less than Christian proselytizing and the faithful aren't likely to give up their advantage without a fight.

IMO it would be worth the possible fines to get one of those plates and personalize it. Painting over the cross with the image of the FSM or Thor or a pentagram would be pretty fun to do. OTOH I'd only put it on a car I didn't want to have anymore. The love of Jesus can inspire all sorts of vandalism.

[crazyfingers]

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

More on the license plate.

The sponsor of the bill is quoted:

Bullard, the plate's sponsor, isn't sure all groups should be able to express their preference. If atheists came up with an "I Don't Believe" plate, for example, he would probably oppose it"

He is just cut his own throat when this gets to court. He would use his vote to cause the government to prefer one religious point of view over another.

I hate scum like him.

[Wolfhound]

Pear pimples for hairy fishnuts?You go, Opus! :cool:

[disgracian]

And these are the same cockmongers that whine about Christianity "being under siege". And the worst thing is, you could sit this Bullard down and explain the hypocrisy to him until you're blue in the face and he simply wouldn't get it.

Cheers,
D.

[Jimmy_Mack]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a242/RareBird0/E-BlowMe.gif

[clivedurdle]

The pre-Christian history of the fish symbol:

The fish symbol has been used for millennia worldwide as a religious symbol associated with the Pagan Great Mother Goddess. It is the outline of her vulva. The fish symbol was often drawn by overlapping two very thin crescent moons. One represented the crescent shortly before the new moon; the other shortly after, when the moon is just visible. The Moon is the heavenly body that has long been associated with the Goddess, just as the sun is a symbol of the God.

How to offend everyone! Await the fatwas!

What religion has its churches facing the rising sun again? What religion uses crescent moons? So staring at women's naughty bits and then looking at the sky is the cause of these religions! How strangely appropriate!

[shipload]

Already out?

As in the state has actually sold plates like the one shown, and they are currently mounted upon vehicles being operated upon Florida roads?

If so, I think we're talkin' punitive measures.

Unless the state can do this with absolute equality, produce an individual plate of whatever the buyer wants, be it religious or irreligious, it is illegal. If I worship at the alter of the great goddess, I might want to have her pudenda upon my license plate. Or...how about those of us of the Circle of Buptkis? Can we all have nothing on our license plates?

What the eff happened to two stinkin' colors, fer crepes sake?

[RexT]

Thread moved from Religions

RexT

[crazyfingers]

Merged with As If the Stupid Jesus Fish Weren't Bad Enough

[linwood]

Update.
Just heard on the news that this particular plate was pulled out of the bill that passed.
Too many lawmakers thought it glorified one single religion to much.

It didn`t make it.
:)

[ravenscape]

The Florida state capitol building actually explains a great deal about this puzzling state.
http://www.coyoteblog.com/photos/uncategorized/capital_2.jpg

[Ray Moscow]

Maybe they could offer plates that say,

"Your religion is crap!"

with the proceeds going to TR?

[hecaterin]

It might not go ahead now. On the CNN newsfeed (http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/30/license.plate.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest).

[shipload]

Then there's the whole thing about where the extra revenues collected on this type plate will go....a faith in teaching program. So, the state is raising funds for a faithbased program, using advertising on state issued property.

TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!

* throws red flag *

FOUL!

[Worldtraveller]

It looks like the bill is currently stalled in the senate (although it passed the house). Apparently there is a 48 hour (?) window to reconcile the differences in the bills, or it dies.

I'm off to check the FLCS site and see what the current status is.

[Worldtraveller]

According to PZ, this got axed by the threat of lawsuits.

Go ACLU!! :D I haven't had time to read the details yet.

Cheers.

[VoxRat]

According to PZ, this got axed by the threat of lawsuits.

Go ACLU!! :D I haven't had time to read the details yet.

Cheers.

<note to self: renew membership and donation to ACLU>

[Seeker630]

Florida has a shitload of specialty plates already, including one for the Boy Scouts, and a Christian College-------------


http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/specialtytags/