Florida Senate approves religious license plates

[seafan]

Florida Senate approves religious license plates

By Amy Hollyfield, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
April 25, 2009



The Senate approved this tag without seeing it.

TALLAHASSEE — If you want Jesus on your license plate, the Florida Senate is looking out for you.
Because why worry about a budget impasse or property insurance when you can spend more than an hour talking about Jesus, the devil and license plates?

Religious specialty plates offered by Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, and Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, made it onto a bill Friday even though many members had not seen images of those plates and none was produced for the debate.
Siplin didn't mince words when asked what his "Trinity" plate looks like, saying, "It has a picture of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ." It, along with a "Preserving the Past" plate offered by Siplin, would benefit the Toomey Foundation for the Natural Sciences.

Storms' "I Believe" plate would benefit Faith in Teaching, an Orlando company that funds faith-based programs at schools. Its design features a cross over a stained-glass window.

Several members had concerns about approving plates they had not seen. And one questioned using religious symbols at all.
"The issue is whether the state of Florida ought to be producing license plates with religious images on them," said Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, "and I don't believe that we should."

.....

The Jeb Bush acolytes keep marching on.

[dgibby]

1. Smells like a case for the Supremes to me.

[mainegreen]

2. Doubt that plate will ever hits the streets.

I'm sure the lawyers have already filed to stop it.

[valerief]

5. Unless they also allow an opposing plate, too, like

"I Believe There is No God"

But I'd be too afraid in that state to order and to use it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Which is the whole point.

It is ALL about intimidation of the minority.

[valerief]

17. Um, in my world, atheists are the majority. nt

[spoony]

20. What world is that?

And if that's true why would you be afraid to have it on your license plate? And who makes religious statements on license plates anyway?

[valerief]

23. I would be afraid in crazyland Florida, not here in New England. nt

[spoony]

26. Atheists are the majority in New England?

[valerief]

29. Yes. nt

[spoony]

33. I see, and is there some study that shows this?

Something you could...link to?

[valerief]

34. I know what I know, just like Christians tell me. They call it faith. nt

[SPedigrees]

36. Perhaps not the majority but a substantial demographic here. (Link provided)

“Northern New England has now taken over from the Pacific Northwest as the least religious section of the country, with Vermont, at 34 percent "Nones," leading all other states by a full 9 points.”

http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/

Above quote is from last year's ARIS survey on religion. A sneak preview of this year's survey has revealed that the non-religious shift is growing. I expect we New Englanders will continue to lead in numbers and percentages. (And my state of Vermont -also the smartest state in the union! - may continue to lead in athesism.)

But I'm not putting this on my license plate because, as I explained in my other post, in New England this would be insufferably rude, intrusive, and in poor taste. People's beliefs are their own.

[spoony]

38. Well thank you for providing some numbers

But I'd note that being nonreligious or "claiming no religion" as your link puts it is not the same as being an atheist.

[valerief]

48. Enjoy doing your research! nt

[SPedigrees]

32. In New England religious discussion is akin to discussing annual incomes. Both rude!

And many of us are atheist or agnostic. We are the home of the Unitarian/Universalist church, religion that welcomes atheists and encourages freethinkers.

[valerief]

35. True. nt

[defendandprotect]

42. Yes and no . . . anyone who would buy a plate like this is a religous fanatic . . .

and, IMO, that's the minority . . . ?????

[DrDan]

16. not so sure about that - there is a pro-life plate - but no pro-choice

[valerief]

Excellent point. I must be nuts thinking there'd be some fair play. nt

[ixion]

3. an embarrassing day for Florida

:eyes:

[valerief]

4. Florida is truly nutty. Check this out.

http://www.njfamilylawblog.com/blog/2009/02/cohabitatio...

In a bizarre case from Florida, the 4th District Court of Appeal, Florida’s equivalent of the New Jersey Appellate Division, in a December 2008 decision in Craissati v Craissati decided to terminate alimony based on the ex-wife living in a jail cell with another person for more than three months. The court held that this met the definition of cohabitation in the parties’ divorce agreement under which alimony could be terminated.

Perhaps only in Florida could the court interpret the term “living with another person” to mean sharing a cell with another inmate. Under the flawed legal analysis of this opinion, merely sharing a room in a hospital would constitute cohabitation that would justify termination of alimony. Sharing a jail cell is just an unfortunate consequence of being incarcerated.

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. What about "Buddy Jesus" from the film Dogma?

I want Shiva on my license plate. Or, maybe that poor, dumb bastard from Abu Graib with the hood and electrodes attached standing in the Jesus pose.

[T Wolf]

7. At least you will know what drivers to avoid like the plague while driving in that backward state.

[valerief]

19. But you won't be able to read their plates in your rear view because

they tailgate you like a trailer.

[Obamanaut]

28. In the winter I avoid the cars with plates from any New England state

being driven by someone with bluish hair.

edited to add: I'm in Florida

[valerief]

31. We have tailgaters of all ages and hair colors here. nt

[NightWatcher]

8. is that the real tag? why not a picture of the Bible or some other "holy" pic

but a picture of Jesus being tortured is about to adorn every redneck car, minivan, and truck...

Seems kinda morbid to me. Why not do something like the statue of Jesus that is in Rio?

[valerief]

24. Not morbid enough, I guess. nt

[defendandprotect]

43. Right . . . the use of the cross and a tortured Jesus is to instill fear . ..

in members and non-members alike, IMO . . .

A plate showing Jesus turning water into WINE would have a different effect ....

[valerief]

49. That's a Party Jesus! Whoo hoo! nt

[Name removed]

9. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[monmouth]

10. Please....Get me the hell outta here...n/t

[givemebackmycountry]

11. Living in Florida now I am hardly surprised by this...

Florida is a state that only requires one license plate affixed to the rear of your automobile.
SO...

If you get rear ended by another car, then Jesus gets whacked again.
I'm sure they gave this lots of thought.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

12. Oh Lord...

[underseasurveyor]

14. Will ALL religions/atheism/devil be available?

Not that any religion belongs on a license plates I mean jeez how laughable is that. But if Jesus et al is the only thing they're considering to make available then fuck that.

[Tutankhamun]

15. Picture of dead guy who is also alive found on license plates.

He is also said to be his own dad.

[spoony]

18. What Christian would actually put that on their car?

I mean, really. Taking an image of crucified Christ and making it a tacky tag cartoon? How lowbrow can pop religion go? I'm sure Jesus really appreciates that place of honour, right next to the exhaust pipe.

[valerief]

22. Catholics have lots of bloody J's in their churches. nt

[spoony]

25. If you don't get the difference

There really isn't a lot more I can tell you.

[valerief]

30. Difference between what? Protestant images of J and Catholic ones? nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

27. I expect it would go over well in south Florida Cubano areas.

With a little crossover to the fundies.

[Dappleganger]

45. As a christian I find it highly offensive...

as offensive as seeing 'In God We Trust' on currency that's used for all kinds of illegal acts. I don't want the state to have anything to do with my religion or my religion mixing it up with the state.
Meanwhile, the state of FL has serious budget shortfalls in education and they are wasting their time debating putting Jesus on a license plate? Geez.

[valerief]

50. We all should be offended at their nonsense. You're absolutely right. nt

[spanone]

21. in tennessee the state will sell you a pro-life plate but offers no alternative like pro-choice

[Dappleganger]

46. Another reason why it's wrong to have them in the first place.

[AspenRose]

37. I find that offensive.

And I'm a Christian.

[Vickers]

Why not at least put a smiling Jesus?

:shrug:

This is just morbid. Who designed it, Mel Gibson?

[Fla Dem]

39. So they should also include the Star of David, the Muslim Crescent, the Wiccan Pentacle etc.

If this ever does pass the supreme smell test, I don't see how all the other religious symbols can be excluded. Probably not what the bill's author wants, but you reap what you sow.

[valerief]

51. Oh, no, because, you see, Florida is a Christian state the way the US is a Christian nation.

:sarcasm:

[DFW]

40. Considering where Jesus was from

That wouldn't have looked anything like him. The pic on that license plate looks
more like the lead guitarist from some San Francisco rock band from the 1960s.

[defendandprotect]

41. Notice how few "pro-Choice" bumper stickers you see on cars . .. ?

That's because fanatical, murderous "pro-lifers" make sure that every one of them is

removed - especially if you live anywhere near a "Christian" church!

Democratic Party election signs also disappear quickly -- within minutes!
On the other hand when we have Democrats in control in town, both Repug and Dem signs
stay up!

"I Believe" plate would benefit Faith in Teaching, an Orlando company that funds faith-based programs at schools.

Florida will not only be involved in producing the plate, but directly in raising money for a
faith-based program!

No one's practice of their religion is based on having their religious articles displayed in

public -- on government property or on town property -- nor on license plates!

OVERALL ... I think this will be a huge mistake. Religion is a private belief system.
When it's brought out into the Town Square we all have a right to question and challenge
it. That doesn't usually go over very well with religous fanatics.

Does Florida have "concealed weapons" . . . ?

[Ezlivin]

44. I'm applying for one

And then I'll park my car in front of the wildest strip joints, bars, liquor stores and XXX movie theaters.

You'll recognize me, too: I'm going to dress like Jesus did for his high school graduation photo.

[Hugabear]

47. WTF, Siplin - you fucking asshole! You were given another chance, and this is what you do?

For those who don't know or remember, Siplin recently had a felony conviction overturned; he allegedly was using state employees to help out with his candidacy. This is the kind of bullshit that he's using his second chance to push through?

[seafan]

52. Crist OKs Jesus, Cross License Plates

:eyes: :crazy:


Crist OKs Jesus, Cross License Plates

April 27, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist says he would approve license plates with the image of a cross and an image of Jesus if they make it to his desk.

The two plates are scheduled to be voted on by the Florida Senate but have been controversial. The plate that depicts a cross and the words "I Believe" is the subject of a lawsuit in South Carolina. Florida's American Civil Liberties Union says both plates violate the separation of church and state.

Supporters argue denying the plates is also unconstitutional.