Group protests ban on Christian license plate in SC

Greer, S.C. More than 350 people attended a rally at a church in Greer to protest a federal judge's order banning South Carolina from producing a religious license plate that carries the words "I Believe." The ...

[Dionysis]

Perhaps they should pray for divine intervention, or move to a theocratic country.

[Poetic License]

Dionysis wrote:

Perhaps they should pray for divine intervention, or move to a theocratic country.

I pray for you! It says so on my license plate! While filling out the application I was going to encourage you to support 'Little E', but I decided to check 'I Believe' the box at the last minute.

[Sgt Rock]

I had really rather have a tag that is worded, "our government SUX".

[Jack]

"Hiette told The Greenville News that Christians have lost the right to public prayer, as well as prayer in schools."

And try to find ONE example where that is true.
Find any law that says you can't paint your whole car with testimonials to your religion. Find any law that says you, as an individual and not in the role of government authority, can't pray anywhere, anytime, to any entity. Find any law that says you can't attend church, or that your church can't practice its religion without interference. Find just one. Cite the case.

[Ghost Dog]

Anyone can pray anywhere they want, you just can't make other people pray because you want them to be like you.

[Ribbon Boy]

When the new plates came out, red letters instead of blue, the first ones had the "WTF" letters floowed by the numbers in sequences.

Somebody complained that WTF was an acronym (because her grandkids looked for, and then giggled at everyone they saw), and asked that it be banned and the plates be recalled.

The state complied.

Your tax dollars at work.

It seems to me that the state paying anything for the words "I believe" or whatever is the state saying they authorized a religion. No thanks. Should be stopped.

[Marco]

You can have anything in the world on a license tag but a Christian theme. Crazy! If people don't want the dang thing then don't buy it, but it should be just as available as any other themed tag.

[The Cat in the Hat]

My group tried to get a plate that carried the words "GO PANTHERS" but it did'nt pass. Of course there were only 5 of us at the rally, and we were kinda drunk......

[Jack]

Marco wrote:

You can have anything in the world on a license tag but a Christian theme. Crazy! If people don't want the dang thing then don't buy it, but it should be just as available as any other themed tag.

Actually you can't "have anything in the world on a license tag." But even taking your comment as the exaggeration it obviously is, are you telling me you don't see the difference in a generic "in God we trust" as compared to a plate with a Star of David - or a Cross? Those are symbols of specific religions, whereas the God in whom we trust could be seen as any of the available choices. This isn't rocket science, guys - just buy your own private plates, bumper stickers, window decals and cover your car.

[Keith former Gun-bunny]

Jack wrote:

<quoted text>Actually you can't "have anything in the world on a license tag." But even taking your comment as the exaggeration it obviously is, are you telling me you don't see the difference in a generic "in God we trust" as compared to a plate with a Star of David - or a Cross? Those are symbols of specific religions, whereas the God in whom we trust could be seen as any of the available choices. This isn't rocket science, guys - just buy your own private plates, bumper stickers, window decals and cover your car.

I did all that you mentioned in your last sentence. Vehicle is plastered on the azz of it.

[Johnny8242]

I don't any problem with that plate. As long as it is not the traditional state plate.

[hanger4]

Dionysis wrote:

Perhaps they should pray for divine intervention, or move to a theocratic country.

What part of;

"or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

don't you understand ??

[hanger4]

Ribbon Boy wrote:

It seems to me that the state paying anything for the words "I believe" or whatever is the state saying they authorized a religion. No thanks. Should be stopped.

Ribbon Boy when you buy a personalized tag you're paying for it not the state.

[Bucko]

I used to make license plates.

[Ron Mexico]

Sgt Rock wrote:

I had really rather have a tag that is worded, "our government SUX".

Come on Sarge, I bet you have some sort of of government retirement (or 2) income with health benefits. Lot of people would kill to live your luxury !

[June Bug]

Ron Mexico wrote:

<quoted text>
Come on Sarge, I bet you have some sort of of government retirement (or 2) income with health benefits. Lot of people would kill to live your luxury !

What you call luxury?

[Pussecuted Cwistian]

Waaaaaaaahhhhhh!

[Christina]

This is beyond ridiculous! Christians have the right to say what they believe as well as non-Christians. If people can have offensive material on cars (silhouettes of naked women on mud flaps, bumper stickers with foul language and things about other religions), then Christians should be able to have a license plate that says "I Believe". This is a COMPLETE violation of our First Amendment. Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech and Free Exercise of Religion?? If you're going to favor non-Believers over Believers and vice versa, then you shouldn't be a Judge at all.. Why be fair to one group of people b/c that's what you believe, but have total disregard for the other group and what they believe? Being a Believer is NOT a crime, yet they are treating it as such when they silence us, even with something as simple as a license plate!!!!

[joint]

Hmmmmm....."I Believe" don't sound like a religious wording on a plate to me. "I Believe" I will have another joint.

[Chuck Zimmerman]

hanger4 wrote:

<quoted text>
What part of;
"or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
don't you understand ??

What part of "free" don't you understand?
Plates are made by the state by the requirements that the people themselves choose, except that they must conform to the Founding Principle of seperating the church from the state.

South Carolina Constitution:

SECTION 2. Religious freedom; freedom of speech; right of assembly and petition.

The General Assembly shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government or any department thereof for a redress of grievances.(1970 (56) 2684; 1971 (57) 315.)

SECTION 3. Privileges and immunities; due process; equal protection of laws.

The privileges and immunities of citizens of this State and of the United States under this Constitution shall not be abridged, nor shall any person be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.(1970 (56) 2684; 1971 (57) 315.)