The Lord is my Co-Pilot?

When Indiana motorists make the dreaded trek to the BMV to plate their vehicle, they have a wealth of options available to them. According to the BMV, there are over 75 different plates from which to choose. While many Hoosiers simply opt for the boring old standard plate, they may decide to use the back of their vehicle to express their support for myriad causes and organizations, ranging from the Indianapolis Colts to environmental conservation; sort of like affixing a (very expensive) bumper sticker without the tackiness or potential loss of resale value.

These "specialty" plates generally have a cost associated with them, usually in the form of additional fees that go to the organization sponsoring the plate. A few, while requiring no additional monetary cost, are available only to a very select group of Indiana citizens; for instance disabled veterans or former prisoners of war.

House Enrolled Act 1013 altered this trend. The bill, sponsored by Republican State Rep. Woody Burton and passed in the General Assembly last year, sought to create a patriotic license plate that would be available to all Hoosiers at no additional cost at the beginning of this year. Not an inherently bad idea, except that this is what the plate looks like:



The first time I saw one of these plates on the road I had a brief moment of panic. I thought to myself, surely this cannot be the new standard license plate design...but then again, this is Indiana. When I learned it was a specialty plate my fears were assuaged, until I learned the above bit about the plate not being sponsored by any organization but rather being the result of legislative action and that it is available at no extra cost.

While I don't think this is the product of a right-wing conspiracy to push a Christian agenda, it still doesn't sit very well with me. The idea of a patriotic license plate is in and of itself harmless, but that idea was implemented very, very poorly. Yes, "In God We Trust" is a rather recognizable "American" slogan, one that even appears on our money (a fact with which I am content simply for the delicious, delicious irony). The problem, as far as I see it, is that a lot of the people who are purchasing these plates (and the plate is quite popular) appear to be doing so not as an expression of simple American patriotism, but of a specific brand of American patriotism; namely, the one in which America and Christianity go hand-in-hand. I'm willing to bet that the plate isn't very popular among atheists, or Jews or Muslims for that matter, who love their country just as much as their Christian compatriots. Why not an "America the Beautiful" or "Home of the Brave" plate instead? The answer, as far as I can tell, is simply piss poor judgement.

So? It's not our call to condone what decisions they use to waste their money.

I make it a policy to never trust a roaduser whom believes in an afterlife.

But, but - the United States is a Christian country! Why, democracy is virtually inconceivable without Christianity! How could we enjoy the blessings of our freedom without severely curtailing all political eccentricities in unhesitating conformity to a magical Bronze Age document written by men with voices in their heads? Huh? How?

people don't have to "waste" any money in order to get this plate, aside from standard registration fees, which, given the shoddy state of public transportation in Indiana, is hardly a waste.

i lol'd.

very true. there are bigger issues to consider, but this is one of those relatively little things that i can't help but get a bit worked up about, especially since it's symptomatic of a larger problem i have with this state; namely, the rampant conservatism that threatens to relegate us forever in the minds of non-hoosiers as a perpetually backward "red state". as it is the home to a few major universities, the state of indiana recieves a large number of foreign visitors; here i'm particularly speaking of muslims. also, the tiny town of plainfield, indiana, while not a college town, is home to quite a few muslims and several state-wide and even national and international islamic organizations. i can't help but think that things like this license plate business might give these people the impression that indiana might not be an ideal place to stay, which is unfortunate for a variety of reasons - cultural, economic and otherwise.

I like this liscense plate better:


Now that's something I can believe in!

winner.

Came out a little raggedy, but it's more than Indiana deserves.

Since the same crap is on my dollar bill, I find it hard to bring myself to more than mild amusement/annoyance at this.

here's my favorite Nevada specialty plate:



so far no area 51 plates and no chicken ranch (brothel) plates.

i loved it!

aye, and if dollar bills were nearly as large and visible license plates, and the "in god we trust" slogan was the primary feature of a dollar bill, and the appearance of the slogan on dollar bills was a recent addition rather than being a customary hold-over dating back to i-don't-know-when, i'd feel the same way.

I'd consider it like a voluntary scarlett letter. Makes it easier to pick 'em out. You know, like all the fools still driving around with Bush/Cheney 04 bumper stickers.

It's like you *want* me to be on blood pressure medication.

if that's the case it probably wouldn't hurt, though my medical credentials are more than a bit lacking.

almost forgot...

Fucking +1.

They ordained me.

The "In God We Trust" on out money thing is relatively recent, in a "relic from the Cold War" type of way.

i want one; and i don't even live in Indiana.

"In God We Trust," has been on and off currency since 1863, though most recently its use only dates back to 1957.

One year after the phrase was declared by Act of Congress to be the official motto of the United States of America. Which it still, apparently, is.

If anyone needs me, I'll be funnelling scotch down my throat with all the other secular humanists.

Don't bogart that funnel homeboy !

Ahhh, Indiana.

The state that brought us other such great things such as...........well beyond Meow and a couple of other SG's, i can' t think of anything.

I am personally not offended by the plate, i believe in God. I think it should be a specialized plate though. Not everyone believes what i do, and i don't expect them to.

well...you learn something new and disheartening every day. i suppose something like 'e pluribus unum' was far too subversive for the mccarthyites.

Communism in Latin is still Communism.

I'm sorry the only way I'd be cool with this is if it wasn't at no additional cost. You want a fancy plate. Pay like everyone else.