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snidebot

snidebot

Berkeley, CA
October 2005

APR 18, 2007 09:53 PM

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.

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

APR 18, 2007 10:39 PM

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

CitizenD

CitizenD

Australia
April 2006

APR 18, 2007 10:39 PM

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

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

APR 18, 2007 10:50 PM

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?

SPOILERS! (Click to view)
It's annoying, of course, to see this stuff. But I'm more upset when conservative Christianity attitudes works its way into Supreme Court judgments. On the other hand, I'm glad my taxes didn't pay for that plate. I'd probably be rather more ticked if they had.

snidebot

snidebot

Berkeley, CA
October 2005

APR 18, 2007 11:27 PM

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



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.

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



i lol'd.

Zarth said:
It's annoying, of course, to see this stuff. But I'm more upset when conservative Christianity attitudes works its way into Supreme Court judgments. On the other hand, I'm glad my taxes didn't pay for that plate. I'd probably be rather more ticked if they had.



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.

RudieCantFail

RudieCantFail

Baton Rouge, LA
January 2006

APR 18, 2007 11:50 PM

I like this liscense plate better:


Now that's something I can believe in!

snidebot

snidebot

Berkeley, CA
October 2005

APR 18, 2007 11:54 PM

RudieCantFail said:
I like this liscense plate better:


Now that's something I can believe in!



winner.

RudieCantFail

RudieCantFail

Baton Rouge, LA
January 2006

APR 19, 2007 02:28 AM

Admiral_Pants

Admiral_Pants

Austin, TX
May 2004

APR 19, 2007 03:26 AM

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

SignalNoise

SignalNoise

USA
February 2004

APR 19, 2007 06:28 AM

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

wheezy_e

wheezy_e

Boulder City, NV
April 2004

APR 19, 2007 06:31 AM

here's my favorite Nevada specialty plate:



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

VioletRed

VioletRed

Ferndale, MI
October 2004

APR 19, 2007 06:34 AM

RudieCantFail said:
I like this liscense plate better:


Now that's something I can believe in!



i loved it! biggrin

snidebot

snidebot

Berkeley, CA
October 2005

APR 19, 2007 06:43 AM

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



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. wink

Chainlink

Chainlink

Key West, FL
August 2005

APR 19, 2007 06:48 AM

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.

SignalNoise

SignalNoise

USA
February 2004

APR 19, 2007 07:27 AM

snidebot said:

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



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. wink



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

snidebot

snidebot

Berkeley, CA
October 2005

APR 19, 2007 07:38 AM

SignalNoise said:

snidebot said:

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



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. wink



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



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

almost forgot...

wink

RudieCantFail

RudieCantFail

Baton Rouge, LA
January 2006

APR 19, 2007 07:40 AM





Domo_Kun

Domo_Kun

Rockford, IL
March 2005

APR 19, 2007 08:08 AM

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



Fucking +1.

They ordained me.

snidebot said:

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



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. wink



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

The_Reverend

The_Reverend

United Kingdom
September 2004

APR 19, 2007 10:43 AM

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



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

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

APR 19, 2007 11:22 AM

snidebot said:
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. wink


"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.

Chainlink

Chainlink

Key West, FL
August 2005

APR 19, 2007 01:54 PM

Zarth said:

snidebot said:
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. wink


"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 !

DevilsReject

DevilsReject

Cleveland, OH
February 2007

APR 19, 2007 02:02 PM

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.

snidebot

snidebot

Berkeley, CA
October 2005

APR 19, 2007 02:12 PM

Zarth said:
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.



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



Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

APR 19, 2007 02:33 PM

snidebot said:

Zarth said:
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.


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.

emotedcreations

emotedcreations

Germany
July 2006

APR 19, 2007 02:42 PM

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.

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