Oh My God!

Wait...if they make the lettering just a little smaller they should be able to fit the Confederate flag on the right side.  The state can then offer a two-for-one deal.  Read the story here.

Comments

[Mannie Gentile]

Kevin,

Here is a Youtube link for that classic scene in "Cool Hand Luke" that finds Paul Newman strumming a banjo and singing "I don't care if it rains of freezes, 'long as I got my plastic Jesus sitting on the dashboard of my car".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYqwYrbwHeM

Imagine the powerful mojo to be conjured with both a plastic JC AND Florida "I believe" plates.

Mannie

[Kevin Levin]

It's a wonderful moment in the film, almost as good as the egg scene. What kind of person feels a need to display this just inches from their car's exhaust? Truly bizarre.

[Rob Wick]

Kevin,

Indiana already has a plate that is similar (at least in message) that says "In God We Trust". It has already survived one legal challenge, but interestingly the plaintiff sued not because of the God message, but rather because the plate isn't subject to the surcharge that is normally associated with specialty plates. The surcharge normally goes to non-profit organizations related to the plate topic, i.e. a veteran's support plate surcharge would go to veteran's groups. Since the state can't send any money to churches, there is no surcharge. What's even weirder is getting flipped off by a driver who has the plate.

Best
Rob

[Chris]

Kevin, or whoever else here, help me out, clearly my lack of intellectual inclination is hindering me. How do you make the jump from a religious themed license plate, to their making room on it for a Confederate flag, thus the implication that overtly religious folks are racists?

Maybe there is something to be said for the promotion of a specific religion by the state here, but help out us lesser minds with the leap you're making.

Where's the connection? IS this an inside joke that I have foolishly missed? IF so my apologies, I visit here as much as I can.

My concern is the apparent implication you're making, that anyone who wishes to express their Christianity in such a way is a closet Confederate (?), a.k.a. racist?

Chris

[Kevin Levin]

Hi Chris, -- Thanks for the comment, but there is no inside joke here. First, I've never implied that a desire to place a Confederate flag just inches from a car's exhaust is racist - silly and simple-minded, but not racist. I am willing to bet that those who are pushing these plates share those characteristics. Sorry for the confusion.

Finally, it seems to me that a license plate with a cross and "I Believe" splattered on it actually demeans religion.

[Will Hester]

You do realize that Alabama - as we'd expect - wins the prize here? Everyone in Alabama is entitled, FREE, to receive a plate that says "God Bless America. Just as much righteousness, no marginally aesthetic stained-glass window.

(Did your car ever have Alabama plates? If so, did they still say "Heart of Dixie"? That was deleted fairly recently.)

[Kevin Levin]

Hi Will, -- If I had known they were going to get rid of the slogan, "Heart of Dixie" I may have kept my plates. I left the state with Michaela and my mug from Carpe Diem - that was enough. I've tried to purge my mind of as many memories as possible from those two years.