Wednesday, 08 July 2009
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Does 'In God We Trust' Belong on a License Plate?
It seems that there is a consistent debate over the motto “In God We Trust.” I came across a news article about a case in Kentucky. The Kentucky Transportation Department denied the group ROCK’s (Reclaiming Our Culture Kentuckiana) request for a state license plate that features the words “In God We Trust.” The claim is that ROCK’s request is so that they can advance religion through a license plate. For me, I find this claim utterly silly. How is putting our own country’s motto on a license plate advancing religion? I fail to see how this is even a valid argument against allowing the request to go through.
Closer to the state I live in, Indiana has an “In God We Trust” plate. It was cited in the article about the Kentucky case that the Indiana plate has been the subject of a lawsuit by the ACLU. While I don’t see the big deal over allowing the license plate, I don’t think I would have the urge to rush out and get one for my car either.
What do you think about the motto debate? Would you get a license plate with “In God We Trust” on it?
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- From: mr_twenty_something
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Comments (67)
I would buy one with "In God We Trust". I think this is a good motto for our country.
i completely agree with mr_randyc@xanga.com
I'm not sure that's an appropriate slogan for a secular state.
it should not be a state-issued plate, and i would not get one. but people can put whatever they want on their cars.
If it can be on a coin, it can be on a license plate.
@mr_randyc@xanga - And what makes it a good motto, exactly? Is it the misrepresentation of a religiously and culturally diverse nation, or is it the unambigious whorship of the Judeo-Christian God?
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - If it can be on a coin, it can be on a license plate.
It doesn't belong as the national motto and it shouldn't belong on state-manufactured license plates.
I believe that the United States of America was founded to be a secular Democracy that seeks broad religious tolerance.
it freeks me out that itz alredy on ar coinz & billz & most xtianz i kno love that so why not put it on license platez too hey put it on everythayng & whyle wer @it we shud putit on toilet papur & babiez diapurz too
@CelestialTeapot@xanga - if the United States was founded to be a secular Democracy as you say, then why did they choose "In God we trust" as our motto in the first place? Why would they put it on our currency?
Whether you think it belongs as our national motto or not, it IS.
@CelestialTeapot@xanga - Hence "If"-- it should be a question of both or neither. The answer is, as somebody has said, "above my pay scale."
The idea of a religiously tolerant democracy is in fact lifted directly from Roger Williams' Christian theology (The Bloudy Tenent).
@TropicalOceanSunset@xanga - if the United States was founded to be a secular Democracy as you say...
What are you suggesting? That the United States is a theocracy?
then why did they choose "In God we trust" as our motto in the first place?
The motto wasn't chosen in the first place. Until the early 20th century, the de facto motto was "E Pluribus Unum."
It was during the Red Scare during the height of the Cold War that religious organizations were able to ram the phrasing through congress.
Whether you think it belongs as our national motto or not, it IS.
No shit.
But the fact of the matter doesn't speak to what ought to be. And no, an unambigiously religious uttering doesn't belong on state-manufactured license plates.
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - Hence "If"-- it should be a question of both or neither. The answer is, as somebody has said, "above my pay scale."
The "if" actually redundant in your initial comment. Simple statements of what "can" happen doesn't speak to "whether" something should happen.
The idea of a religiously tolerant democracy is in fact lifted directly from Roger Williams' Christian theology (The Bloudy Tenent).
Try Jefferson & Madison-- seperation of church and state.
@CelestialTeapot@xanga - actually, I wasn't questioning democracy, I was questioning whether it was secular.
yeah makes you wonder what the fuck happened to freedom of religion. if we're paying for it, why does it matter to you? it's not like i'm bashing you over the head because you don't agree with my license plate lol.
I would definitely get one but I think it would be cool if they put a different motto on it like "God is Love" or something else that is different and shows the belief in God if you know what I mean.
@snapeful@xanga - When the government-- whether city, state, or federal-- elevates or favors one religion, it marginalizes every other. As a private citizen, you're free to express views and faiths as you desire; but a government sponsored bolstering of those particular views is a strict no-no.
Sure, in the scheme of things, the colors on a license plate won't leave anyone dead. But it's a firm line in the sand-- seperation of church and state.
@CelestialTeapot@xanga - the ACLU is saying "owait. u can't put dat on ur license plate. it offends me. therefore i sue u." well, it's not marginalizing any religion. i could put "follow buddha" on my license plate and would someone throw rocks at me when i drive past their houses? maybe, but that's when you pulled over and smash into their garage door. just kidding! i'm pretty sure it's not a big deal, if he wants it on his license plate, he pays in cash, everyone's happy. the only problem is that the raging anti-christians did not get part of that cash and will go BAWWWWWWWWWWW on the internetz.
@snapeful@xanga - the ACLU is saying "owait. u can't put dat on ur license plate. it offends me. therefore i sue u."
"Hurt feelings" make poor basis for lawsuit. The Fist Amendment, in contrast, makes for pretty solid argument.
well, it's not marginalizing any religion.
The special state-sponsored recognition of a particular religion implies things.
@CelestialTeapot@xanga - freedom of religion. do you see iowa building some state sponsored churches?
the special state sponsored recognition of what? denying people the right to put what they want on the cash they want to spend?
i think we all need to bow our heads a moment and consider the greatness of a libertarian nation. after all, license plates are srs biznes.
I'd get one.
@snapeful@xanga - the special state sponsored recognition of what? denying people the right to put what they want on the cash they want to spend?
As a guiding principle, "Seperation of church and state" trumps the petty religious tribalism of individuals.
i think we all need to bow our heads a moment and consider the greatness of a libertarian nation. after all, license plates are srs biznes.
Secular democracy. "Libertarian" doesn't relevently describe a form of government.
I live in Indiana. We have the option of getting our plates with or without the "In God We Trust" motto on them. It seems to me everyone is making a huge mountain out of this very small molehill. They're identical plates, save for the motto is omitted from one. If Kentucky wants a similar plate, just offer one with the motto and one without. Those that want it can get it. Those that don't want it don't have to.
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - I may not be entirely correct here, but isn't all of our money printed and/or minted by the Federal Reserve? If so, the Fed isn't actually part of the government. It's a private bank that loans all of our currency to our government, plus interest. Since it's private, it could put Betty Boop on the $5 if it wanted to and the government could use it.
They should not issue a state license plate with "In god we trust" on it..something like that should'nt be uniform. I would not buy one. And yes people should be able to decide if they wanna promote god or a certain religion on their car.
It shouldn't be state issued one, but an optional one.