Wednesday, 08 July 2009

  • 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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Comments (67)

  • eskeemo_kisses@xanga

    When my tag expires, I plan on getting one. :] I'm excited to see this. It doesn't make me any more of a Christian or anyone else less of one, but real Christians are running slim. Many people aren't proclaiming the Lord  to be the Messiah anymore.

    The Bible warns of this anyway.
  • manUfan420@xanga

    As an atheist, I obviously wouldn't choose to buy one.  However, if the phrase appears on our money, we can hardly complain about it being on license plates.  For the resord, I wouldn't have it either place, but it's got a pretty strong precedent as it's already on our cash.
  • Dargon@xanga
    E
    Pluribus Unum

    was the original national motto. Fransis Scott Key came up with In God is out trust in 1814, when writing the Star Spangled Banner. The shortened In God we trust appeared on the two cent coin in 1864. It was not until 1956, during the cold war, when In God we trust officially replaced

    E
    Pluribus Unum

    as the national motto.

    I still believe the change was unconstitutional. It promotes a religion. Similarly, this state issued plate promotes a religion. I got no qualms with your Jesus fish or your Christian license place frame, but I do have qualms with a state issued plate promoting a religion, even if the plate is optional. 
  • xiffy@xanga

    I'm in favor of this plate, if it's not your only choice.  I can choose between plain/standard plates or special plate styles or personalized (you pick the letters/numbers) plates.  Since we already have a variety of styles available, I don't see any problem having one more choice that says "In God We Trust." In Michigan, only the rear plate is required to be an authorized state plate.  You can put any kind of plate on the front, just like a bumper sticker.  Why not have state plates that say "God is Great," "Shalom," whatever -- you get to choose.  If we had bigger plates, I'd go for "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
  • Randy7777@xanga

    Absolutely
  • nevrsdreamlog@xanga

    There is more to the case against the Indiana plate than just the fact that it says "God" on the plates.  In Indiana, you can get several varieties of specialized plates, from supporting our troops to Purdue and IU.  To obtain those plates, you have to pay an extra fee, which is considered a donation to the group it supports.  The "God" plates do not have that stipulation.  Even though they are considered "specialized" plates, they are not subject to an additional fee.  THAT is what the lawsuit is about.  We have a choice between those plates and the plain Indiana plates (with our state seal this time around), which is the normal rate, based on the age etc of the vehicle.  Those that are arguing against the plates, are arguing that there should be an extra fee attached to the cost. 

  • tau_1@xanga

    Those are just words. Words doe not change thinks, people action do. You can put in God we trust on everything. And there will still be evil
  • ThA_sLo_1@xanga

    I live in KY, I could really care-a-less whether my license plate has a slogan on it.  But if other people want it they should have it. 
  • hyejineeee@xanga

    it should be optional. if you want it, get it. if you don't want it, stop complaining and get another one.
  • benjaminlin@xanga

    wow, its not a big deal at all!  it's just a licence plate. "in god we trust" is on all of our dollar bills and coins. im suprised it got denied.  maybe the lady working the desk at the DMV was just having a bad day or maybe it was their approach. what they should have done was actually make it their licence plate number. i bet it would have worked then.

  • Amythist_Malaise@xanga

    These are the kinds of debates that can only end up making the fighters look stupid.  It's disingenuous to think there is no attempt to use the motor vehicle division as a tool to spread a religious belief, whether or not "In God We Trust" is already circulating publicly on our currency.  Why can't people be honest and say so?  What is this group trying to reclaim?  Certainly not a secular mindset.  BE HONEST, PEOPLE!
  • purplenurple_orangezorange@xanga

    I know in Indiana, the IGWT license plate is an option.  Kind of like when you can buy a specialized plate for a school, or an environmentalist group or something, only I don't think you get charged extra.  It's a choice.  There is also another standard plate option without the motto.
  • cutesycharm@xanga

    I think its silly overall. Especially considering that the United States is the very least "Christian" or "god fearing" country as an example. The majority of so called christians here, especially and specifically in the government are hypocrites and deceitful bastards to put it nicely.

    Plus, there are already plenty of people that stick those tacky stickers and vanity plates on their fancy $50,000 + cars saying "jesus saves" and "jesus loves me" and shit like that.

  • whoaXXangela@xanga

    No.
  • AibellFaeire@xanga

    It's only silly because it's our country's motto. But I think the motto should be changed. It's obviously not separating church and state.
  • Gasflame@xanga

    I live in Indiana and have the 'in god we trust' plate. Big deal. I chose it. My fiance's parents did not and yet they are Catholic. You don't HAVE TO choose the plate, it's optional just like all the other fancy plates are.

    But just because the state pisses 1 person off, that 1 person tries to change everything for everyone else that really didn't care in the first place. Silly how 1 person seems to rule everything now days hmm?

  • coutureaddict@xanga

    This partially addresses your post since you mentioned that "In God We Trust" is our country's motto...

    In no way do i agree with "In God We Trust" being our country's motto. One of the issues this country was founded on was religious freedom, right? I would have to say, making "In God We Trust" our country's motto would contradict the fact that our country is based on religious freedom.

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