In Indiana it’s ‘In God We Trust’ …

[blueinindiana]

Indiana now has an optional license plate that says ‘In God We Trust’ draped in a blue background and an American flag.

It is the ONLY specialty tag that you do not have to pay extra for.


What pisses me off most about it, is it implies that somehow ‘God and Patriotism’ go together.

While I think it violates Separation of Church and State it is not worth fighting over cause all it would do would be to give the fundies ammunition on the old ‘Christians’ are being wronged crowd.


I am not against religion I am just against religious fundamentalists and their panderers in government.

[eleny]

1. Reminds me of the book by Jean Shepherd

In God we Trust - All Others Pay Cash.

I think he was from Indiana, too.

[blueinindiana]

4. Yes he was..but I liked his humor he was great. NT

[karynnj]

10. He was - - It was a shock to read it years ago and see

that it was set near where I grew up.

[BearSquirrel2]

2. I don't care ...

I've seen them driving around. It's a special plate and I do not care. But let's remember that the Indiana state legislature has left itself open to the inclusion of an "In Satan We Trust" license plate via legal challenge.

Though, no doubt conservatives will start pointing to those license plates in addition to the currency as to why this is a "Christian" nation.

[blueinindiana]

5. I do nto care al that much but...

its the only one you do not have to pay for.

But I consider all conservatives a lost cause they are beyond reason or logic.

[Delphinus]

34. Ooh,

even though I don't believe in Christianity's Satan as much as I don't believe in Christianity's God, I think that's making a really good point!

[Kutjara]

3. The way to put a stop to crap like this...

...is to demand that every religion be represented. So, if the fundi-Xtian zombies want prayer in school, they'll also have to accept Hindu, Muslim, Shinto, Santeria, Buddhist, Jainist, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Sufi, Methodist, Calvinist, Jewish, Wiccan and any other religion's prayers too. When school assemblies start taking eighteen hours per day, they might start to get the message.

Same with license plates. The state would quickly go broke having to print up plates dedicated to every god in existence. Shinto and Hinduism alone would require thousands of different designs.

[Solly Mack]

6. Shouldn't it be money as the background?

Just saying...

[Name removed]

7. Deleted sub-thread

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[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

8. No, It Doesn't Violate Church And State. No, There's Nothing Wrong With. No, No One's Forcing You

to buy one.

So someone has 'In God We Trust' on their license plate. This hurts you how again?

[Name removed]

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[The Straight Story]

13. Maybe cause the feds own the motto via it being on the money

and if they charged the specialty charge we would have to pay em commission :evilgrin:

[The Straight Story]

16. I don't think you are correct - there are other plates you don't pay extra for:

http://www.in.gov/bmv/plates/regular.htm

Or I am reading wrong (can happen when eating pizza and listening to the radio)

[Name removed]

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[lectrobyte]

14. I want a no extra charge plate that says "No God But Allah", thanks!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

20. If Enough People Wanted It As Well Maybe You'd Have A Shot.

Until that time, you're probably shit out of luck LOL

[Warren DeMontague]

23. So it's okay for the state to promote religion--- as long as it's the majority religion.

Wow. Funny read of the First Amendment, that.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

24. You Are Flawed In Your Premise.

You want to put forth a logical premise that they are talking about a Christian God, as if it says "In Jesus we trust". But it doesn't say that. It says God. That covers about 99% of all religions probably, since just about every major religion has some form of God or another. So yes, that would include Allah as well.

[Warren DeMontague]

27. "Just about every religion has some form of God". Really? Buddhism?

Taoism? Which Hindu Deity is equivalent to the singular "God" of the Bible?

If "Allah" is the same as "God", why doesn't it say "Allah"? Would that, to you, sound exclusive? If a Muslim says, well, your "God" is just another name for Allah, so you should be okay praying to Allah- would that fly? Or is it just YOUR word for the divine that everyone else is supposed to accept? How about "Jah"?

What about religions that believe in many Gods? Why doesn't it say "In Gods We Trust"?

I don't have a problem with them selling it as an optional plate, but if they're making it free they need to make a free alternative for ANY other belief system. Saying "Well, the generic word 'god' should cover it for you" isn't good enough.

And you didn't answer my post- your previous point was that if "enough people" wanted a different religious message, then that would be okay- which is the exact same argument put forth by folks who want mandatory prayer in Public Schools- that MOST of the kids believe in the religion, and shouldn't the majority rule?

THAT'S the flawed premise.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

28. It's Amazing To Me What Some Find To Be Outrageous.

Again, this hurts you how again? They're forcing it on you how?

It's just a damn license plate. If they want it to be one of their generic designs that's their right. It doesn't infringe on you whatsoever no matter how outraged about it you want to be. It also doesn't violate church and state since it's completely voluntary. As far as 'enough people' are concerned, that's just life. Enough people in that state wanted it that it made its way into a generic design. That's just simply called 'how stuff works in real life'. If you had a different design that could warrant the same interest and public demand as that one, you'd probably have a fair shot at getting that up there as well. Supply and demand friend, the way of the world.

But even regardless, at the heart of this issue to me is how some focus on the absolute most petty things in life to find outrage with. This doesn't hurt you or anybody else in the slightest and the only reason there is any anger whatsoever is because *GASP* there's a license plate that actually says God on it. Well cry me a river. Big deal. Doesn't change yours or anyone else's life at all.

[Warren DeMontague]

30. It's the only specialty plate that isn't charged. Therefore, it's subsidized by the state.

It doesn't "hurt" me, but if they're going to offer a subsidized plate for one person's belief system, they need to offer a subsidized plate for anyone else who wants one, too. That means "In Allah We Trust" - "In Eris We Trust" - "In Darwin We Trust" - "In Satan We Trust" - "In Jerry Garcia We Trust".

I would remind you that "that's how stuff works in real life" has been used as an excuse for just about every unconstitutional behavior under the sun, from segregation to mandatory school prayer.

Like I said, it doesn't hurt me, and I'm not "crying" about it. But if they're going to offer a free plate to believers in "God", they need to offer one to everyone else, too.

[The Straight Story]

31. No it's not the only speciality plate they don't charge for.

example:

http://www.in.gov/bmv/plates/military.htm

The special recognition license plate program allows motorists to support Indiana-based universities, colleges, military personnel, and various organizations.

Hoosiers who purchase special recognition license plates should expect to pay the following fees:

* Group fees determined by the organization sponsoring the license plate;
* Administrative fee of $15, except "Support Our Troops," Pearl Harbor Survivor and Ex-Prisoner of War plates;
* Registration charges determined by the year and make of the vehicle and the customer's county of residence. For more information, please view our Registration Fees page.

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Thanks for clearing that up.

Like I said, I don't have a problem with people getting those license plates- it just needs to be fair to everyone else.

[Bill McBlueState]

35. You believe in a single god.

How would you know whether it hurts anyone who has different beliefs? It's tiring to hear a loudmouthed member of the majority like yourself tell everyone else what should or shouldn't be offensive.

[Name removed]

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[Unrepentant Fenian]

11. If we "Trust in God"????

If we "Trust in God" so much... what the hell do we need an army for????????

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[lectrobyte]

25. If everyone ignored trolls, they would go away.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

29. Hello Mr. Provocateur, Up For A Challenge? Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is?

Right here, right now, how bout you lay out evidence of how I'm a troll. See, I love this board and as my wife says, am obsessed with it. I'm a whole hearted liberal who gains more wisdom and knowledge from this site than I could find anywhere else on the entire web. I love DU and I sniff out trolls whenever I can. I post bluntly and honestly, defend againt intolerance and stupidity, speak logic where it had been absent, provide valauble insight into topics that had none prior, step into the dramatic nonsenical theories thread in an effort to inject some sanity, and will always be defending against those attacked unneedlessly and will always represent the side of what quite simply is right, even if not popular. I can do so harshly sometimes, as that is my character, but I also oftentimes do so tactfully. But that's just me. I love this site, and I'm doin my best to help keep this site strong while challenging the garbage. That's what I do.

So a challenge for ya then. How bout right here and now that you provide proof that I am not those things, and that I am just some troll here who happens to have a wall 'o Politics at work and an impeach bush bumper sticker hanging proudly on my fridge, and who worked tirelessly with phonebanking in the days leading up to the election, followed by driving a van in boonton to taxi people to the polls. C'mon, back up your empty attack. Lay our your well cased reasons why I'm a troll, and tomorrow when I wake up I'll proceed to drink my coffee and likely rip them all to shreds with sound logic, as always.

SO the challenge is out there for ya bro. I'm eagerly awaiting your proff of such empty attack.

[CatholicEdHead]

15. Here is the plate

http://www.in.gov/bmv/plates/regular.htm

[DefenseLawyer]

17. They annoyed me at first but

now i see it kinda like Jesus fish and the W sticker. It lets me recognize wingnuts from a safe distance.

[Tyo]

21. You do have a point there

Along with the little fish thing and the flags and the ribbons and the spiky-haired kid who is usually pissing but on Christian cars is kneeling before a cross while presumably holding it in. They are all on their way to the mall or the gas station while the troops are dying.

[high density]

33. Yeah

And it looks better than those stupid ribbons.

[pettypace]

18. South Carolina has them as well

I'd estimate nearly a quarter of the drivers.

I saw a personalized plate in Spartanburg with "BIBLE" last weekend. Should've photo'd it since I had my camera with me.

[Warren DeMontague]

26. Here, I fixed it.