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Secular Humanists of the Low Country Plate

 

To apply for a Secular Humanist plate, you must present a current organizational membership showing that you are a current and active member of the organization. The fee for the plate is $30.00 every two years in additional to the regular registration fee. As a non-profit organization, the Secular Humanists of the Low Country do not receive any portion of the funds generated from the license plate sales.

 

Looks like SC is "fair and balanced."

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See? That is is a perfect example of how these plates are a complete perversion of civic-mindedness. Principles are basically dead.

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Which is is?

I apologize but I am unfamiliar with your regional grammar, therefore I cannot answer your question.

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Shit. I fucked that up twice! Once in the typo and then in not reading my quoted post!! HA ha!

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  • 1 month later...
Group files suit over 'I Believe' plates in SC

 

By SEANNA ADCOX, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 2 minutes ago

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A group that advocates separation of church and state filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to prevent South Carolina from becoming the first state to create "I Believe" license plates.

 

The group contends that South Carolina's government is endorsing Christianity by allowing the plates, which would include a cross superimposed on a stained glass window.

 

Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed the lawsuit on behalf of two Christian pastors, a humanist pastor and a rabbi in South Carolina, along with the Hindu American Foundation.

 

"I do believe these 'I Believe' plates will not see the light of day because the courts, I'm confident, will see through this," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, the group's executive director.

 

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for South Carolina, asks a judge to stop the state from making the plates and rule that the law allowing them violates the First Amendment.

 

A spokeswoman said the state Department of Motor Vehicles had not yet received the lawsuit and planned to go ahead with the plates unless told otherwise. The agency plans to unveil the final design and start taking orders by late August.

 

The bill sailed through the Legislature with little discussion earlier this year. Gov. Mark Sanford let it become law without his signature because the state already allows private groups to create license plates for any cause.

 

Republican House Speaker Bobby Harrell said residents asked for a way to express their beliefs, and legislators responded.

 

He disputed Lynn's accusation that they were pandering to constituents in an election year.

 

"That's what critics always say when they see something they don't like," Harrell said. "I think this has less to do with the First Amendment and more to do with their disdain for religion generally."

 

Lynn said his group would not have opposed the "I Believe" plates had they been advocated by private groups. State law allows private groups to create specialty plates as long as they first collect either a $4,000 deposit or 400 prepaid orders.

 

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said last week that he is willing to put up the money, then get reimbursed, though the Department of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman said that isn't necessary. Bauer said the idea came from Florida, where a proposal for an "I Believe" tag failed.

 

He called it a freedom-of-speech issue.

 

But a Methodist pastor who joined the lawsuit, the retired Rev. Thomas Summers of Columbia, said the plate provokes discrimination.

 

"I think this license plate really is divisive and creates the type of religious discord I've devoted my life to healing," he said.

 

Another of the ministers, the Rev. Robert Knight of Charleston, said the plates cheapen the Christian message.

 

"As an evangelical Christian, I don't think civil religion enhances the Christian religion. It compromises it," Knight said. "That's the fundamental irony. It's very shallow from a Christian standpoint."

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i don't see the harm in them really, but i also don't see the necessity of them either. and i'm not surprised at all they are causing controversy.

 

if they are offering special plates to private groups, as they say, then i'm sure that atheists, satanists and new age believers or gangs and NAMBLA members, etc are welcome to join in on the fun too for an extra fee.

 

i already refuse to get personal vanity plates because of the cost and because they are just...stupid. why in the world would i want to upgrade my plates at all? i just don't understand the urge.

 

aren't there already enough jesus fishes on cars? is it really necessary for christians to have official license plates? why join the ranks of those who plaster bumper stickers on their vehicles. it's all the same to me.

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I've seen the Rev. Barry Lynn speak on separation issues before and he is one very smart guy.

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I've seen the Rev. Barry Lynn speak on separation issues before and he is one very smart guy.

 

He certainly is.....

 

 

This one cracked me up, a debate between a member of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and a member of The Family Research Council.

 

 

And what the hell, I'll throw a little Dawkins in as well...

 

 

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I saw this article in the Post today and really don't think the lawsuit is going to get anywhere. It didn't in TN with the ProLife plates. I did find humor in the guy that said it was about those with a disdain for religion, considering the lawsuit is on behalf of 3 pastors, a rabbi, and a hindu group. :)

 

It read to me that the true issue is actually the side stepping of the standard process for getting these plates approved:

"Lynn said his group would not have opposed the "I Believe" plates had they been advocated by private groups. State law allows private groups to create specialty plates as long as they first collect either a $4,000 deposit or 400 prepaid orders."

 

anywhoo.

 

 

and vanity plates aren't stupid if they are wilco related, :).

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