"I Believe" This Deserves A Response

A number of years ago the Confederate flag was finally taken down off the South Carolina state capitol building (and moved to another spot on the capitol grounds), but that doesn't mean things are peaceful in this beautiful sunbelt state. Tonight the Associated Press is reporting that:

South Carolina's lieutenant governor announced Thursday that he is willing to put up $4,000 of his own money so his state can become the first in the nation to issue "I Believe" license plates with the image of a cross and a stained glass window. 

The legislation allowing the plates was one of several religious-themed bills to became laws in the closing days of the state's legislative session. 

The bills mean South Carolinians attending local government meetings could soon see the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer posted on walls, pray without fear of being sued and drive home in cars with the "I Believe" plates. 

Civil rights groups are considering lawsuits.

No kidding.

One of the senators who helped lead these issues through told the Christian Broadcasting Network:

"Some people felt like there was no way they could go back home and explain why they voted against the Lord's Prayer."

Point taken. 

On the other hand, how about following the lead of this states-right advocate who described his transformation from being a pro-Confederate flag to an anti-Confederate flag supporter. Writing at Outside the Beltway, James Joyner explained:

Hardy Jackson, my Southern History professor — and a proud Southerner — convinced me to change my mind with an elementary point: A core element of Southern culture (or, at least, its ideal) is civility. If flying the flag is deeply hurtful to a third of your population, it’s just downright rude to keep doing it. Let alone over your state capital.

There is something just plain old inhospitable about what the politicians in South Carolina have done. But I believe that although most folks'd want nothing better than to just sit in the shade sipping on a nice glass of sweet tea, as lovely as South Carolina is this time of year, enough of them will muster up the energy to make this right. The folks I know and love down there would want that, anyway.

What can they possibly do?

Well, when the governor allowed this bill to take effect, he noted that if enough people come together and put up the money to buy them, you can have a special plate for any cause in South Carolina. So, how about a contest? What would be a perfect license plate response to the misguided religious enthusiasm of these South Carolina legislators? Let's help out our friends in South Carolina and share our best thinking about what to put on their next "special plate."

Any ideas??

Leave them below.

P.S. Lt. Gov. Bauer has also made it clear that, although he's willing to put up the $4000 to get this new plate off the ground, he does want to be reimbursed by the state once enough people order one. "I Believe" the Lt. Gov. is a publicity hound. How about you? :)

Comments

[Tom in Ontario]

This would be too long for a licence plate but I'm thinking.

I'LL LIVE OUT MY FAITH BUT I WON'T FORCE IT DOWN ANYONE'S THROAT.

[Duane]

One of the best license plates I've seen was "IIK 920" which I admit is a little cryptic. But when I realized it was a bible reference I looked up II Kings 9:20
"...It looks like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for he drives like a maniac."

[Rachel]

It's difficult, because when we get to such extremes like this--license plates for crying out loud!--one side argues for that, the other side argues for something simple (like "freedom") and both end up as excuses for war against another country. oy.

When does it end?

[LutheranChik]

My German grandma had a word for stuff like this: Augenschein: Religious window dressing so everyone knows how good and pious and holy and Really Christian [tm] the bearers of the license plates are. Whatever.