John Cole quoting from a CNN article that has since been removed:
Unless a federal court intervenes, South Carolina drivers may soon be able to profess their Christian faith with a state-issued license plate. The state plans to issue plates featuring a Christian cross and the words “I Believe,” but a group advocating the separation of church and state says that goes too far. A similar design had been considered by Florida’s lawmakers, but it was rejected there because of concerns over separation of church and state.Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which includes Christian, Jewish and Hindu clergy, filed a federal lawsuit last month. The group contends that the plates violate the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition against government favoring one religion over another religion or non-religion.
Now granted, the fact that a Christian license plate is available and no other religions have license plate options does make it a violation of the establishment clause in a basic sense. Yet, this sort of thing does not seem like it establishes a slippery slope towards theocracy. This sort of vanity plate (or often bumper stickers or car magnet ribbons) is tacky and to me suggests that the bearer is insecure with their beliefs, hence the need to state it so publicly. Thus, for those religions or beliefs left out in the vanity plate race, I suggest they rest comfortably with smug satisfaction and superiority as they watch these overt Christians drive by.
