EDITORIAL: ‘I Believe’ this is a quandary

By Chad Rhoad
Editor/ The Messenger
Published: July 16, 2008

The State of South Carolina is facing a lawsuit involving the ‘I Believe’ Christian-based license plates, according to New York Times and AP reports.

All I can say is - who didn’t see that coming?

I understand Jewish and Muslim believers have a problem with this. And that solution is simply to have license plates that support their religions, too.

But to say the license plate represents a lack of separation between church and state is going a little too far.

If you claim the Christian license plate demonstrates the state supports Christianity and Christianity only, you may have an uphill battle.

Here’s a list of some of the other specialty plates available, by the way, the state allows any private organizations to print license plates, according to Web site Biblcalrecorder.org.

Ancient Masons
Boy Scouts of America
Donate Life
First in Golf
Home ownership
Several NASCAR drivers
Rotary International
Secular Humanists (complete with In Reason
We Trust slogan)
Shag
Square Dance
SC Elks Association
Working for the Wild Turkey

That seems to be a fairly wide variety of causes. I hesitate to say that means the state endorses shag as the only dance and Dale Earnhardt as the official driver of South Carolina. There would certainly seem to be a conflict with square dance, which would be my personal choice for a state-endorsed dance.

This country was founded on religious freedom. That was the grand and noble idea in all the history books from the beginnings of this country. Have we lost that so soon?
‘In God We Trust’ is printed on our money, at least for the time being.

I realize there is a separation of church and state in the constitution, and there are times when I think belief in God is in short order on Capital Hill.

However, this nation was founded with a belief in God and Christianity. All you have to do is read a little to understand that was at the forefront of a lot of decisions made around the founding of this nation. And the country certainly claimed religious tolerance was one of the things that made this country so great.

But where has that tolerance gone?

Are we so closed-minded now that we refuse to even acknowledge the existence of ideas that are different from our own?

I hardly think these license plates will influence government to declare Christianity our national religion.

And I don’t think we will elect a pastor as president any time soon. The pope doesn’t hold public office in America.

My point is that we should invest in a little tolerance in this country. Some people should develop a little tougher skin and stop being offended anytime anyone openly supports something they do not agree with.

Freedom is what makes us the greatest country in the world. But, the more we limit that freedom, the more we become like every other nation.

This world full of candy canes and rainbows where no one gets offended by anything and everyone is perfectly happy doesn’t exist.

Some people will always be offended.

Some people don’t like journalists.

I, on the other hand, am quite fond of some of them.

I hope that doesn’t mean someone will push for a ban on reporters any time soon.

All I’m saying is just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it shouldn’t exist. Given the list of South Carolina license plates available, it should be obvious the state does not endorse every group that has a specialized plate, only the people who purchase these plates do.

Now that’s a novel concept, isn’t it?

Just because something is done or spoken publicly, it doesn’t mean the public supports it.