Posted on 03/14/2002 3:27:40 PM PST by JediGirl
A US man must get rid of his number plate because it reads, "ATHEIST."
Steven Miles says his right of self expression is being trampled on.
But the state of Florida has declared the number plate "obscene or objectionable." It is refusing to re-issue it after receiving 10 complaints.
Mr Miles, 55, from Gainesville, Florida, has had the licence plate for 16 years. He is vice president of the group, Atheists of Florida.
But he has now been told by the state's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, that the personalised plate is on the department's blacklist, along with swear words and slang words describing certain body parts.
Mr Miles said: "It's kind of disconcerting to know that the United States is based on freedom of expression, yet in actuality, it's quite restrictive."
Others have reacted strongly to the plate since Mr Miles first screwed it to his Isuzu in 1986, reports the St Petersburg Times.
"I had a wrench thrown at me in Jacksonville about 10 years ago. It went right over the hood," he said. Another time, "someone surreptitiously tore up my tag and threw it in the bushes. I put a frame and a plastic cover on it after that."
He intends to fight the banning order with the backing of the US Civil Liberties Union.
Story filed: 22:11 Thursday 14th March 2002
Perhaps LSI3HLV? If you don't understand that, try looking at it umop apisdn.
Well, often left out of these types of debates is the fact that atheists are a religous lot. They believe heavily in the non-existence of God, which can't be proven any more than His existence can. Thus, it requires quite a bit of faith to take an Atheist stance (not Agnostic mind you, just Atheistic).
A guy that puts "Atheist" on his license plate (or a fish with legs on his car), is equivalent to the most in-your-face religous zealots. You can see some of these types here. They essentially look for every opportunity to shove their non-belief in your face, often in an offensive fashion. This is no different that the overly aggressive fundamentalist Christians who run around judging everybody.
Funny thing is, these people don't even realize that they are hypocritical religious zealots, as they go through life harping on religious zealots themselves.
What?! A new communist front organization?!
Right.
Welcome to the plight of U.S. Christians.
You suck!
Actually, it's not. A violent disregard for the rights of others is a violent disregard for the rights of others.
But the state of Florida has declared the number plate "obscene or objectionable." It is refusing to re-issue it after receiving 10 complaints
Why is it that "complaints" get more consideration than rights? Where do these 'complainers' get the right to change someone else's behavior? And why is it that governments view these complaints as so sacred that they must be answered?
Well, most states can only fit seven letters on the plates, without any spaces. So many of the above aren't possible. Any Wyoming has space for only five due to a cowboy picture.
Oh, my favorite! Moral relativism. Actually, you are wrong and I could give you a hundred examples of why you are wrong, but I learned long ago that it is futile to argue people of your reasoning.
I imagine that some of them do, yes. The article gives a few examples, in fact. There are people in just about every group who can not tolerate when others have a different opinion than themselves. Being a Freeper, I thought you would have noticed that by now. :)
(no, i dont own an 85 Cadillac with an elephant on it)
Inquiring minds want to know...
I see that you are unable to back up your assertions and fall back on an ad hominem approach.
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