Zach LarkinsLICENCE PLATES
A friend of mine, Jim Stillman, recently wrote a blog (on AC) on personalized licence plates that are for sale in Florida. Jim is an ex-lawyer and makes well thought out points. I am glad I never had to face him in a court of law. He would have sliced and diced me, chewed me up and spit me out without a second thought. We may not agree on a lot of things, but I learn something every time I read an article of his.
Jim complains about the latest plate for sale because it shows a representation of the Confederate Flag. His major point is that this plate is offensive to a number of people who are trying to get away from the notion that southerners still believe that slavery is, or was, justifiable. I won't argue either way on that point here.
What got to me was the fact that some people find it offensive. Being from Canada, I've never had to deal with the issue of the ‘Stars and Bars' in the same light as those in the southern US have. I've always considered it a bit of a novelty and anyone I've ever spoken to hasn't taken any offence to it. Living in an area that was one of the last stops on the Underground Railway you'd think there would be plenty of opposition, but it seems not to be the case.
The fact is that these are personalized plates. People pay $25 extra to get them. This in itself blows me away as we have to pay $200 for personalized, or vanity, plates, but that is neither here nor there. One way of looking at it is that if people pay for the privilege, they should be able to put whatever, within the boundaries of good taste, of course, they want. If it happens to offend you, sorry, but that's your problem, not mine.
If I happen to be a Chicago fan and the driver in front of me is sporting plates showing the Red Wings logo, I might be offended but I certainly can't ask him not to show something he has paid for. If in fact the Bars and Stars can be banned from sale, why not sports logos, or environmental logos, etc.?
If the argument is against having the state crank out plates using general taxpayer money, then perhaps a private supplier can be found and, though the cost of the plates might go up, you know your money is not supporting something you disagree with.
Police cars are not allowed to have anything on them that might support one particular government party or one particular candidate, but they are police cars driven by a variety of men and women who may have differing political views. Also, the police are meant to be seen as being apolitical and that extends to the tools they use to do their job. But private vehicles are not police cars. If I support the NDP, can I ask a driver with a Liberal bumper sticker to remove it because it offends me?
Personalized or vanity plates have been a great boon to the government. You see them everywhere today and the best thing that can be said about them is they show that people have more money to blow on something that makes only them feel good. Perhaps the whole idea should be scrapped and we return to the days of yesteryear when a plate had no more information on it than the province or state that it was issued in and a series of numbers.
There are enough decals and flags available to make your stance known. In my case I have a small flag on the inside of the back window showing the German flag. On my wife's side of the car is one showing St George's Cross. Very few people catch the irony and those who do are amazed that a German and an Englishwoman can live together in harmony.
The points Jim makes in his article are well taken and he gives a great history of how this whole mess came about. Unfortunately, for the first time I can remember, he has offered no solution. I haven't either, but I've tried to lay out some options and if nothing else, something to think about.
Jim complains about the latest plate for sale because it shows a representation of the Confederate Flag. His major point is that this plate is offensive to a number of people who are trying to get away from the notion that southerners still believe that slavery is, or was, justifiable. I won't argue either way on that point here.
The fact is that these are personalized plates. People pay $25 extra to get them. This in itself blows me away as we have to pay $200 for personalized, or vanity, plates, but that is neither here nor there. One way of looking at it is that if people pay for the privilege, they should be able to put whatever, within the boundaries of good taste, of course, they want. If it happens to offend you, sorry, but that's your problem, not mine.
If I happen to be a Chicago fan and the driver in front of me is sporting plates showing the Red Wings logo, I might be offended but I certainly can't ask him not to show something he has paid for. If in fact the Bars and Stars can be banned from sale, why not sports logos, or environmental logos, etc.?
Police cars are not allowed to have anything on them that might support one particular government party or one particular candidate, but they are police cars driven by a variety of men and women who may have differing political views. Also, the police are meant to be seen as being apolitical and that extends to the tools they use to do their job. But private vehicles are not police cars. If I support the NDP, can I ask a driver with a Liberal bumper sticker to remove it because it offends me?
Personalized or vanity plates have been a great boon to the government. You see them everywhere today and the best thing that can be said about them is they show that people have more money to blow on something that makes only them feel good. Perhaps the whole idea should be scrapped and we return to the days of yesteryear when a plate had no more information on it than the province or state that it was issued in and a series of numbers.
There are enough decals and flags available to make your stance known. In my case I have a small flag on the inside of the back window showing the German flag. On my wife's side of the car is one showing St George's Cross. Very few people catch the irony and those who do are amazed that a German and an Englishwoman can live together in harmony.
The points Jim makes in his article are well taken and he gives a great history of how this whole mess came about. Unfortunately, for the first time I can remember, he has offered no solution. I haven't either, but I've tried to lay out some options and if nothing else, something to think about.
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern
Don, good points. I didn't look at it that way, but you're right.
You both should check out the article Jim wrote. He got raked over the coals for it.
And SL, Jeff Musall has an interesting comment. No wonder we got out of that site.
Political Certainty
Anyway, the issue here is not whether one may place a decal on their car or their but that may be offensive. One has a right of free individual expression, at least to a point. If a historically astute person wants to display the Confederate flag on their home, car or on a tattoo on the forehead, that's OK with me (other than to comment on the lack of taste or style).
The issue here is whether the state of Florida should issue an offensive license plate. The state already has rules as to obscene plates; one cannot get a license plate or vanity plate with obscenity. Because the state wishes to avoid putting its imprimatur on bad stuff. I merely feel that the Confederate flag is, to many people a symbol of oppression and need not be honored.
So sue me.
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern
BTW, one of your commenters mentioned red necks as being involved with the Whisky Rebellion and the term should not be applied to southerners. I thought red necks were those who worked in the fields and thus gained a red neck from the sun. This differentiated them from white collar workers who wore suits to work, gambled with their ideas and money and built America so the red necks had more choice of where they wanted to work.
As for suing you? Fat chance, LOL. You're too good for me. I wouldn't be able to face myself after losing to you. You're an intelligent peerson and I like debating with you. As I said, you always teach me something.