5/5/2005

More Fun With Licenses

Uncle AndrewUncle Andrew
Filed under: @ 12:11 pm

Folks who know me well know that my typical reaction to the term “politically correct” is anything from a smirk to a scream. I think these are two of the dirtiest words in the English language, overused by the comfortable to scoff at things they don’t understand, or employed in such ridiculously hyperbolic situations as to render them meaningless.

That being said, I have to admit that I’m tempted to use the term in conjunction with a recent development here in the Evergreen State. A driver here recently received a note from our Department of Motor Vehicles requesting that she come in to discuss a complaint made against her vanity license plate. The offensive phrase in question? “JOHN316“.

I’m not posting this entry to ponder the dangers of political correctness, the debate over the double-edged sword of intolerance, or the collapse of representative government. If I were, I’d have probably put this in the “Rants” section. (Although I do wish someone would have the delicious sense of irony to have a vanity plate that read, “MATHW66“) No, my reason for posting this story has solely to do with my first reaction upon hearing this news.

Maybe the person filing the grievance, I thought to myself, felt the license was a violation of the separation of church and plate. 😛

2 Responses to “More Fun With Licenses”

  1. gavin Says:

    Oh that was bad! Funny? Yes, but bad. On a related note I was thinking about having one of those white vinyl window stickers make for the back of my car with the following text. It is so often used to justify and excuse the behavior of the press, and the “protect the rights” of the single athiest in town, (no offense Andrew) but I think very few people know what it actually says. So, here for your 11 readers, the First Amendment:

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

  2. Uncle Andrew Says:

    That’d be a real bitch to read on the freeway, Dude. 😀

    I think that the most common occurrence is that the nutjob tends to get the attention, through no fault of the system. If you scream and wave your arms long enough. someone is going to be forced to notice you. For instance: I don’t personally care that the words “Under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance back in the fifties, when everyone was afraid the Godless Commanist Leftist Hommasexhuls were hiding under our beds. I’d prefer it weren’t in there, it certainly doesn’t seem approriate, but I file it under the heading of “mostly harmless cultural indulgence at this point.” I’d say a majority of people who come down on the side of de-Godding the Pledge feel about the same way I do. But who gets the media attention? The whacko who lies about his daughter’s discomfort in reciting the pledge and storms off to sue the government. I feel kind of weird agreeing with him.

    By the way, you should know that the Washington State government is not seeking to pull the ladies’ plate, just requested that she attend the council meeting where the complaint was going to be discussed. Personally, I feel that her participation in the meeting would be a good thing, her chance not only to confront the issue but to maybe expand the horizons of the person who filed the complaint in the first place. If nothing else, maybe she’ll get the chance to tell him/her to get a frigging life to his/her face.


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