Academic

Christian License Plate Considered in Florida

By Calvin Massey

  Florida's legislature is considering offering a Christian license plate as an option to owners of Florida-registered vehicles.  Here is another link to an article discussing the plate, depicted in this post.  It does not appear that Florida is preparing to offer license plate options to other faiths or to atheists.  Forbidden endorsement?  Given the multiplicity of license plate styles -- everything from "save the manatee" to Florida Gators and FSU Seminoles to teachers and firefighters -- can it be fairly said that Florida is endorsing Christianity?  But if Florida's secular purpose is to provide a limited public forum for private expression, it cannot use viewpoint as a device to limit forum access.  So, Florida better be prepared to permit an Islamic license plate -- "Allah Akhbar," along with a green background and white star and crescent -- or an atheist plate -- "God is a Myth."   

Hat tip to Eli Underwood and Josh Marker.

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on April 24, 2008 (boomark / email).