“You should protest about the views of people you disagree with over major moral issue and argue the down, but you should not try to silence them, however repugnant you find them.  That is the bitter pill free speech requires us to swallow.”

Julian Baggini

This past week, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, through its on-line website, demonstrated its total lack of understanding of and respect for the First Amendment to our Constitution and when it denied the application of a woman for a vanity license plate which would read, “8THEIST“.

Their rationale is that it might be considered “offensive” to some people.  This is yet another attack on our First Amendment rights to free speech on the basis that someone’s feelings might be hurt!

Shanon Morgan then “tested” the system requesting a plate which read, “BAPTIST” which, not surprisingly, was immediately approved.

Not coincidentally, in an earlier dispute, the Motor Vehicle Commission initially denied the application from an atheist group’s president for a vanity plate reading, “ATHEIST“.  Ultimately it backed off and issued him a license plate but substituted the number “1” for the letter “i“.

Not to be cowed by by the self-anointed , Ms. Morgan has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission violated her First Amendment rights when rejecting her initial request.

Why is it that people who profess to follow religious doctrines which preach respect for others become so intolerant where the views of others with differing views are concerned?

Are they so afraid of the beliefs, or non-beliefs, of others will undermine their certainties?

It is frightening that nationally, whether in state agencies, universities, public school systems or even local community boards, those in power increasingly demonstrate a total failure to comprehend that free speech not only permits [them] to espouse their beliefs and positions … but also obligates them to listen to and tolerate the speech [of others] which may an anathema to every thing they believe in.

Go get ’em Shannon!