tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post7295441413018949483..comments2023-07-19T03:55:53.082-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist Journal: Florida's "I Believe"License PlatesAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-76989488203064830372008-07-09T20:31:00.000-06:002008-07-09T20:31:00.000-06:00So they want "I believe" plates, eh? I say fine, a...So they want "I believe" plates, eh? I say fine, as long as it is followed by exactly what they believe in.<BR/><BR/>Wouldn't THAT make for an interesting traffic jam?<BR/><BR/>I believe in _____________.<BR/><BR/>Fill in the blank. How about they come with a Sharpie pen, then they could be changed each day.<BR/><BR/>A few ideas?<BR/><BR/>I believe in spaying and neutering.<BR/>I believe in tipping.<BR/>I believe in flossing.<BR/>I believe in Santa Claus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-28108261743495985122008-06-05T18:19:00.000-06:002008-06-05T18:19:00.000-06:00As a Floridian Atheist, I completely object to my ...As a Floridian Atheist, I completely object to my state endorsing one religion over another (cross + stained glass window - pretty obvious which one is being favored), or favoring religion over non-religion. If the plates are free, it further discriminates, as does the state of Indiana, by not charging more as they do for other vanity plates (such as my Tampa Bay Lightning plate). I would be assessed a fee for funding (taxing) purposes to support these plates if they do not charge the higher vanity plate fee. <BR/> The state is loaded with "I believe" type bumper stickers, making this plate totally redundant, immoral, and of course, completely unconstitutional. The words "I believe + the religious symbols" cannot be deemed anything but religious and non-neutral, as it constitutionally must be. I am not being offered or proposing an "Another Florida Atheist" plate. The state cannot print "In no god we trust" money or have a pledge "under no god", although I would prefer them. It must be completely neutral in it's endorsement "1st amendment" by not stating anything concerning religion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-64253525583717610472008-05-09T13:38:00.000-06:002008-05-09T13:38:00.000-06:00By the way, I'm excited to see all the traffic on ...By the way, I'm excited to see all the traffic on your site. I wonder if desire utilitarianism is beginning to reach a Malcolm Gladwell-esque tipping point. Who knows, maybe Wikipedia will finally allow a DU page!G-manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09334547875471663650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-55758511160133512562008-05-09T13:37:00.000-06:002008-05-09T13:37:00.000-06:00I think you're probably right about that... anothe...I think you're probably right about that... another criticism might be that hypocrisy always involves dishonesty, on some level.G-manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09334547875471663650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-3483065855707545612008-05-05T19:48:00.000-06:002008-05-05T19:48:00.000-06:00G-manWelcome back.Well, one complaint that I would...<B>G-man</B><BR/><BR/>Welcome back.<BR/><BR/>Well, one complaint that I would have against the type of hypocrite you mention is that he is discouraging the type of generosity that he is engaged in.<BR/><BR/>If we take the generosity he does to be a good thing, then it is something that we have reason to encourage people to do. But this guy is not encouraging others - he is discouraging them.<BR/><BR/>Indeed, there is a risk that the culture of unkindness that he perpetuates (which, admittedly, is contrary to his own behavior) does more harm than the good he performs. It, at least, subtracts from any good he performs.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-30555155604336053682008-05-05T16:22:00.000-06:002008-05-05T16:22:00.000-06:00I'm actually curious about hypocrisy, Alonzo.You m...I'm actually curious about hypocrisy, Alonzo.<BR/><BR/>You mentioned <I>the hypocrisy (and, thus, the immorality)</I> of some people. Yet I've been thinking about it, and I I'm leaning toward the conclusion that hypocrisy is not, necessarily, morally wrong. We can ask if we'd be better off in a culture full of hypocrites... but if those hypocrites publicly scoff at kind deeds, but behind the scenes are extravagant benefactors of charitable causes, I don't think we'd have much cause to complain.<BR/><BR/>I think the problem could be that most hypocrites are hypocritical about bad things - they put up a good face, but are bad people. That, I think, is condemnable, but I'm really not sure if hypocrisy, of itself, is always bad.G-manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09334547875471663650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-46739300263698905132008-04-25T20:42:00.000-06:002008-04-25T20:42:00.000-06:00That doesn't appear to be the difference between A...That doesn't appear to be the difference between Alonzo's scenario and mine; in both cases, atheists are taking their case to the legislature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-78098118290952980422008-04-25T14:01:00.000-06:002008-04-25T14:01:00.000-06:00"Just crying about it" means complaining to a few ..."Just crying about it" means complaining to a few friends who already agree with you and not doing anything to change the social climate.<BR/><BR/>Protesting, on the other hand, draws visibility, and lets those legislators know they are alienating some of their voters. A good protest which receives media attention and is observed by a moral audience will win some converts.<BR/><BR/>Proceed from there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-37891345658134838422008-04-25T10:53:00.000-06:002008-04-25T10:53:00.000-06:00I don't see much difference between your desired s...I don't see much difference between your desired scenario (where atheists protest about legislators being hypocrites) vs. just wanting to cry that the legislature is made up of hypocrites...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-25751071168724948412008-04-25T08:30:00.000-06:002008-04-25T08:30:00.000-06:00Aren't "In God We Trust" tags free in Indiana?Aren't "In God We Trust" tags free in Indiana?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-50731386486668753862008-04-24T18:46:00.000-06:002008-04-24T18:46:00.000-06:00Brian WestleySee, this is where I most emphaticall...<B>Brian Westley</B><BR/><BR/>See, this is where I most emphatically disagree. Atheists should try for the plate. It will be rejected. The legislature displays its apathy, then the atheists use this to protest anti-atheist bigotry in government and make it a front-page news item that the legislature is a bunch of hypocrites and that christianity as it is practiced in the state of Florida is the same as bigotry.<BR/><BR/>The problem is not that the legislature will not care. The problem is that the atheists do not care. They just want to cry about the fact that the legislature is made up of hypocrites, but they want to wait for somebody else (God?) to do something about it.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-62552749372452361892008-04-24T17:22:00.000-06:002008-04-24T17:22:00.000-06:00I think that's a bad route to try -- it's possible...I think that's a bad route to try -- it's possible an atheist plate would be rejected, and the legislature wouldn't care. Institutionalized and approved bigotry.<BR/><BR/>It would be better in my opinion to lobby for a content-neutral policy for such plates, based on neutral criteria (such as a minimum pre-order of 500 plates).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-74312352857363419492008-04-24T12:54:00.000-06:002008-04-24T12:54:00.000-06:00AnonymousI have a problem with that kind of hypocr...<B>Anonymous</B><BR/><BR/>I have a problem with that kind of hypocrisy as well. But the solution to slavery was not to enslave white people, but to free the blacks. The problem with this is not to prohibit Christians from buying such a plate, but to target the bigots who will now allow atheists to do something similar.<BR/><BR/>In fact, I would encourage Florida atheists to do just that - to get an "I do not believe" plate passed, and use this to point out the hypocrisy (and, thus, the immorality) of those who would oppose it.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933519781770237941.post-58927472228794830272008-04-24T12:23:00.000-06:002008-04-24T12:23:00.000-06:00From CNN: Bullard, the plate's sponsor, isn't sure...From CNN: Bullard, the plate's sponsor, isn't sure all groups should be able to express their preference. If atheists came up with an "I Don't Believe" plate, for example, he would probably oppose it.<BR/><BR/>I have a problem with that kind of hypocrisy. Why can't freedom of religion include freedom to have a lack of?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com