Editorials
Putting God up there with Dixie
In our opinion
11-29-2005
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What next? First the state Legislature mandated that the words "Heart of Dixie" would appear on Alabama automobile license plates. Some folks protested that "Dixie" called back the days of slavery and lobbied for its removal. The effort failed, in part because it was shown that the song that made "Dixie" famous was likely penned by a black composer. Then Gov. Don Siegelman had the plates redesigned so that "Stars Fell on Alabama" could also be added. Just what that song — other than its title — has to do with our state is anybody’s guess. And now we learn that Rep. Steve Hurst, D-Munford, has pre-filed a bill in the Alabama House that would require "God Bless America" to be squeezed onto the plates as well. Of course we hope that God will bless us, though one wonders whether this sort of thing will move the Almighty to overlook our faults and forgive us of our trespasses. Hurst, when asked why he felt this was a good idea, suggested that it was a way to "let all the people in America know that we are a Bible Belt state." We’d be willing to bet that "the people in America" know that already. Wouldn’t it be better for Hurst to introduce legislation to reform our anti-scriptural tax structure or better fund services for the "least of these" among us. Now that would be a way to "let all the people in America know" that we take the Bible seriously down here. But no, he is introducing a bill that few in the Legislature will dare oppose, so it will pass. Then we will have to pay to have the plates redesigned to accommodate the words. Then we will have to pay lawyers to defend doing this when someone takes the matter to court, as Hurst surely knows someone will. And in the end we will likely have to redesign the words off the plates and all that will have been accomplished is that politicians can thump their chests and boast of how they tried to acknowledge God. One can only wonder, is the sort of acknowledgement God wants?
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