Bumper Stumpers

Mark this date down, because I'm about to do--in writing--not one but two things that are entirely out of character for me:
I'm going to defend an avowed Christian

--AND--

I'm going to praise Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

IN THE SAME POST.

First, the Christian. Now you must understand I have nothing whatsoever against Christians. Just as I have nothing against Jews, Hindus, or--well, I'll be honest, I've got something against Muslims, and will until the moderates of that faith decide they won't accept the radicals.
But as for Christians, I was one for a time...even earned my Christian stripes and read the Bible. All of it. It's amazing some of the stuff in there, particularly if you're willing to dig a little. For instance, most Christians of my acquaintance are unaware that there are two Creation stories in Genesis. They dovetail (mostly) but contradict each other on several key points--most notably, one of them refers to God in the plural. I've come to conclusions that work for me on this and most other Biblical mysteries; they fit me very comfortably in the tradition of such uber-liberal Christians as Tom Harpur and, especially, Bishop John Spong. (Incidentally, the more atheistic of my readers may wish to browse Spong's site and see if his God--so different from the "traditional" God--is more palatable.)
Got sidetracked there for a minute. I said all that to say this: where Christianity and I emphatically part company is that exact point where it starts to assume it's the only faith going--or the only one worth having. And I've found that attitude is frighteningly common in even the "milder" sects...the evangelical churches reek of it.

No matter. I wouldn't care if Reverend Joanne Sorrill" was a holy roller of the first order. The initial decision to strip her personalized license plate--"REV JO"--was utterly insane.
She'd had the plates for nineteen years. Some overzealous bureaucrat decided that that particular combination of letters promoted speeding. (It took me a second to make "rev an engine" out of "reverend"...)
Yeah, okay. So what about that little red Mazda Miata I used to see zipping all over town, license plate XLR8 ME? That promotes speeding, no? (Actually, I thought it was kinda cute...)

Undaunted, Rev. Sorill tried to get a "REVRND" plate. No dice, she was told: that promotes Christianity.
Oh, for Christ's sake, pun definitely intended, it does not. "Reverend" is a title. It's not like her plate read "JESUS SAVES" or even "JOHN 3 16". (And by the bye--so what if it did? If merely seeing a reference to a Bible verse or sentiment pisses you off, you have serious problems that require immediate and intensive therapy. And that's coming from--remember--a guy who hates hates hates proselytizers.)
The media outcry had the desired effect and got them to review the decision. Then came the kicker: the Ministry of Transportation said "REV JO" was unacceptable as it promoted drinking. I guess there's some kind of blue vodka cooler called "Rev".
At that point Premier McGuinty stepped in and sanity prevailed. Reverend Jo will get her plates any day now. Dalton, you old stopped clock, you. You got this one right.

I've viewed the anti-Christian fervor percolating away in Europe and to a lesser degree Canada with interest. As I have said, I can only barely be called a Christian and am, honestly, more comfortable with the label "spiritualist" if I have to be labelled at all; I have no vested interest. But it does strike me as extremely hypocritical that Canada must bend over backwards to accommodate any and all religions, including some much more offensive than Christianity (not even the stern God of the Old Testament demands the slaughter of all unbelievers the way the Qu'ran does)...and simultaneously eradicate any and all mention of Christianity. We're either all equal or we're not. Last I looked, each Canadian has the right to proclaim his or her faith--or lack thereof--without censure.

Dalton McGuinty's sensible intervention aside, I pray REV JO never gets a speeding ticket...