KOTV has posted the six designs currently being considered for the new state license plate.
Guess what the choices are...
Cowboys
Indians
Shocking, huh? [xx(]
I know Oklahoma City is kind of obsessed with the whole Cowboys and Indians thing, but seriously, people!
Anyway, here are the choices:
(http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/images/0803/liscplates/plate1.jpg) (http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/images/0803/liscplates/plate2.jpg)
(http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/images/0803/liscplates/plate3.jpg) (http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/images/0803/liscplates/plate4.jpg)
(http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/images/0803/liscplates/plate5.jpg) (http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/images/0803/liscplates/plate6.jpg)
Vote for your favorite Here (//%22http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=7998889#poll69460%22)
#5 reminds me of the Wyoming tag... (http://www.plattecountywyoming.com/images/2009plate.jpg)
All of them are too busy to me. Many states have 8 character plates and we barely fit 6 on a traditional plate. More characters make it easier to use specific ranges for different cities, counties, etc. They are pushing this because of the bill that proposes that everyone gets a new plate on their next renewal date.
On a side note, I'm okay with tribal plates, but doesn't allowing the cherokee alphabet on plates make it tough for officers? How do they call in a tag? We're in pursuit of backwards-"a," something that looks like a house, some sort of "e," etc, etc.
#2.
If those were the choices, let me tell what would happen. #1 and #2 would each get 25% of the vote. Some other one would get 26%... so even though most people wanted the Gilcrease-like statute (or is it the same?) it will be something else. I'm OK with either, or #3 I guess.
The other's seem a contradiction in terms. "Native America" with a picture of cowboys... who in many instances drove off the Native Americans and/or served in the military outright hunting them. At very least they are stereotyped as doing so.
On the topic of plates, how much are fee's out there? And how long due plates last?
I like #1.. #2 would have been better if the figure were turned just a bit more towards the right. At that angle it looks like a Chinese warrior or Japanese Samurai.
Given just these options, I like #2 the best...
And, I just have to point out that KOTV's big site redesign wasn't so spectacular--it's the same exact one shared with their OKC affiliate, News9. All of the content is identical, save for the focus on Tulsa instead of OKC.
Even this poll isn't strictly a KOTV vote--it's a total of the votes between KOTV and News9.
Look for yourself...
Instead of typing "newson6", replace it with "news9" here: http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=7998889
http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=7998889
The more we think we're unique, the more we become the same.
Please, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me we can vote for 'none of the above'.
Enough cowboys and indians, already.
i would prefer to pay for a plain white plate with black text
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
Please, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me we can vote for 'none of the above'.
Enough cowboys and indians, already.
I agree.
Maybe we could combine this with the inane Tulsa marketing slogan:
"I am...sick of cowboys and indians!"
#1 fo sho
#2 distant 2nd
Much rather go with the Tulsa Zoo State License Plate Project (//%22http://www.tulsazoo.org/general.cfm?id=21%22)
I am not sure why we need new plates every time...or is that not what is being purposed? My plate still shines at night...been on the car since 2000. I agree that after 10 years or maybe even 5 they could use a little "rehab" but do we really need one more thing to fill our landfills?
On another note, why cowboys and Indians? Do we still have those? You know that Freecreditreport.com commercial, "Dress for the job you want." I guess if we want to be the cowboys of the 21st century that makes sense, but I think there will be more money in engineering. Just my two cents.
quote:
Originally posted by mrhaskellok
I am not sure why we need new plates every time...or is that not what is being purposed? My plate still shines at night...been on the car since 2000. I agree that after 10 years or maybe even 5 they could use a little "rehab" but do we really need one more thing to fill our landfills?
On another note, why cowboys and Indians? Do we still have those? You know that Freecreditreport.com commercial, "Dress for the job you want." I guess if we want to be the cowboys of the 21st century that makes sense, but I think there will be more money in engineering. Just my two cents.
They are proposing everyone get a new plate on their next renewal, not every time. A way of purging all the older plates. They said the reflective coating comes off over time.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by mrhaskellok
I am not sure why we need new plates every time...or is that not what is being purposed? My plate still shines at night...been on the car since 2000. I agree that after 10 years or maybe even 5 they could use a little "rehab" but do we really need one more thing to fill our landfills?
On another note, why cowboys and Indians? Do we still have those? You know that Freecreditreport.com commercial, "Dress for the job you want." I guess if we want to be the cowboys of the 21st century that makes sense, but I think there will be more money in engineering. Just my two cents.
They are proposing everyone get a new plate on their next renewal, not every time. A way of purging all the older plates. They said the reflective coating comes off over time.
The proposed legislation is being offered by their wholly-owned Legislative Catspaw for the Traffic Light Camera industry.
Their end game is to get Black lettering on White background Car Tags, so that they can advance their agenda of traffic and stop light cameras state-wide, which will then effectively be able to identify vehicles for citations.
This is another condition precedent for their financially self-serving strategy. They've been successful in a variety of other jurisdictions.
Also on their agenda will be another change in state law to allow the ticketing of a VEHICLE for a traffic offense, rather than the vehicle OPERATOR.
Current state law cites the vehicle OPERATOR, not the vehicle, for a moving violation.
Expect to see an explosion of Red Light and Traffic Speed cameras here in Oklahoma in the years ahead.
It's all about fleecing the taxpayers.
[}:)]
Is there anyway we can get away from cowboys and indians? there is more to Oklahoma!
quote:
Originally posted by Gaspar
Is there anyway we can get away from cowboys and indians? there is more to Oklahoma!
They wanted a pregnant teenager doing meth in the parking lot of a casino but they had trouble fitting that on a plate.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by Gaspar
Is there anyway we can get away from cowboys and indians? there is more to Oklahoma!
They wanted a pregnant teenager doing meth in the parking lot of a casino but they had trouble fitting that on a plate.
hey, that's my idea![:(!]
my politically correct entry though is a single blue natural gas flame in the middle with the slogan:
"We keep yo' donkey warm!" at the bottom.
I like number 1.
Hey RM - are they gonna recycle the old tags? Would be cool if the monies raised from the recycling could be used for some special project - maybe we could crush them up and repave the roads with them, or fill potholes.
Bear, I will vehemently oppose any and all red light or automatic speeding cameras that are proposed under the guise of "safety." They can be inaccurate, are more addicting than gambling money, and have no positive impact on safety. If the city of Tulsa just came out and said "we want red light cameras because we'll be able to fleece a ton of money from people living in the burbs" I'd consider it... at least they'd be honest.
- - -
Per the plates - there is more to Oklahoma just like there is more to every state than what the squish on to a plate (well, except Delaware http://c2.com/~ward/plates/Delaware.jpg). Oklahoma is known for oil, tornadoes, cowboys and Indians. I like our current plate and am fond of our state motto ("Native America"). It would be hard to come up with another concept that was representative IMHO (how about a bird to be original?).
ALSO - as far as adding letters so you can tell by region. Why not put the county of issue on the plate? Many other places do that, small text at the top or bottom saying "Tulsa" or "Osage." It not only helps track a vehicle for officers should they need to (who no doubt would not know all the codes) but is also helpful and interesting to everyone else.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY YOU IDIOT! Oh, the poor schlub is from Beaver county, probably not used to stop lights. Sorry bud, take your time."
[}:)]
Seriously though, I'm a big fan of counties on plates. I bet Rufnex didn't even know we had a Beckham county.
#2 if I have to pick one. I don't think we've ever had a cowboy plate, so #4 is OK with me, too...might as well embrace our image, Texas does. I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of dollars some graphic designer got paid to come up with these lame clipart ideas.
Please, something besides cowboys and indians! It's no wonder Oklahoma has the reputation that it is a backward no mans land. There is much more to the state than that. Enough of the "Native America" crap too. Let's get something new. Another example of our narrow minded tunnel visioned leadership.
quote:
Originally posted by breitee
Please, something besides cowboys and indians! It's no wonder Oklahoma has the reputation that it is a backward no mans land. There is much more to the state than that. Enough of the "Native America" crap too. Let's get something new. Another example of our narrow minded tunnel visioned leadership.
Our license plates have nothing to do with our backwards image. You can thank our poor performance in nearly every national ranking, as well as, national media coverage of idiotic statements from our elected officials for that. Inhoffe.....Kern....
I agree with those opposed to the Cowboy and Indian theme. How stereotypical of the state. It may be part of our history and culture, but we should promote something that shows the state moving forward.
And anything they do to discourage idiots from running red lights is OK with me. If you don't trust someone to drive legally, you shouldn't be letting them drive your car, and if you run red lights you endanger other lives, and deserve to get ticketed for it. That ticket might prevent you from killing someone.
Maybe I'm just being picky, but, the descriptions are as follows:
1. Indian With Arrow, Centered
2. Indian With Arrow, Left
I can barely tell from the picture, I assume he has an arrow, but wouldn't have been a bit more reasonable to say "Bow" and since the tag does use the phrase "Native America" why not the PC term "Native American" in place of "Indian?"
Also, is that REALLY the best picture they could come up with for Will Rogers? It looks like he is pretending to be a bunny.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Bear, I will vehemently oppose any and all red light or automatic speeding cameras that are proposed under the guise of "safety." They can be inaccurate, are more addicting than gambling money, and have no positive impact on safety. If the city of Tulsa just came out and said "we want red light cameras because we'll be able to fleece a ton of money from people living in the burbs" I'd consider it... at least they'd be honest.
- - -
Per the plates - there is more to Oklahoma just like there is more to every state than what the squish on to a plate (well, except Delaware http://c2.com/~ward/plates/Delaware.jpg). Oklahoma is known for oil, tornadoes, cowboys and Indians. I like our current plate and am fond of our state motto ("Native America"). It would be hard to come up with another concept that was representative IMHO (how about a bird to be original?).
ALSO - as far as adding letters so you can tell by region. Why not put the county of issue on the plate? Many other places do that, small text at the top or bottom saying "Tulsa" or "Osage." It not only helps track a vehicle for officers should they need to (who no doubt would not know all the codes) but is also helpful and interesting to everyone else.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY YOU IDIOT! Oh, the poor schlub is from Beaver county, probably not used to stop lights. Sorry bud, take your time."
[}:)]
Seriously though, I'm a big fan of counties on plates. I bet Rufnex didn't even know we had a Beckham county.
If you are serious about fighting the introduction of Red Light or Speed Cameras then you better get your dukes up, 'cause there are definitely powerful groups agitating for these "traffic moderation" devices that ally with city government leaders with the hidden agenda of increasing traffic fine income.
Step 1 of their agenca has already been realized. Across the U.S. local traffic engineers have been gulled into reducing the interval of the Yellow Traffic Light from 4 seconds down to 3 seconds. That creates the environment for MORE, not less drivers to be caught on Red trying to clear a Yellow light at an intersections.
Step. 2 is to change state laws to permit the traffic citation against the VEHICLE for a moving violation, rather than the driver. Oklahoma requires the DRIVER to be cited for a moving violation.
Only Parking tickets can be issued against the vehicle currently.
Step. 3 is to make the color contrast of the lettering on the car tags such that it can be read in low light conditions or at night with a flash. Hence, the push for "new" car tags that can be "read".
Ultimately, they will NOT look anything like the tags that people will be asked to vote on. That is a mere ruse to gull them into accepting the change. Bait and switch.
Remember, our infinitely gullible state legislature a few years ago approved the measure to FINGERPRINT every Oklahoma driver using a hyper-expensive, one-of technology from an out-of-state company, Viisage.
I'm sure they will happily approve reissuing car tags that can be more easily read by a traffic camera.
[:O]
Bear's right. But, missed one.
Until a few years ago, all you had to do to get a new plate was ask for one when you renewed. Then, it changed to $25 for a plate replacement.
Or, was that just my "local" agents work?
Anyway, as usual, (think coins) they give you one reasonable design and a handfull of slugs so we're happy when the good one gets selected.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by Gaspar
Is there anyway we can get away from cowboys and indians? there is more to Oklahoma!
They wanted a pregnant teenager doing meth in the parking lot of a casino but they had trouble fitting that on a plate.
Good one[:D]. And I agree with Gaspar, all of those license plates are incredibly lame and stereotypical. Can't they show some natural feature of Oklahoma, like Lake Tenkiller or something? It would be nice to shed the dust bowl image.
Let's keep in mind though that in order to really make the plates workable for cameras, we'll need to have them front and back, like almost every other state has them. Will Oklahoma pony up for that? I can think of only two other states that do not use front tags; Kansas and Arkansas.
I like number 1.
And to all complaining about Oklahoma's "Cowboy and Indian" image, what's wrong with such an image?
I think it conveys an important part of Oklahoma's history, and that's a good thing to latch onto.
I like all of the prospective plates for Oklahoma better than any of the states around it (with the exception of New Mexico - that one is pretty awesome).
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
Let's keep in mind though that in order to really make the plates workable for cameras, we'll need to have them front and back, like almost every other state has them. Will Oklahoma pony up for that? I can think of only two other states that do not use front tags; Kansas and Arkansas.
States that do not require a front license plate:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia; U.S. territories Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam also do not require an official front license plate.
And that doesn't count any of the tribal nations that issue license plates.
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
I'm not sold. I don't like 'em. I think I'll keep my heap registered in Kansas for another year.[}:)]
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
uh, well I have to call bull**** on that one. do you not ever use the turnpike? cameras are at every toll booth.
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
uh, well I have to call bull**** on that one. do you not ever use the turnpike? cameras are at every toll booth.
Sorry, but those are private roads. They can do what ever they want. Just like the private roads in a gated community. The gated community owns those roads and can do with them as they please. Turnpikes are also private, thus they can do as they please.
And speaking of turnpikes...... How about mailing out speeding tickets based on the amount of time as you pass through each toll gate? If you drive the speed limit, it should take you x-amount of time to drive from one toll gate to the next. If the Pikepass shows your average speed is faster, you get a speeding ticket in the mail? Believe me, the Turnpike Authority knows darn well you're driving 90 mph if it takes you 30 minutes to get to Stroud based on each time your Pikepass went 'beep'.
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
If that's true, then why are there cameras on top of the stoplights at Tulsa street intersections?
quote:
Originally posted by perspicuity85
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
If that's true, then why are there cameras on top of the stoplights at Tulsa street intersections?
Those are left-turn sensors. If you'll notice, they are pointed at oncoming traffic, and would get very little useful data for any traffic violations. All they detect is if something is in front of them. Like the bee-boo things when you walk into radio shack.
quote:
Originally posted by perspicuity85
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
If that's true, then why are there cameras on top of the stoplights at Tulsa street intersections?
Those cameras only 'see', they don't record anything and simply replace the old magnetic loop system the city used to bury under the street.
The traffic signals need to be told when traffic is present so that traffic is sure to get a green light. The cameras see traffic and tell the computer that, eventually, this car needs a green light. It actually sees all lanes of traffic, not just the left-turn-only traffic.
When the magnetic loops would break, it would require digging up the street to fix/replace. When the camera breaks, you simply climb the pole and put on a new one.
Dallas is considering turning off some of their red light cameras... of course they're paying close to $4,00 a month for each..
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-redlights_15met.ART.North.Edition1.468120d.html
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
uh, well I have to call bull**** on that one. do you not ever use the turnpike? cameras are at every toll booth.
Sorry, but those are private roads. They can do what ever they want. Just like the private roads in a gated community. The gated community owns those roads and can do with them as they please. Turnpikes are also private, thus they can do as they please.
And speaking of turnpikes...... How about mailing out speeding tickets based on the amount of time as you pass through each toll gate? If you drive the speed limit, it should take you x-amount of time to drive from one toll gate to the next. If the Pikepass shows your average speed is faster, you get a speeding ticket in the mail? Believe me, the Turnpike Authority knows darn well you're driving 90 mph if it takes you 30 minutes to get to Stroud based on each time your Pikepass went 'beep'.
private eh? So you are trying to tell me that none of my tax money goes to pay for their upkeep? somehow I find that hard to believe.
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
uh, well I have to call bull**** on that one. do you not ever use the turnpike? cameras are at every toll booth.
Sorry, but those are private roads. They can do what ever they want. Just like the private roads in a gated community. The gated community owns those roads and can do with them as they please. Turnpikes are also private, thus they can do as they please.
And speaking of turnpikes...... How about mailing out speeding tickets based on the amount of time as you pass through each toll gate? If you drive the speed limit, it should take you x-amount of time to drive from one toll gate to the next. If the Pikepass shows your average speed is faster, you get a speeding ticket in the mail? Believe me, the Turnpike Authority knows darn well you're driving 90 mph if it takes you 30 minutes to get to Stroud based on each time your Pikepass went 'beep'.
private eh? So you are trying to tell me that none of my tax money goes to pay for their upkeep? somehow I find that hard to believe.
State and Federal funds are dedicated for those roads, and OTA just mails that money to ODOT to spend elsewhere.
Also, the turnpike cameras are just checking people who don't pay tolls, not traffic violations. Wilbur is right.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
uh, well I have to call bull**** on that one. do you not ever use the turnpike? cameras are at every toll booth.
Sorry, but those are private roads. They can do what ever they want. Just like the private roads in a gated community. The gated community owns those roads and can do with them as they please. Turnpikes are also private, thus they can do as they please.
And speaking of turnpikes...... How about mailing out speeding tickets based on the amount of time as you pass through each toll gate? If you drive the speed limit, it should take you x-amount of time to drive from one toll gate to the next. If the Pikepass shows your average speed is faster, you get a speeding ticket in the mail? Believe me, the Turnpike Authority knows darn well you're driving 90 mph if it takes you 30 minutes to get to Stroud based on each time your Pikepass went 'beep'.
private eh? So you are trying to tell me that none of my tax money goes to pay for their upkeep? somehow I find that hard to believe.
State and Federal funds are dedicated for those roads, and OTA just mails that money to ODOT to spend elsewhere.
Also, the turnpike cameras are just checking people who don't pay tolls, not traffic violations. Wilbur is right.
no he stated that oklahoma law does not allow ANY form of camera enforcement which is incorrect. if they make sure i pay tolls with cameras, that is camera enforcement on a road being financed by public funds, private or public is a moot point.
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
.... and Oklahoma law does not allow any form of camera enforcement.
uh, well I have to call bull**** on that one. do you not ever use the turnpike? cameras are at every toll booth.
Sorry, but those are private roads. They can do what ever they want. Just like the private roads in a gated community. The gated community owns those roads and can do with them as they please. Turnpikes are also private, thus they can do as they please.
And speaking of turnpikes...... How about mailing out speeding tickets based on the amount of time as you pass through each toll gate? If you drive the speed limit, it should take you x-amount of time to drive from one toll gate to the next. If the Pikepass shows your average speed is faster, you get a speeding ticket in the mail? Believe me, the Turnpike Authority knows darn well you're driving 90 mph if it takes you 30 minutes to get to Stroud based on each time your Pikepass went 'beep'.
private eh? So you are trying to tell me that none of my tax money goes to pay for their upkeep? somehow I find that hard to believe.
State and Federal funds are dedicated for those roads, and OTA just mails that money to ODOT to spend elsewhere.
Also, the turnpike cameras are just checking people who don't pay tolls, not traffic violations. Wilbur is right.
no he stated that oklahoma law does not allow ANY form of camera enforcement which is incorrect. if they make sure i pay tolls with cameras, that is camera enforcement on a road being financed by public funds, private or public is a moot point.
Sorry, but it is a private road. They contract out all of their services, including law enforcement services. No law enforcement agency has authority on the turnpikes except for the Highway Patrol, who has been contracted to provide services.
I will grant you the Turnpike Authority mails you tickets when you don't pay the toll, but, the enforcement of paying that ticket is questionable. I've never heard of anyone having an arrest warrant issued by the Turnpike Authority (can they even do that?) for failure to pay toll. I have heard of them stopping your ability to update the tags on your car for failure to pay toll, but I don't consider that 'enforcement' action.
To me, it's like getting a parking ticket at Hillcrest or something.
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
no he stated that oklahoma law does not allow ANY form of camera enforcement which is incorrect. if they make sure i pay tolls with cameras, that is camera enforcement on a road being financed by public funds, private or public is a moot point.
By your broad generalization, banks are also in violation because they use cameras to prevent theft.
Back to the issue of license plate designs...
After revisiting these a second time, I've decided that they all still suck.
I've never met a Native American who wears a loin cloth and carries a bow and arrow (though I've met some rednecks who wear camo and carry cross-bows). I've never seen a guy with a gun on horseback, shooting his pistol into the air (but I have seen a security guard at a bowling alley fire his weapon into the air). The only person I know who can jump through a spinning rope is my 87-year-old aunt. I would definitely support putting a picture of her on our tags! (Though she would probably prefer a nice picture of a polled hereford.) And, while I know that Will Rogers is our "native son"...few people getting their car tags renewed can tell you anything about him. (I can probably tell you more about him than most folks. But haven't we done anything in the past 70 years since his death that was noteworthy?)
I guess I'm glad there isn't a picture of an oil derrick.
Isn't pot our biggest cash crop? A nice picture of some hemp on the tag would probably do more for Oklahoma tourism than the cowboys and Indians motif.
Just thinkin' out loud....
quote:
Originally posted by PonderInc
Back to the issue of license plate designs...
After revisiting these a second time, I've decided that they all still suck.
I've never met a Native American who wears a loin cloth and carries a bow and arrow (though I've met some rednecks who wear camo and carry cross-bows). I've never seen a guy with a gun on horseback, shooting his pistol into the air (but I have seen a security guard at a bowling alley fire his weapon into the air). The only person I know who can jump through a spinning rope is my 87-year-old aunt. I would definitely support putting a picture of her on our tags! (Though she would probably prefer a nice picture of a polled hereford.) And, while I know that Will Rogers is our "native son"...few people getting their car tags renewed can tell you anything about him. (I can probably tell you more about him than most folks. But haven't we done anything in the past 70 years since his death that was noteworthy?)
I guess I'm glad there isn't a picture of an oil derrick.
Isn't pot our biggest cash crop? A nice picture of some hemp on the tag would probably do more for Oklahoma tourism than the cowboys and Indians motif.
Just thinkin' out loud....
Our biggest cash crop is meth I think, thanks to donors like yourself. : )
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
[br
Our biggest cash crop is meth I think, thanks to donors like yourself. : )
How would you represent meth on a tag though? A toothless hag with a skin condition I guess.
At least pot is universally recognized.
From KTUL
quote:
Native America is getting a new look.
The "Native America" logo that has adorned Oklahoma license plates for the past 15 years will be overhauled thanks to pending legislation.
The bill awaiting Gov. Brad Henry (web|news) 's signature will reissue license plates to owners of an estimated 3.1 million vehicles registered in the state.
The reissuance plan is scheduled to begin January 1st.
State tourism officials are close to picking the final design for Oklahoma's new license plate. It will retain the state mantra "Native America" and feature the image of American Indian artist Allan Houser's striking bronze statue "Sacred Rain Arrow" at Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum.
Thank God they didn't pick the cowboy crap.
Great. Another Indian symbol. What a no brainer. Is it any wonder that Oklahoma is viewed as the backward state that it is. It's unreal that nobody could come up with a more forward thinking symbol of our state. The wild wild west is long gone people!
We have to brand ourselves... we can't brand ourselves as a tech capital. Kentucky has horses. Alaska has the stars. We don't have lots fields of crops all over the place. Texas and Louisiana have more oil. Florida, NC & Ohio can fight over aerospace. We don't have an iconic fruit crop (peaches in Georgia). We aren't on the sea. We don't have looming metropolises to depict. Montana and Wyoming have the cowboy angles all locked up. Minnesota has the lakes (though Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state). Michigan and Pennsylvania have much more heavy manufacturing. We don't have mountains.
What branding strategy would you go for? Something that is unique to Oklahoma. Something that people can associate without state.
"Native America" is a fine saying in my book. Not only does it talk to the Indian legacy of our Red Man's Land but it also implies a down-home Midwestern feel. One could argue it also hints at our xenophobic anti-immigration tendency too. [;)]
I'm with you Cannon. This is just fine in my book.
Some of you all are making me wonder about your own attitudes towards Native Americans. Somehow you feel that celebrating this heritage is some how backwards, ignorant or inferior?? There are plenty of Native Americans in this state who contribute more to society than a lot of the white-trash, gun totin' Cletuses runnin' around these parts.
Would you all rather see Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel on our plates?
Wasn't one of the problems with getting money for "The American Project" from tribes was the opinion that it portrayed "a view not in line with current day Native Americans?"
That's an interesting point grizz. I suppose I hadn't thought of whether or not Native Americans WANT to be portrayed the same way that they were a hundred or more years ago. At the same time, I know they do like to embrace their history and culture when it comes to their art and their dance.
I wonder what their feelings are (or have been) about the Gilcrease sculpture itself. Who was the artist?? When was it done? Which tribe is represented and was it originally accepted or endorsed by Native Americans on the whole? Did anyone even care about offending people back when that sculpture was created?