Iraq war veteran fights to keep license plates Virginia deems offensive to Arabs

[Dos Equis]

Is this just the government being too pc? 

Iraq war veteran fights to keep license plates Virginia deems offensive to Arabs
By Michael Jaccarino
Published May 21, 2012
FoxNews.com

In what is being disputed as a matter of taste over a matter of law, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles revoked a former U.S. Army sergeant’s choice of vanity license plate letters, saying that the seven-letter series "ICUHAJI" is an affront to American citizens of Arab descent.

The letters spell a derogatory phrase sometimes used by service members.

The sergeant, Sean Bujno, a veteran of two tours in Iraq who was honorably discharged in 2009, responded to the determination by pursuing legal action against the state, contending his right to free speech – and due process -  was stampeded by the DMV, the Virginian-Pilot reports.

"The government can't be charged with deciding what we can and cannot say," Bujno's lawyer, Andrew D. Meyer, told the Virginian-Pilot. "There are going to be people who don't like a certain message, but that is why there is the First Amendment."

Sean Bujno, of Chesapeake, could not be reached for comment. Meyer told the newspaper that Bujno intended the plate not to offend but as a message of solidarity to his fellow soldiers.

The letters, the DMV noted, can be read as “I see you Haji,” a derogatory phrase U.S. service members have been known to use in war zones abroad to describe Arab insurgents. The agency has declined to speak publicly about the specific case.

Bujno apparently got the plates four years ago and affixed them to his car, but it was only lately that the DMV determined they were of an offensive nature, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

However, the legal director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said the DMV made the right call.

"What else could he mean? I mean, we aren't hiding," Abed Ayoub told the paper. "What if it was ICUJEW? Would we tolerate that? Absolutely not.”

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/21/iraq-war-veteran-fights-to-keep-license-plates-virginia-deems-offensive-to/

[Skip8282]

Who cares what he's got on there...but I'm thinking he may lose as the State probably has broad discretion in what they want on their plates.

[LurkerNoMore]

ICUJEW??   Now I would laugh if I saw someone rocking that.

[garebear]

I was always a little confused by Army policy on this.

They go on and on about EO (Equal Opportunity, or don't be a bigot) counseling and then say Haji all day long.

People said it in Afghanistan while the Afghans were standing right there. Everyone called Afghan stores the Haji Shops.

[Shockwave]

I was always a little confused by Army policy on this.

They go on and on about EO (Equal Opportunity, or don't be a bigot) counseling and then say Haji all day long.

People said it in Afghanistan while the Afghans were standing right there. Everyone called Afghan stores the Haji Shops.

Not like anyone in the military is politically correct.
Everyone was hyper-racist to each other, let alone to the people they considered their enemy.
At least thats how it was in the Corp. Everyone always called each other every racial slur under the sun, and no one gave a fuck.
Then again, we didnt have any of this "sensitivity training" bullshit that goes on in the Army now days.

[garebear]

Not like anyone in the military is politically correct.
Everyone was hyper-racist to each other, let alone to the people they considered their enemy.
At least thats how it was in the Corp. Everyone always called each other every racial slur under the sun, and no one gave a fuck.
Then again, we didnt have any of this "sensitivity training" bullshit that goes on in the Army now days.

You didn't have an EO NCO?

I thought that was service wide.

[OzmO]

Is this just the government being too pc? 

Over sensitivity is fast becoming a national pastime

[Dos Equis]

Over sensitivity is fast becoming a national pastime

True.   

[Soul Crusher]

Over sensitivity is fast becoming a national pastime

truth x 10.    I can't even call thugs names wo bring called a racist.