6 Words...Guiding Principle or Realistic Description?

Quick---What is the national motto of the United States?

Many think it is “E Pluribus Unum”

(Out of Many, One)

Actually, in 1956, Congress passed a resolution and established the U. S. national motto as: “In God We Trust”


Recently, Stephen Dubner mentioned a contest for a six word national motto (Freakonomics Blog NY Times) that was taking place during his recent visit to England.

He asked for suggestions for a six word U. S. motto, and received over a thousand entries. I found some were intensely patriotic, others witheringly sarcastic. It made me wonder, what should a national motto do? Should it sum up the goals and aspirations of a nation? Or offer a short, realistic description of the national character?

Not all nations have mottos, and many of those that do use some combination of 'unity' and 'diversity'. "God" is mentioned less often than you'd think.

Interestingly, Nicaragua shares the same national motto as the United States of America. A decent sized list can be found here on Wikipedia.

MOST RELAXED MOTTO

“Under the Shade I Flourish”

Belize

TOUGHEST TALKERS

“No One Provokes Me With Impunity”

Scotland

MOST INSPIRATIONAL

“Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve”

Trinidad and Tobago

MOST PRAGMATIC

“We Wish To Remain What We Are”

Luxembourg

MOST IRONIC

“Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”

Nigeria

I selected a sample of 25 responses to Dubner's column. My choices lean toward the amusing, sardonic, and away from flag waving patriotism.

SELF-DEPRECATING

• "Land of Dreamers, Hucksters, and Fools" 446

• "Paranoid Idealists With Hearts of Gold" 617

• "Land Of Prime Dreams, Subprime Realities" 59

RELIGIOUS IMPERIALISM

• "The Orwellian Superpower With Christian Roots" 28

• "Christian Secularists On an Anti-Islam-O-Fascist Crusade" 609

IMPERIALIST TENDENCIES

• "Be Nice To Us Or Else" 570

• "We Make And Break The Rules" 373

• "America: We Make Our Own Reality" 361

INSPIRATIONAL

• 463 "Work In Progress. Do Your Part"

• 299 "America: Change It or Lose It!"

ASPIRATIONS vs. REALITY

• "Once We Stood For Good Things" 167
  

• "Liberty and Freedom For All, Kinda" 604

ROOTS

• 956 "We Took Your Lemons: Made Lemonade

• 644 "Nation Of Immigrants, But We Forgot"

WISTFUL

• "We Went To The Moon Once" 667
  

• "Why Can't You Be Like Us?" 323

• "We Haven't Reached Our Potential Yet" 57

SOME ASPECT OF TRUTH

• "Where Nudity Is Worse Than War" 514

• "The Country Paved With Good Intentions" 513

• "The World's Favorite Love-Hate Relationship" 319

HUMOROUS

• "American Policy Has A Wide Stance" 725

• "America: We're [redacted under Patriot Act" 614

SAD

"Passing Baton From Britain to China" 907


"You'll miss us when China Rules" 1084

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE

"Like Licking Honey From A Thorn"

(894)