# Fifty years later, does America need a stupider motto? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 30, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065 "2006-12-30T02:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/21 "2006-12-30T04:02:54Z")
Looking at a 1922 silver dollar I have lying around, “In God We Trust” is on the obverse and “E Pluribus Unum” is on the reverse, just as it is now. So whatever developments happened in 1956, I don’t see what difference they made. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/22 "2006-12-30T04:06:32Z")
[QUOTE=waterj2] Looking at a 1922 silver dollar I have lying around, “In God We Trust” is on the obverse and “E Pluribus Unum” is on the reverse, just as it is now. So whatever developments happened in 1956, I don’t see what difference they made. [/QUOTE] So in other words, the OP is full of shit on this? Can’t say I’m suprised. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/23 "2006-12-30T04:13:02Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] [BOHICA!!!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohica) [/QUOTE] Can a foreigner like me vote for that suggestion? We may need to borrow it sometime. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/24 "2006-12-30T04:14:44Z")
The OP is quite correct. Thanks to the efforts of some decent people, Jefferson’s motto is still around to some degree in the designs and plans. But it’s no longer the official motto. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/25 "2006-12-30T04:15:12Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] So in other words, the OP is full of shit on this? Can’t say I’m suprised. [/QUOTE] My bad, never mind. The official motto part does indeed date to 1956, the usage on coins goes back almost 100 years earlier. Sorry, **Terrifel**. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/26 "2006-12-30T04:16:44Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] So in other words, the OP is full of shit on this? Can’t say I’m suprised. [/QUOTE] “In God We Trust” was, in fact, made the official motto of the United States in 1956. > [@](#): > > A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by the President on July 30, 1956, the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. From [this](http://www.treas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml) U.S. Treasury site on the history of the phrase on money. So in other words, the OP is not full of shit on this. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/27 "2006-12-30T04:17:57Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] –by which I meant, of course, “is it as stupid as typing Australia in place of New Zealand?” Sorry about that; there’s no excuse for confusing the Lord of the Rings with Crocodile Dundee. [/QUOTE] “You call \*that \* a sword that was broken? \*This \* is a sword that was broken!” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/28 "2006-12-30T04:18:43Z")
[QUOTE=waterj2] Looking at a 1922 silver dollar I have lying around, “In God We Trust” is on the obverse and “E Pluribus Unum” is on the reverse, just as it is now. So whatever developments happened in 1956, I don’t see what difference they made. [/QUOTE] _E Pluribus Unum_ was the official motto (I do not know why a nation needs one) from late in the eighteenth century. In the middle of the nineteenth century, there was a mad drive by a few loons to make (Protestant) Christianity the “true” religion of the U.S. (Constitution be damned) to make sure that those horrible Catholic immigrants did not get any wild ideas that they might be welcome. The only result of their failed effort was that, in the midst of the Civil War, someone talked the Treasury Secretary into having “In God We Trust” placed on U.S. coins. In the mid-1950s, there was a push to get the motto changed to “In God We Trust” that made it through Congress. (For some reason, however, they forgot to de-activate the first motto, so, technically, we have two.) With the passage of the “new” motto, the government later got around to putting “In God We Trust” on our paper currency as well. (1960? 1962? I’m not going to look it up right now.) So, coins between 1863 and 1956 carried “In God We Trust” (a platitude with no standing) as well as carrying the (at that time official and solitary) motto, _E Pluribus Unum_. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/29 "2006-12-30T04:20:22Z")
Some good stupid mottos for America : _Our penis is HUUUUUGE !_ _Try and stop us !_ ( Simpsons reference ) _Resistance is useless. Your nation will adapt to service us._ _God, guns and gays ! That’s what matters ! YEAH !_ _Kill a Commie for Christ ! And there are too still Commies !_ _Me America. Me Strong !_ _Social Darwinism and random invasions ! USA ! USA !_ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/30 "2006-12-30T04:20:34Z")
I think we ought to honor our current leader with “Bring it on!” Of course, I also think that BOHICA is a perfect choice. I suppose we could merge the two. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/31 "2006-12-30T04:22:35Z")
All a lot clearer to me now, thanks, after **tomndebb’s** post. I should have realised what it was all about. :smack: Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/32 "2006-12-30T04:23:31Z")
How about “no fat chicks” ? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/33 "2006-12-30T04:26:53Z")
BOHICA is a good suggestion, but I think that DILLIGAF\* more accurately captures the pervasive American spirit. \*Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck? ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/34 "2006-12-30T05:28:04Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] Out of curiosity, does Australia have a state motto? If so, is it stupid? [/QUOTE] Interestingly enough, neither New Zealand or Australia have a national motto, although NZ’s used to be ‘Onwards’. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/35 "2006-12-30T05:49:08Z")
Isn’t “We’re number one!” good enough? Especially since there’s hardly a category left in which we’re actually number one. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/36 "2006-12-30T06:05:56Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] I think the South Park guys nailed it: “America - Fuck Yeah!” Simple, direct and to the point. You don’t have to understand it, because there’s nothing to understand. “America - Fuck Yeah!” Only a Commie could be against that. [/QUOTE] I’ll third this one. If it doesn’t get picked, how about [FUBAR](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fubar) ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/37 "2006-12-30T06:24:18Z")
[QUOTE=manx] Interestingly enough, neither New Zealand or Australia have a national motto, although NZ’s used to be ‘Onwards’. [/QUOTE] Australia’s motto used to be ‘Advance Australia’. I think we’re better off without one, if that’s the best they can do. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/38 "2006-12-30T07:24:16Z")
[QUOTE=jabiru] Australia’s motto used to be ‘Advance Australia’. [/QUOTE] It’s just like basic Australia except there are _nine_ alignments and druids and rangers are allowable player characters… ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/39 "2006-12-30T07:49:07Z")
[QUOTE=jabiru] Australia’s motto used to be ‘Advance Australia’. I think we’re better off without one, if that’s the best they can do. [/QUOTE] It seems to be that was just the motto on the 1908 coat of arms, since replaced. Australia itself has never had an official motto. “Advance Australia” may have been a colonial hand-me-down. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065/40 "2006-12-30T07:57:20Z")
New South Wales does, though. _Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites_ (Newly Risen, How Bright Thou Shinest) Catchy, isn’t it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifty-years-later-does-america-need-a-stupider-motto/386065.md?page=3)