In this time of national crisis, I think we need a new national motto to guide us.
The current one — “In God We Trust” — is clearly not working. Adopted in 1956, it was meant to signal America’s opposition to the godless Soviet Union. But the Soviet Union no longer exists, and our president now cozies up to its replacement.
Furthermore, countries that put their faith in God tend not to benefit, at least not materially. Statistics show that those who do so the most are among the poorest countries on earth, while those who do so the least are the most prosperous.
Instead, I think we should go back to our original national motto: “E Pluribus Unum,” Latin for “One out of many.” Take any coin out of your pocket and see if it doesn’t have that motto on it. (Most do.) It is also found on our nation’s Great Seal.
“E Pluribus Unum” evokes the same kind of community togetherness as Utah’s own state symbol, the beehive. It conveys the message that “we’re all in this together, and if we work together we can make good things happen.”
This is the sort of message our country desperately needs today.
Tom Huckin, Salt Lake City
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