A national motto that stands for substance, not just procedure

LA to Jim Kalb:

The motto of the Dominican Republic is:

“Dios, Patria, Libertad.”

“God, Fatherland, Liberty.”

As per our long time common theme of the place of liberalism in a well-ordered, non-suicidal society,—namely that liberal values and procedures have a place, but that they must ultimately be subordinated to the moral and traditional values of the society—doesn’t that put things in the right hierarchical arrangement?

Who knew that the Dominican Republic had anything to teach us, U.S.?

Jim Kalb replies:

Sounds about right! These days it would be nice to stick Hearth or some such in there, but I’ve never heard of a motto that makes more than three points.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at February 17, 2012 07:21 PM | Send