Latin Everyday September - State of Alabama

     Two Saturdays ago my family was watching the Alabama vs. Louisville football game. My dad was talking about the University of Alabama, since that is where he graduated, and I asked him what the motto for Alabama was. He wasn't sure himself, and told me to look it up. The motto is Audemus jura nostra defendere, which translates into "We Dare Defend our Rights", the phrase completed and officially put on the state's Coat-of-Arms in 1939.

     Marie Bankhead Owen, the director of state Archives, came up with this motto while trying to find a phrase that would capture the spirit of Alabama. She used a part of the poem "What Constitutes a State?" written in the 18th century by Sir William Jones. This motto was made at the time specifically to replace the older motto "Here we Rest" and also as something to put on the state's Coat-of-Arms

     I think this motto works very well for the state, and I often visit Alabama to see my relatives. It also works well for the University of Alabama, because the football team is currently defending it's status as national champions.

Coat-of-Arms Symbol:

Specific Lines of "What Constitutes a State?":

Sources:
http://www.archives.alabama.gov/emblems/st_motto.html
http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/al_motto.htm


- Will Baschab