Riding the crest
The federal government is engaged in changing Canada’s Latin motto. This will be somewhat costly, particularly as the new words have to be added to crests on all federal buildings.
Apparently someone decided that our “A Mari Usque Ad Mare,” (From Sea to Sea) really didn’t say much. “Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam” (They Desire a Better Country) is to be added to the original.
I can understand the criticism about all those mares. To tell everyone that we sit between three seas doesn’t convey much about the nature of Canada. However, saying something about desiring a better country doesn’t cut it either.
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Here are a few suggestions that could be translated into Latin for the edification of future generations and folks around the world:
“We Complain a Lot but Seldom Fight with Anybody.” “We’ll Trade with Anyone if the Price is Right.” “We May Look Funny but at Least We’re Not Americans.” “We Have More Television Channels Per Capita than Any Other Third-World Country.” “We Need More Tourists to Help Swat Our Mosquitoes.”
The ChrŽtien government is accused of slipping through the changes as a means of making the Quebeckers feel more comfortable. The inference is if Quebec stays in Canada dramatic change will be sought to provide us with a better country.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the country.
As Publius Syrus was fond of saying: “Null tam bona est fortuna, de qua nihil possis queri.” (“There is no fortune so good that you can find nothing to complain of in it.”)
