HB 2016-1054 - National Symbol Act (TO SENATE THIS GOES)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

My thanks to Representative Peebs for sponsoring this on my behalf, and to Never Again for bringing it to the floor. I should hope none of this will prove particularly, controversial; my goal in drafting this bill was to select national symbols that were both tasteful and distinct from the real life flag/anthem/etc. of the United States (hence why the eagle is not carried over as the national animal, nor the Star Spangled Banner as the national anthem). Credit for the national motto goes to Kingpoleon, who suggested "populis populi" as the motto for the North a few months back. The flag is obviously the most important symbols: the lack of an official national ensign is problematic from a military and maritime standpoint (for this reason, I authorized the use of an unofficial flag by the military and foreign service during my tenure as Secretary of State).

If anyone is curious about the reasoning behind a particular symbol, I would be more than happy to oblige.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I strongly oppose the suggested motto. Atlasia is not a country for "the people". Atlasia is a country that is built upon individual liberty, the rule of law, and the sovereignty of God. We should not be adopting collectivist mottos that reinforce tyranny of the majority.

I don't see how that's collectivist.

Exactly. It's a condensation of the final stanza of the Gettysburg Address ("that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.") Jefferson said essentially the same thing when he wrote that, "to preserve these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." That's a quintessentially Atlasian sentiment, and I fail to see how it reinforces either "collectivism" or "the tyranny of the majority."

If the House wishes to put the motto to a vote, I will not object, but I maintain that those criticizing it as somehow incompatible with the idea of individual liberty are missing the point. "Of the people, for the people" pays homage to the foundational principle of our democracy, and it would be a shame to omit it from this bill. A potential compromise would be "LIBERTATI POPULOQUE" (in English, "for liberty and the people"), which preserves the spirit of the original motto whilst invoking the ideal of individual liberty; though, personally, I think "POPULUS, POPULI" sounds better.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Unless anyone else has something more to add, I ask that the Speaker begin a final vote on this bill.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

This goes to the Senate now, yes?