“Fire is a good servant but a bad master.”
That old proverb popped to mind twice in the last few weeks. The Los Angeles wildfires first underlined the wisdom of that adage. Dry conditions, fierce Santa Ana winds, and government ineptitude at both state and local levels gave the whip hand to that storm of flames.
President Donald Trump’s first week in office sparked the second visitation. A copycat proverb – “Government, like fire, is a good servant, but a bad master” – seemed one of the motivating forces behind Trump’s slew of executive orders and presidential memoranda.
Pen in hand, Trump reestablished security at our southern border, kicked to the curb the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies that have soured race relations in our nation, pardoned the J6 prisoners whose charges and jail sentences were mostly politically based, and rescinded numerous other policies of the last administration that had damaged our country’s economy and overall well-being.
In addition to righting wrongs and making the welfare of America a number one priority, several blows were struck in the cause of freedom. A case in point: The Trump administration added podcasters and online journalists to the White House press corps. Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in history, was a breath of fresh air in her first appearance, replying honestly and competently to reporters’ questions.
Many Americans have rightfully and joyously celebrated this sea change. Several of my friends and family members, for instance, have remarked that they felt as if dark clouds have lifted from the American political arena.
All well and good.
But a caution is in order. In this 21st century, and particularly in the last five or six years, we have all witnessed the dire consequences that occur when government becomes a master rather than a servant. The COVID policies in particular illustrate the ability of the state to intimidate and silence its citizens, which becomes especially dangerous when that intimidation is combined with arrogance and ignorance.
Could something like that happen again? Could there be some other “crisis” in which the government founded by the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams adopts measures that a Joseph Stalin might have approved?
Of course.
In 1923, a Director of the Alabama Department of Archives & History, Marie Bankhead Owen, was working with B. J. Tieman in designing the Alabama coat-of-arms. During her search for a motto, she came across a 1781 poem by Sir William Jones, “An Ode in Imitation of Alcaeus,” which few of us have ever heard of, much less read. The ode kicks off with the line, “What constitutes a state?” and in the poet’s long answer to that question Owen found the motto she was seeking:
Men, who their duties know,
But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain,
Prevent the long-aimed blow,
And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain….
Inspired by this verse, Owen condensed it to “We dare maintain [or defend] our rights.” A translation into Latin created today’s state motto: “Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere.”
Whether in English or in Latin, each word of that motto matters. “We” refers to us, the citizenry of this land, and not necessarily to those in power. To dare is to risk and to act with courage. Maintain is a better translation than defend, as we must not only protect but work always to preserve rights granted to us by God and not by man.
Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere applies and belongs not just to Alabamians, but to all Americans. Those words and what they mean should be taught to our children. They should be chiseled on our hearts and minds.
We are right to celebrate and support any government that promotes our welfare and our liberty. But as we move forward into 2025 and beyond, let’s vow to never again give way to complacency and to strive as best as we can to safeguard liberty. Strengthening our families, seeing to the education of our children, taking pride in our work, helping our neighbors, aiming for excellence in all things and getting back on our feet when we fail: these are things we can all do, and these are the things that will keep our republic strong.
Jeff Minick is a father of four and grandfather to many. A former history, literature, and Latin teacher, Jeff now writes prolifically for The Epoch Times, American Essence Magazine, and several other publications.
This culture article was made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal, a project of 1819 News. To comment on this article, please email culture@1819news.com. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.
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