When you look at the United States and the symbols that we use, its kind of surprising how much Greek and Roman style that we have co-opted. The columns on the Lincoln Memorial and needle shape of the Washington monument are architectural styles from ancient Mediterranean civilizations. Even the heads in our coins are stylized to look like the Roman Cesars. This obsession bleeds into language as well.

Our public institutions use Latin in mottoes and signage. The US motto is E Pluribus Unum meaning from one many. The University of Oregon motto is Mens agitat molem, the mind moves the mass. We use Latin as if it was a magical charm. Most of the spells in Harry Potter are just phrases in Latin so it kind of makes sense. Our use of Roman numbers is ridiculous though because they didn’t even have a zero and even reading the year I was born is a challenge. MCMLXXVI Go ahead and do the math, I’ll wait.

The Romans tried to dominate everyone and ended up becoming corrupt, over extended and ultimately failing. Is that what we want for ourselves?

Maybe the ancient style was used to make the early Americans feel legitimate or established. I just wonder if that kind of thing is still serving us well. We have been a country for couple centuries now and have incorporated many cultures and people groups and synthesized our own style. Perhaps it is time to assess who we have are and what our values are moving forward.