Opinion ID: 768474
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mottos

Text: 200 A motto, as defined in Webster's Third New International Dictionary (1986), is a short suggestive expression of a guiding principle. 201 The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 1180 (3d ed. 1992) contains two definitions for motto: (1) A brief statement used to express a principle, a goal, or an ideal or (2) a maxim as a guide to one's conduct. 202 Brian Burrell, in The Words We Live By: The Creeds, Mottoes, and Pledges that Have Shaped America, 158-59 (The Free Press 1997), discusses mottos as follows: 203 . . . the practice of adopting brief sentiments or maxims as something to go by is widespread. In the corporate sphere, in academia, in associations and clubs, in the military, and in the public forum, mottoes help people to set their bearings. While only a small percentage of people actively espouse mottoes, the majority are quick to defend them, and are generally pleased to have them. 204 This is because mottoes and slogans are the most succinct ready-made opinions . . . . 205 . . . . . . . Although the origin of mottoes is somewhat murky, their present role is well defined. They are most usefully thought of as rousing and inspirational rallying cries. In fact it is as battle cries that mottoes and slogans got their start, and they continue to serve very effectively in that capacity. 206 In Wooley v. Maynard, 430 U.S. 705 (1977), the Supreme Court had occasion to discuss the meaning of a motto when it considered the State of New Hampshire's requirement that non-commercial vehicles bear license plates embossed with the state motto Live Free or Die. The Supreme Court defined the issue as follows: 207 We are thus faced with the question of whether the State may constitutionally require an individual to participate in the dissemination of an ideological message by displaying it . . . 430 U.S. at 713. 208 In West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943), the Supreme Court reversed its position in Minnersville School District v. Gobitis, 310 U.S. 586 (1940), and held that it was unconstitutional to compel school children to participate in a compulsory flag salute and pledge of allegiance ceremony. In commenting on the significance of these activities as symbolic speech, the Supreme Court said: 209 Symbolism is a primitive but effective way of communicating ideas. The use of an emblem or flag to symbolize some system, idea, institution, or personality, is a short cut from mind to mind. Causes and nations, political parties, lodges and ecclesiastical groups seek to knit the loyalty of their followings to a flag or banner, a color or design. The State announces rank, function, and authority through crowns and maces, uniforms and black robes; the church speaks through the Cross, the Crucifix, the altar and shrine, and clerical raiment. Symbols of State often convey political ideas just as religious symbols come to convey theological ones. Associated with many of these symbols are appropriate gestures of acceptance or respect: a salute, a bowed or bared head, a bended knee. A person gets from a symbol the meaning he puts into it, and what is one man's comfort and inspiration is another's jest and scorn. 319 U.S. at 632-33. 210 It is equally so with a state motto. The words of a motto are a form of symbolicspeech whether vocalized or read and, therefore, take their meaning from the text in which they are located, as we shall describe.