No, it is NOT an Australian dog (which is ‘Dingo‘) nor the title of a movie. It is what it is, the Latin, Dīrigō. The image from Wikipedia above tells you all that you probably want to know.
“The Way Life Should Be”, is NOT Maine’s motto. It is Maine’s slogan. There is a difference. Check image right at top.
New Hampshire, on the other hand, does NOT have a slogan. The famous “Live Free or Die” is THE MOTTO.
I am sure that kids in Maine, at some point, are taught the motto. I would like to find out. I will be back in Maine within the month. I am going to ask around. I am also going to check how many ‘young’ folks know what ‘Latin’ is! You think I am joking.
Click to ENLARGE. The infamous motto. What prompted me to move to New Hampshire in 1986 (36-years ago). Click to ENLARGE. I used a variation of this motto: “Think Free, Or Die“.
I wasn’t sure whether I was surprised or shocked when I saw this #1 ranking for ‘New Hampshire‘ in the U.K. ‘Daily Mail’ (which I read (at least) 4 times a day).
I moved to New Hampshire, in 1986, because I was captivated by the ‘Live Free Or Die’ motto that I saw on a car license plate. I knew I had to live there, i.e., New Hampshire (as opposed to ‘Taxachusetts‘, i.e., ‘Massachusetts‘). I had a job, with Wang, in MA but I knew I wanted to live in NH.
That, amazingly, was 36 years ago.
Suffice to say much water has flown under the numerous NH bridges over those many years.
Soon after I moved I discovered, to my horror (& to those of some others) that NH had NO ordinance against ‘explosive blasting’. So, the folks who had bought the empty lot next to us in extremely rural ‘New Ipswich‘ could use dynamite, with abandonment, to break up the granite ledge (that NH is so famous for) so that they could dig out space for their basement. NOTHING. They didn’t even have to notify the abutters. That was how free the State was. Not sure what the regulations are now for blasting. Though I made numerous calls I am not sure whether anything got changed.
I personally don’t feel that NH is that FREE — especially having been a small business owner. But, I really have no experience of any other states.
But, I am glad that NH is ranked #1 in terms of the FREEEST States. That is cool. Makes me smile.
