Posted on 09/03/2009 11:18:36 AM PDT by mbarker12474
Sic Semper Tyrannis
Roman mythology defines the unique Great Seal of Virginia. The obverse of the seal features the Roman goddess Virtus standing over a defeated opponent. Virtus is dressed in Amazonian garb, and holds a spear and a sheathed sword. She represents the virtues of heroism, righteousness, freedom, and valor. She stands in a classical victor's pose over a fallen tyrannical foe, whose crown lies on the ground. The state's motto "Sic Semper Tyrannis" ("Thus Always to Tyrants") appears at the lower edge. The seal was approved at Virginia's 1776 Constitutional Convention, and the principal designer is said to have been George Wythe. A committee composed of Wythe, George Mason, Robert Carter Nicholas, and Richard Henry Lee collaborated on the design. In 1930 another committee was charged with standardizing the seal's design because of all the variations that came into use over the years. What the committee approved was basically adopting the 1776 seal as the standard. In 1949, another standard was implemented, when Virginia's Art Commission defined the official color scheme for the seal.
The Virginia flag serves as a reminder to tyrants that civil, well-behaved discourse can end, and has every proper right to end, with the tyrannical takings of life, health, wealth, property, and liberty. The tyrant with his hand in your pocket deserves his hand to be cut off, not a civil debate about it.
Someone, who is good at art/graphics, could re-do the VA state seal, and put obama as the tyrant, and Sarah The Barracuda as the Amazon who defeats his sorry ass. Instead of Virginia above, we could put “America”.
I’m very proud of that flag-almost as proud as I am of the red,white & blue.
I’m quite proud of my native state’s flag as well, but I always thought “Sic semper tyrannis” meant always over tyranny, not thus always to tyrants.
Virginia is for Lovers
of personal freedom...
democracy...
life...
self-determination...
Think “Semper fidelis” / always faithful.
Sic Semper Tyrannis/ always thus to a tyrant.
As far as State flags go, VA has to be one of the best; great motto, and a bare breasted woman with a bloody spear stuck into a dead guy!
"Sic semper," I say, "to tyrants!"
Just wait until the ACLU comes after the seal as “endorsing the Ancient Greek religion” and therefore a violation of the separation of Church and State.
My dear departed Dad told this story about his first week in elementary school in Alexandria, VA.
Asked by the teacher what the phrase “Sic Semper Tyrannis” meant - and clearly not knowing the answer - he decided to wing it.
“Hey lady, get your foot off my neck”, was the reply.
Latin “sic” meant “thus”. One of the few things I remember from a couple of years studying Latin in high school.
That had to have broken up the class and the teacher!
Flag of Virginia
http://virginia.gov/cmsportal3/facts_and_history_4096/facts_4104/trivia_facts.html
The State Flag of Virginia bears the Great Seal of the Commonwealth on a field of blue. The seal depicts the goddess “Virtus.” She is dressed as an Amazon, armed with a spear and sword, and stands over a defeated despot. The seal displays the State Motto,”Sic Semper Tyrannis,” which is Latin for, “Thus Always to Tyrants.”
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