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New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan<\/a><\/p>\n\nThat flag photo accompanying today’s lead piece may not look familiar, but it was in our state’s early days. From 1912 to 1925 it was the official state flag. Since then the easily recognizable Zia symbol flag has flown proudly.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/a>posted by mjh<\/a> at December 3, 2004<\/font> 11:13 AM <\/p>\n
ABQjournal: Letters to the Editor<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThunderbolt in Motion<\/p>\n
THE MUCH-CRITICIZED state motto "crescit eundo" is actually a quotation from the first-century B.C. Latin poet Lucretius in his epic poem De Rerum Natura, "On The Nature of Things," book 6.<\/p>\n
In context it refers to the motion of a thunderbolt across the sky, which acquires power and momentum as it goes. Whoever chose that as a state motto in the old frontier days obviously knew the classics.<\/p>\n
Once one realizes that the motto is comparing the state of New Mexico to a mighty thunderbolt flashing across the sky, it gives a whole new meaning to the expression.<\/p>\n
WARREN SMITH
Professor of classics, University of New Mexico
Albuquerque<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Other<\/strong> entry by mjh<\/a> at March 22, 2005 <\/font><\/b>11:19 AM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I missed these two items when they were timely, a month ago. Just stumbled upon them in my archives. New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan That flag photo accompanying today’s lead piece may not look familiar, but it was in our state’s early days. From 1912 to 1925 it was the official state flag. Since … Continue reading New Mexico’s official flag until 1925, plus a beautiful interpretation of “crescit eundo”<\/span>