February 25, 2011

Oderint Dum Metuant

Not my catchiest title ever.

What does it mean?

That is a fair question. It is Latin and when translated it says "Let them hate provided they fear". (Another translation is: "Let them hate us as long as they fear us")

The frightening part is where this phrase was photographed.

Look:















Yep. In the windscreen of a fucking police vehicle.

Are you in any doubt that they despise us?

Me neither.

CR.

14 comments:

Bucko said...

I hate them but I dont fear them. Whats the Latin for that?
"Libertas"

Captain Ranty said...

I think it is "Fuckius Offium".

CR.

Anonymous said...

Taking liberties

Bucko said...

I stand corrected. I got an E in Latin ;-)

Anonymous said...

There is no E in Latin. Do you also spell "farm" e i e i o?
:-)

banned said...

The phrase belongs to that nice Mr. Caligula.

Bill Sticker said...

Only one reply to that;

"Licentia vacuus odium"

Translate here.

Captain Ranty said...

CD,

I are missing our proposed piss up. Will let you know when I are coming down to the smoke.

Oh, and TWO GCSE's? I think you are being generous there.

CR.

nfc said...

The same motto was also used by Combat18.

Captain Ranty said...

Good one Bill!

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

Banned,

If memory serves, they assassinated the poor bugger in AD41.

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

NFC,

They look like a charming bunch:

http://www.combat18.org/

CR.

Anonymous said...

From a Guardian article 12th Oct 2010!

"... as anyone who saw the force's Operational Support Unit van guarding last week's Tory conference from such as the uppity "right to work" marchers will attest. The van displayed in its front window a force letterhead next to the motif Operational Support Unit and the Latin slogan oderint dum metuant – or "Let them hate so long as they fear". At least that is what it said until yesterday when we flagged it up to force headquarters. It has now been taken down for being "totally inappropriate and unacceptable". Culprits are being sought. Disciplinary action will follow. Oderint dum metuant was a favourite saying of the Roman emperor Caligula,... "

So when was this photo taken?

Captain Ranty said...

Harry,

October last year, as far as I know:

http://ianbone.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/let-them-hate-as-long-as-they-fear/

CR.