There are moments when I think I definitely need to add Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War among one of myfuture books to read. I haven't picked up Thucydides since college, but I stumbled on this passage while reading Thomas Cahill's "Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter." Thucydides had no truck with oracles and omens. Gods are entirely absent from his narrative. He had incredible insight into how his war - and all wars including our more recent conflicts - causes the degeneration of society. Note this following passage, and you can see the prelude to our most recent Gulf War situation:
"Practically the whole of the Hellenic world was convulsed, with rival parties in every state - democratic leaders trying to bring in the Athenians, and oligarchs trying to bring in the Spartans.
"To fit in with the change of events, words too had to change their usual meanings. What used to be described as a thoughtless act of aggression was not regard as the courage one would expect to find in a party member; to think of the future and wait was merely another way of saying one was a coward; any idea of moderation was just an attempt to disguise one's unmanly character; ability to understand a question from all sides meant that one was totally unfitted for action. Fanatical enthusiasm was the mark of a real man, and to plot against an enemy behind his back was perfectly legitimate self-defense. Anyone who held violent opinions could always be trusted, and anyone who objected to them became a suspect.
"As a result, there was a general deterioration of character throughout the Greek world. The plain way of looking at things, which is so much the mark of a noble nature, was regarded as a ridiculous quality and soon ceased to exist. Society became divided into camps in which no man trusted his fellow."
Incredible insight from a man living in Greece's Golden Age with Pericles at the head of his city's government. You should also explore Pericles' speech over the first war dead. It sounds very much like a long winded (thought beaufiful) Gettysburg Address. In fact, Lincoln borrows liberally from some of his points, including Lincoln's phrase "the last full measure of devotion."
He is so right on. Another reason why one should worry about a president who does not read, has no understanding of history and bases all of his understanding of what's happening in the world on the summaries his aides prepare for him.
As Cahill notes in a footnote aside: Rumsfeld allegedly commissioned a study of how empires worked to preserve their hegemony. It would probably have been better time and money spent if he had also commissioned a study about how empires LOST their empires. The Greeks entered the Peloponnesian War at the heighth of its power. But the Athenians shunned all of their allies who spoke against it, thinking they would have no problem defeating Sparta. For 30 plus years Athens fought without benefit of allies, and eventually succumbed to Sparta (after first losing their democracy internally).
Cahill says Athens losing to Sparta would be like the U.S. losing to North Korea.
I am not a negative person. I would like to think of myself as a realist, and America's going it alone in this so-called War Against Terrorism has me extremely nervous.
"Practically the whole of the Hellenic world was convulsed, with rival parties in every state - democratic leaders trying to bring in the Athenians, and oligarchs trying to bring in the Spartans.
"To fit in with the change of events, words too had to change their usual meanings. What used to be described as a thoughtless act of aggression was not regard as the courage one would expect to find in a party member; to think of the future and wait was merely another way of saying one was a coward; any idea of moderation was just an attempt to disguise one's unmanly character; ability to understand a question from all sides meant that one was totally unfitted for action. Fanatical enthusiasm was the mark of a real man, and to plot against an enemy behind his back was perfectly legitimate self-defense. Anyone who held violent opinions could always be trusted, and anyone who objected to them became a suspect.
"As a result, there was a general deterioration of character throughout the Greek world. The plain way of looking at things, which is so much the mark of a noble nature, was regarded as a ridiculous quality and soon ceased to exist. Society became divided into camps in which no man trusted his fellow."
Incredible insight from a man living in Greece's Golden Age with Pericles at the head of his city's government. You should also explore Pericles' speech over the first war dead. It sounds very much like a long winded (thought beaufiful) Gettysburg Address. In fact, Lincoln borrows liberally from some of his points, including Lincoln's phrase "the last full measure of devotion."
He is so right on. Another reason why one should worry about a president who does not read, has no understanding of history and bases all of his understanding of what's happening in the world on the summaries his aides prepare for him.
As Cahill notes in a footnote aside: Rumsfeld allegedly commissioned a study of how empires worked to preserve their hegemony. It would probably have been better time and money spent if he had also commissioned a study about how empires LOST their empires. The Greeks entered the Peloponnesian War at the heighth of its power. But the Athenians shunned all of their allies who spoke against it, thinking they would have no problem defeating Sparta. For 30 plus years Athens fought without benefit of allies, and eventually succumbed to Sparta (after first losing their democracy internally).
Cahill says Athens losing to Sparta would be like the U.S. losing to North Korea.
I am not a negative person. I would like to think of myself as a realist, and America's going it alone in this so-called War Against Terrorism has me extremely nervous.
posted by Robert | 11:06 AM
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