To Lead or to Follow

Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Emerson

A leader who follows the crowds, who bows and bends to societal norms, is a leader that does not reside in the history books. A leader who breaks from the shackles of regularity and finds his own way is one that will be remembered. Caesar is one such man. He shirked tradition and focused on what Rome needed, what he needed, and in doing so he became one of the greatest generals in history. When he created the idea, implemented the idea, and aided in the construction of his idea to build a bridge across the Rhine river - no one had succeeded in such a task if they had even tried. Caesar and his men did it in ten days. TEN. Why follow someone else when you know that others should follow you. To follow the path already laid out, are you really leading? Caesar truly led, he made his own path that no one else had travelled. He was a true leader, regardless of some of his faults.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr

Caesar was an improviser, he used his gut reaction as well as his strategic skills to plan his battle strategies and in doing so he was able to succeed. In 54 BC when his troops were destroyed Caesar was faced with a challenge. The first major defeat that he had suffered – how would he handle it? He hunted the enemy down, he killed them all and he sent their homes and villages up in flames. He regained the support of his men if any was lost by thoroughly avenging the lives of their friends and comrades. He may have been ruthless and perhaps sadistic but he was a brilliant leader who took an empire and made it better, stronger. He faced controversy and challenge, he diverted from the normal path – he broke the mould and showed the world that he was deserving of his place in history

Conquest

“Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters.”

- Alexander the Great

Yet another example of his unwavering drive to rule the world, he believed he could be the supreme ruler of the world. There would be no one else, like there can be only one sun and only one moon - he would be the only one ruler.

The Rise and Fall

A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient.
- Unknown, in reference to Alexander the Great

He dreamt of owning the world, of achieving the impossible, and if anyone could have done it he was most likely. Regardless of the conflicting views on Alexander he was a brilliant tactician with ambition that surpassed all else - or so we are led to believe by historians. He wanted the world and it ended for him like for any other, in a tomb where he was laid to rest.

What Is It Really?

History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.
- Napolean Bonaparte

I have actually often wondered at this, what exactly it is that makes us believe that what we are being taught it the truth. For us there are certain portions of history we are sure about, the ones of the more recent centuries that have written evidence and photographs. However, as we move further back - all the way back to Alexander, to Aristotle, to Rome and to Egypt - how do we know that the common belief of what has occurred is factual? We have bits and pieces, small writings or larger pieces written by people during that period but there is no true way of knowing the truth in these documents. Yes, we have artifacts but sometimes what we perceive has occurred is not what has actually happened. Napolean voiced this wonder, history is what has been generally agreed upon as most probable. Makes you wonder.

Bravery and Cowardice

"A coward turns away but a brave man's choice is danger"

- Euripides

There are many views on Alexander the Great but one that reigns supreme is his courage. His methods are disputed, some idolizing him for his strategy and his 'story' while others are mildly disgusted with the methods he undertook on his quest to rule the world. However, like I mentioned, they all speak of his bravery. This quote is quite appropriate to describe Alexander as he was not a coward if we are to believe what we read, he was brave and he wouldn't back down in the face of challenges. His choice was to march into the thick of battle, whether it be a small skirmish or a daunting opponent. He chose danger.

Butcher of Macedon

"Yet human experience has moral constants across time and space that are common to all cultures and cannot be explained away; by any fair measure, Alexander's inaugural Theban holocaust puts his murder in league with ethnic obliterations of our own era - Adolf Hitler's wartime retaliatory annihilation of occupied communities, Hafez Assad's erasure of wayward Syrian villages or Saddam Hussein's gassing and butchery of Iraqi Kurds - all government-sponsored murder, passed off through propoganda and disinformation as the regrettable but inevitable wages of conflict."
- Butcher of Macedon by Victor Davis Hanson

I sometimes lose sight of that saying that history repeats itself, instead believing that we re-invent history as time goes on. To a point we do, finding new ways to achieve the old results, but the fundamental emotion or idea behind it remains the same. Hatred, sadism, anger - these emotions don't change, they follow us throughout time and never let go and these emotions are the ones that fuel the terror that is inflicted on society. Alexander is portrayed as this incredible man, a brilliant tactition with the ability to conquer the world in the common story but this article counter acts the brilliant mind with the guilty act. He was a cold-blooded killer with no respect for human life or any form of mercy and yet this idea of him as this great leader continues unmarked by his indiscretions. He was the predecessor of Hitler and Hussein and he was probably the pupil of someone else - the vicious cycle continues.

Lysistrata

"All right. We're going to have to give up - the prick. Why are you turning away from me? Where are you going? Why are you all pursing your lips and shaking your heads? What means your altered color and tearful droppings? Will you do it or not? What are you waiting for?"

- Loeb Classical Library Reader, Lysistrata, Page 63

They seem so outraged that they would have to give up sex to make their husbands and lovers halt their wars but they also seem to be aware of the power they hold over their men. Women in history are portrayed as quiet and demure and yet classical women seem to be far more brash and confident in themselves and their power over society and their men. Makes you wonder if we've come full circle with women, going from powerful and somewhat close to equal to not at all to somewhat close to equal again. Taboo topics have changed over the centuries as well but again, sex is no longer taboo. These women seem very open about their sexuality. Also...it's kind of hilarious...

The Bacchae

"No blood was drawn by their pointed spears, whether they used bronze or iron, but the Bacchants, hurling their wands from their hands, inflicted wounds and made those villagers turn and run - women routing men - surely the work of some god."

- The Bacchae, Page 147

Is it really so outrageous to believe a woman would fight a man? Apparently so. The Bacchants are insane, wild and 'free', and they fight and chase the villagers in their madness. They injure without piercing the skin and turn the tide of the heirarchy. No longer are men above women, they now cower. Is this what Dionysus planned? For a complete role reversal? It would appear that way as he also dresses Pentheus as a women. He is changing the entire system around.

Civilization Fall

The more rapidly a civilization progresses, the sooner it dies for another to rise in its place.
- Havelock Ellis

The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Heroes

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

- Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve is a man who knows what it means to be a hero - he did play Superman after all. So, coming from him, this quote can actually really affect those who observe it. Odysseus fits the criteria for a hero in more than just the criteria laid out by this quote and yet he fits the above quote almost perfectly. In actuality he really is just an ordinary man, he was born from two mortals (albeit royals) and he grew up among mortals. It wasn't until he was older that his confrontations with the Gods occured. So, from an ordinary upbringing he rose to the occasion and met every challenge presented to him head on - he fought for his life, for his family's life, and for his country.

Most modern day heroes also fit this criteria. Not all are uncommonly strong, or dashingly attractive, or wealthy - some merely had the strength of will to persevere in the face of overwhelming obstacles. Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Romeo Dallaire, and Martin Luther King to name a few of the more well known ones. However, many more people in our world can be considered heroes just by simply living through overwhelming obstacles. People who have survived a debilitating, often lethal, disease like cancer or people who have struggled with abuse or poverty - these people are heroes in their own right.

Nostos

"But the royal couple, once they'd reveled in all the longed-for joys of love, reveled in each other's stories, the radiant woman telling of all she'd borne at home, watching them there, the infernal crowd of suitors slaughtering the herds of cattle an good fat sheep - while keen to win her hand - draining the broached vats dry of vintage wine."

- The Odyssey Book 23, Page 465

Odysseus finally gets his homecoming.

Beggar

"Get off the porch, you old goat, before I haul you off by the leg! Can't you see them give me the wink, al of them here, to drag you out - and so I would but I've got some pangs of conscience. Up with you, man, or before you know it, we'll be trading blows!"

- Arnaeus, The Odyssey, Book 18, page 375

Just goes to show that not everyone can treat royalty with reverence all the time, regardless of the fact that he didn't know who he was.

Mutiny and Admiration

"You're a hard man, Odysseus. Your fighting spirit's stronger than ours, your stamina never fails. You must be made of iron head to foot. Look, your crew's half-dead with labor, starved for sleep, and you forbid us to set foot on land,this island here, washed by the waves, where we might catch a decent meal again"

- Eurylochus, The Odyssey Book 12, Page 280

Like in the earlier part of this chapter, Odysseus is again being raised above the rest as this super being - better in every aspect. Following this little comparison Eurylochus essentially plants the seed for a mutiny by bringing up all of the deficiencies in their plan - they need sleep, they need food, they must rest. By doing so he is undermining Odysseus' authority. He is feeding fuel to the fire.

Old Phrases, New Meanings

"But now I cleared my mind of Circe's orders - cramping my style, urging me not to arm at all."

- Odysseus, The Odyssey Book 12, Page 278

'Cramping my style' - an older phrase that was popularized in the early 90's if I remember correctly, perhaps earlier, and yet it all stemmed from a piece of literature far, far older than that. This is but one of the many instances in classical literature where phrases become popular once again. Odysseus used it, Bart Simpson used it and it has most likely been used by our generation and the generations preceding ours. At the very least we all know of it and yet it is far older than anyone can remember. I guess this proves that good literature is everlasting, the right phrase - timeless.

Modesty

"But even from there my courage, my presence of mind and tactics saved us all, and we will live to remember this someday, I have no doubt."

- Odysseus, The Odyssey Book 12, Page 278

For all of his redeeming qualities this is one of the first very obvious representations of one of his faults. He isn't modest, he is proud of who he is and while that is good to a certain extent it can also cause dissent between the ranks of men. His crew don't seem themselves as part of the journey because Odysseus takes credit for it. It is he who had courage, he who had the presence of mind - he is saying he is the one who saved them. If I were a crew member it would be devastating to believe that through it all my contribution meant nothing.

Cattle of the Sun

"Leave the beasts unharmed, your mind set on home, and you all may still reach Ithaca - bent with hardship, true - but harm them in any way, and I can see it now: your ship destroyed, your men destroyed as well! And even if you escape, you'll come home later, all shipmates lost, and come home a broken man"

- Circe, The Odyssey Book 12, Page 275

Circe has warned Odysseus of his fate, of what is awaiting him on his journey and yet he still perseveres. He shows incredible will and almost selfishness in his quest to get home in that he is willing to sacrifice his shipmates if it means he will arrive home to his family. It is sweet in a way, that his love for them is so strong, but he is doomed countless other families to a life without their husband or son or father. Circe's warning falls on deaf ears to an extent with the cattle being slaughtered by one of the shipmates in a fit of desperation. It just goes to show that things don't always go as planned and that what you strive for, what you want, can't always occur. Odysseus wants to go home, he wants to be with his family, but at every turn he is met with an obstacle of some form. His crew, the winds, the gods, the monsters, the sirens - the list never ends.

Hercules

"Son of Zeus that I was my, torments never ended, forced to slave for a man not half the man I was: he saddled me with the worst heartbreaking labors. Why, he sent me down here once, to retrieve the hound that guards the dead - no harder task for me, he thought - but I dragged the great beast up from the underworld to earth and Hermes and gleaming-eyed Athena blazed the way!"

- Hercules. The Odyssey Book 11 Page 270

In the modern world we still make references to Hercules and his labours in everyday life. From television to movies to magazines to casual conversation, even advertising is riddled with references to the classic hero. The above quote illustrates his take on what he had to do, on how he felt about what he was faced with and I believe it is a good show of morality. It makes him real, no longer this mythical being in a sense because he felt pain. He felt sorrow and heartache, he felt despair and the torment - he was human. As are all of us so if he can face this adversity, despite his god given gifts, and become immortalized then what is to say that one of our generation will not be the next Hercules.

Odyssey

"When young Dawn with her rose-red fingers shone once more"

- The Odyssey, Page 216 Line 190

Throughout this novel this line is repeated over and over. Why? I believe it is because Dawn represents rebirth, the "dawning" of a new time. By using this in the Odyssey Homer is almost starting a new chapter within a chapter - he is stating a beginning. Dawning, the beginning, it all comes back to that. To see Dawn is to start a new day, to begin fresh - to start over. Odysseus is trying to start over, trying to erase the years of absence, and everytime he sees the Dawn he begins anew.

Silence

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Often we are so afraid of the repurcussions that we don't speak out, that we don't take a stand. Those who make a stand are remembered and memorialized - they create our societies and they shape our world. To stand complacent is to fade into the background. Stand for what you believe in and speak out.

Written

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it

- Winston Churchill

I found this quote humourous simply because we all have heard the stories told about Winston Churchill - they don't often bathe him in a favourable light. Often they show him as this rude, arrogant man who was brilliant. He did write history, and yet he is still not painted in a wholly favourable way.