Modern Day Caesar

As reported in Wikipedia: 

 

“Shortly before 15 February 44 BC, Roman Emperor Julius Ceasar assumed the dictatorship for life, putting an end to any hopes that his powers would be merely temporary. Transforming his dictatorship into one for life clearly showed to all contemporaries that Caesar had no intention to restore a free republic and that no free republic could be restored so long as he was in power.

 

The ancient sources are unanimous that this reflected a genuine turn in public opinion against Caesar.  Popular indignation at Caesar was likely rooted in his debt policies (too friendly to lenders), use of lethal force to suppress protests for debt relief, his reduction in the grain dole, his abolition of Clodius’s collegia—neighborhood associations and professional guild that created a powerful, organized street-level political base, his abolition of the poorest panel of jurors in the permanent courts, and his abolition of open elections which deprived the people of their ancient right of decision.”

 

Sound familiar? Here we are again, 2,000 years later. Some minor details have changed, but mostly the same old tired playbook of despots and dictators. And how did that end back then?

 

Well, read Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, written some 1500 years later. Shakespeare’s lines (with a little shifting to modern people) resonate five centuries ahead to describe pretty well where we are now:

 

“The birds of night (Drumf’s Twitter babble and endless lies) did sit at the noonday upon the market place hooting and shrieking…let not men say, ‘These are their reasons, they are natural.’ For I believe they are portentous things unto the climate that they point to. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time.”

 

 “But if you would consider the true cause, Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, why birds and beasts act unnaturally, why old men fool and children calculate, why all these things change from their ordinary state, their natures and natural faculties to monstrous quality, why you shall find that heaven hath infused them with these spirits to make them instruments of fear and warning unto some monstrous state.” (ACT I. Sc. III 65)

 

“Cassius (the people) from bondage will deliver Cassius (the people). Therein, ye gods, make the weak most strong. Therein, ye gods, tyrants do defeat. Nor stony tower nor walls of beaten brass nor airless dungeon nor strong links of iron can hold down the strength of spirit, for life, being weary of these worldly bars, never lacks power to (redeem) itself.” (ACT 1. Sc. III 95-105)

 

What trash is Rome (the United States), what rubbish, what offal, when it serves for the base matter to illuminate so vile a thing as Caesar (you know who). (ACT 1. Sc. III 112-155)

 

“The abuse (that occurs) when it disjoins remorse from power. (ACT II Sc. 1 -17)

 

"My ancestors did from the streets of Rome the Tarquin drive when he was called a king. We must “Speak! Strike! Redress!” (Hence, No Kings Rallies)

 

“(Oh, Orange Man,) where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough to mask thy monstrous visage? You hide it in smiles and affability.” (ACT II Sc. 1 -85)

 

“Then fall Caesar (Maggot-Man)! Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets! (ACT II Sc. 1 -85)

In the play, Brutus and conspirators assassinate Caesar. Tempting conclusion, but that playbook has also run its course. I do not wish for our modern-day Caesar to be murdered, nor die of natural causes and escape accountability. I want him and each and every one of his shameless enablers and supporters to be dragged off to jail as proven traitors, charged and convicted with treason alongside all their other crimes. Maybe a year in Parchman Prison in Mississippi, alongside the rats and mice and violent guards, to face this creation of their own privilege. Then years of rehabilitation left alone with babies and responsible for feeding them diapering them, soothing them when they’re shrieking, eventually playing with them cooking for them, reading to them (from an acceptable reading list—Mein Kampf and The Art of the Deal are both banned).

Don't have much hope their hardened hearts are capable of softening, but want to say that we tried. Meanwhile, with. them safely tucked away, perhaps the rest of us can finally can on with the business of living well. One can only dream.