Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Harper Imitating Roman Tyrants?

Didn't Ceasar (Gaius Julius, I believe) "load" his Senate, and put some Senators to death in order to become "Supreme Tyrant"?

Harper's moves with the Senate seem very Imperial Roman. Just the thing a tyrant does when assuming supreme control?

Here is a bit about Gaius Julius Caesar:

Gaius Iulius Caesar[1] or Gaius Julius Caesar (pronounced [ˈgaːius ˈjuːlius ˈkaɪsar] in Classical Latin; conventionally pronounced [ˈgajəs ˈdʒuːliəs ˈsiːzɚ] in English), July 13, 100 BC[2] – March 15, 44 BC,[3]) was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

A politician of the populares tradition, he formed an unofficial triumvirate with Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus which dominated Roman politics for several years, opposed in the Roman Senate by optimates like Marcus Porcius Cato and Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus. His conquest of Gaul extended the Roman world to the North Sea, and he also conducted the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC. The collapse of the triumvirate, however, led to a stand-off with Pompey and the Senate. Leading his legions across the Rubicon, Caesar began a civil war in 49 BC from which he became the undisputed master of the Roman world.

Note, in particular, the stand-off with the Senate. Also, the "populist" (Populares Roman Leaders appealed to the public to circumvent the Democratic Senate) references.

What next from Harper? Fomentation of a Canadian Civil War? He's already fired the first shots: Attacking Ontario, telling the world NOT to invest there; picking a fight with Newfoundland (cute, tiny little Newfoundland) after comments about an Atlantic "culture of defeat"; Talking up Western Separatism ad nauseum; and finally, spending much of Fall 2008, and the start of Winter attacking Quebec - and calling them all Separatists and Traitors.

Sound like the words of a Roman Emperor? Calling people separatists and traitors? Very tyrant-like, no?

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VICTORY FUND

2 comments:

The Mound of Sound said...

WG, a very happy Christmas to you and yours. Raise one for me.

Loraine Lamontagne said...

I would recommend that you find the editorial cartoon in last weekend's The Toronto Star (Sat or Sun?).

It shows Harper dressed as Santa holding a scroll with the names of potential senators, including Northern Dancer (a horse).

Roman Emperor Caligula had appointed his horse to the senate, you will recall...

Merry Christmas!