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Pg 242 BOOK THREE

EXTRACTED FROM BOOK ON PELOPONNESIAN WAR

PELOPONNESIAN WAR

82 So savage was the progress of this revolution, and it seemed all the more so because it was one of the first which had broken out. Later, of course, 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. In peacetime there would have been no excuse and no desire for calling them in, but in time of war, when each party could always count upon an alliance which would do harm to its opponents and at the same time strengthen its own position, it became a natural thing for anyone who wanted a change of govern ment to call in help from outside. In the various cities these revolu tions were the cause of many calamities — as happens and always will happen while human nature is what it is, though there may be different degrees of savagery, and, as different circumstances arise, the general rules will admit of some variety. In times of peace and prosperity cities and individuals alike follow higher standards, because they are not forced into a situation where they have to do what they do not want to do. But war is a stern teacher; in de priving them of the power of easily satisfying their daily wants, it brings most peoples minds down to the level of their actual cir cumstances.

So revolutions broke out in city after city, and in places where the revolutions occurred late the knowledge of what had happened previously in other places caused still new extravagances of revolu tionary zeal, expressed by an elaboration in the methods of seizing power and by unheard-of atrocities in revenge. 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 now regarded 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 under stand 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 defence. Anyone who held violent opinions could always be trusted, and anyone who objected to them becamel_a suspect. To plot successfully was a sign of intelligence, but it was still cleverer to [Civil War in Corcyra 427 pg 243] see that a plot was hatching, If one attempted to provide against having to do either, one was disrupting the unity of the party and acting out of fear of the opposition. In short, it was equally praise worthy to get one's blow in first against someone who was going to do wrong, and to denounce someone who had no intention of doing any wrong at all.

Family relations were a weaker tie than party membership, since party members were more ready to go to any extreme for any reason whatever. These parties were not for med to enjoy the benefits of the established laws, but to acquire power by overthrowing the existing regime; and the members of these parties felt confidence in each other not because ofany fellow ship in a religious communion, but because they were partners in crime. If an opponent made a reasonable speech, the party in power, so far from giving it a generous reception, took every precaution-to see that it had no practical effect.

Revenge was more important than self-preservation. And if pacts of mutual security were made, they were entered into by the two parties only in order to meet some temporary difficulty, and remained in force only so long as there was no other weapon available. When the chance came, the one who first seized it boldly, catching his enemy off his guard, enjoyed a revenge that was all the sweeter from having been taken, not openly, but be cause of a breach of faith. It was safer that way, it was considered, and at the same time a victory won by treachery gave one a title for superior intelligence. And indeed most people are more ready to call villainy cleverness than simple-mindedness honesty. They are proud of the first quality and ashamed of the second.

Love of power, operating through greed and through personal ambition, was the cause of all these evils. To this must be added the violent fanaticism which came into play once the struggle had broken out. Leaders of parties in the cities had programmes which appeared admirable — on one side political equality for the masses, on the other the safe and sound government of the aristocracy — but in professing to serve the public interest they were seeking to win the prizes for themselves. In their struggles for ascendancy nothing was barred; terrible indeed were the actions to which they com mitted themselves, and in taking revenge they went farther still. Here they were deterred neither by the claims of justice nor by . . . [end pg 243]

BOOK THREE pg 244 . . . the interests of the state; their one standard was the pleasure of their own party at that particular moment, and so, either by means of condemning their enemies on an illegal vote or by violently usurping power over them, they were always ready to satisfy the hatreds of the hour. Thus neither side had any use for conscien tious motives; more interest was shown in those who could pro duce attractive arguments to justify some disgraceful action. As for the citizens who held moderate views, they

83 As the result of these revolutions, there was a general deteriora tion of character throughout the Greek world. The simple 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 had become divided into-two ideologicallyhostile camps, and each side viewed the other with suspicion. As for ending this state of affairs, no guarantee could be given that would be trusted, no oath sworn that people would fear to break; everyone had come to the conclusion that it was hopeless to expect a permanent set tlement and so, instead of being able to feel confident in others, they devoted their energies to providing against being injured them selves. As a rule those who were least remarkable for intelligence showed the greater powers of survival. Such people recognized their own deficiencies and the superior intelligence of their oppon nents; fearing that they might lose a debate or find themselves out-manoeuvred in intrigue by their quick-witted enemies, they boldly launched straight into action; while their opponents, over confident in the belief that they would see what was happening in advance, and not thinking it necessary to seize by force what they could secure by policy, were the more easily destroyed because they were off their guard.

Paragraph 84, Book 3, Certainly it was in Corcyra that there occurred the first examples of the breakdown of law and order. There was the revenge taken in their hour of triumph by those who had in the past been arro gantly oppressed instead of wisely governed; there were the wicked resolutions taken by those who, particularly under the pres. sure of misfortune, wished to escape from their usual poverty and coveted the property of their neighbours ; there were the savage and . . . end pg 244

pg 245 . . . Operations in Sicioy and Greece 429-? . . . pitiless actions into which men were carried not so much for the sake of gain as because they were swept away into an internecine struggle by their ungovernable passions. Then, with the ordinary conventions of civilized life thrown into confusion, human nature, always ready to offend even-where laws exist, showed itselfproud ly in its true colours, as something incapable of controlling passion, insubordinate to the idea of justice, the enemy to anything superior to itself; for, if it had not been for the pernicious power of envy, men would not so have exalted vengeance above innocence and profit above justice. Indeed, it is true that in these acts of revenge on others men take it upon themselves to begin the process of repealing those general laws of humanity which are there to give a hope of salvation to all who are in distress, instead of leaving those laws in existence, remembering that there may come a time when they, too, will be in danger and will need their protection.

8s So, while the people of Corcyra were the first to display in their city the passions of civil war, Eurymedon and the Athenian fleet sailed away. Afterwards the exiled party of the Corcyraeans (about 50o had managed to escape) occupied various fortified posts on the mainland, gained control of the Corcyraean territory across the straits, and used this as a base for making plundering expedi tions against their fellow citizens on the island. Thus they did a lot of damage and caused a serious famine inthe city. They also sent delegates to Sparta and to Corinth to try to get themselves restored to their position in Corcyra. However, their negotiations were unsuccessful and they then, some time later, got together some ships and some mercenary troops and crossed over to the island with a force of about 600 altogether. There they burned their boats, so that there should be no hope left to them except in a final conquest of the country. They then went up to Mount Istone, built themselves fortifications, and proceeded to make attacks on the party inside the city, keeping control of the country districts.

OPERATIONS IN SICILY AND GREECE

86 At the end of this same summer the Athenians sent out twenty ships to Sicily, where the Syracusans and the people of Leontini - - to be continued - The Story of the War in The Ukraine Kingdom between the forces of Justice and Right, The Russian Federal Republic and the Vandals and Barbarians come down from Mount Etna to spill their lava and guts on the innocent citizens of Ukraine, known to the modern historicans as The Americans

As a rule those who were least remarkable for intelligence showed the greater powers of survival. Such people recognized their own deficiencies and the superior intelligence of their opponnents; fearing that they might lose a debate or find themselves out-manoeuvred in intrigue by their quick-witted enemies, they boldly launched straight into action; while their opponents, over confident in the belief that they would see what was happening in advance, and not thinking it necessary to seize by force what they could secure by policy, were the more easily destroyed because they were off their guard.

84 Certainly it was in Corcyra that there occurred the first examples of the breakdown of law and order. There was the revenge taken in their hour of triumph by those who had in the past been arrogantly oppressed instead of wisely governed; there were the wicked resolutions taken by those who, particularly under the pressure of misfortune, wished to escape from their usual poverty and coveted the property of their neighbours ; there were the savage and pitiless actions into which men were carried not so much for the sake of gain as because they were swept away into an internecine struggle by their ungovernable passions

Then, with the ordinary conventions of civilized life thrown into confusion, human nature, always ready to offend even-where laws exist, showed itselfproud ly in its true colours, as something incapable of controlling passion, insubordinate to the idea of justice, the enemy to anything superior to itself; for, if it had not been for the pernicious power of envy, men would not so have exalted vengeance above innocence and profit above justice. Indeed, it is true that in these acts of revenge on others - men take it upon themselves to begin the process of repealing those general laws of humanity which are there to give a hope of salvation to all who are in distress, instead of leaving those laws in existence, remembering that there may come a time when they, too, will be in danger and will need their protection.

85 So, while the people of Corcyra were the first to display in their city the passions of civil war, Eurymedon and the Athenian fleet sailed away. Afterwards the exiled party of the Corcyraeans (about 500 had managed to escape) occupied various fortified posts on the mainland, gained control of the Corcyraean territory across the straits, and used this as a base for making plundering expeditions against their fellow citizens on the island.

Thus they did a lot of damage and caused a serious famine in the city. They also sent delegates to Sparta and to Corinth to try to get themselves restored to their position in Corcyra. However, their negotiations were unsuccessful and they then, some time later, got together some ships and some mercenary troops and crossed over to the island with a force of about 600 altogether. There they burned their boats, so that there should be no hope left to them except in a final conquest of the country. They then went up to Mount Istone, built themselves fortifications, and proceeded to make attacks on the party inside the city, keeping control of the country districts.

Rachel Maddcow, I found her book in the discard bin of the give-a-way section at the Salvation Army "thrift store."

end close close sparta div here for now. But this is just the beginning of the jab. What do you think W. Churchill said about all this above. It is really key to knowing why these war freaks are risking Western obliteration even knowing that they have failed in their initial attempt to destroy Russia and to continue to press toward the mark of their high calling of busting up Russia will only end up in their demise