Ides of March

First of all, let's celebrate the Ides of March and conmemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar. No, I'm not a member of the Cultus Deorum, mainly because a) it doesn't really go with me, and b) there is nothing as far from my nature as any sort of organized religion. And this inspite of the 75% of my gods being Roman. However, I bring forth the matter of the Ides of March and that fateful day of 44 B.C., because it is something that needs to be remembered.

I'm not very versed on Roman history (or any sort of history, really. I'm an economist, Jim, not a historian!), but from what I remember, (no, I wasn't there either), Julius Caesar was a laureated general of the Roman army, who brought much glory to the Empire and who managed to climb to power (somewhat also thanks to the legions loyal to him), and eventually reversed the republican structure of the empire and crowned himself as emperor (or Caesar). As his power grew and he was pushing the senators out of it, these found his actions unsettling and dangerous for the more "participative" form of government Rome had been advancing towards to (and themselves, let's be honest). And so, on March 15th of 44 BC, Julius Caesar was stabbed to death at the Senate.

Today's world showcases a number of powerful figures that also seek to grab power for themselves and dismantle check&balance mechanisms, take away the independency and power of other representatives and institutions, and silence or take away the power of the people they rule. A book I read recently from Madeleine Albright, titled "Fascism", gathers a recount of a handful of XX-XXI century rulers that have sought to absorbe the totality of State powers into themselves, erecting themselves as unquestionable sources of all justice and authority. After the harrowing events witnessed in the last century - and we may also add the horrors witnessed in this one - many understand the dangers of letting one person rule unchecked upon a nation. Furthermore, in a world as deeply connected as today's, political disturbances in one nation can easily ripple through the entire planet and disrupt many more.

However, as we conmemorate (those who do) this ancient religious day, in its great tragedy, we can also remember that it is also humanity's nature to rebel, to put a stop and seek to restore order. As Natura restores order in herself, Gaia regenerates and the Green Man sprouts and grows again, so humanity - as an undetachable part of nature - also follows this path. Dictators, tyrants and Caesar's rise up from time to time, but as humanity comes fed up, as a Senate we raise and strike them down (hopefully not through murder, though, but through law and/or pressure).

The mean is dark, I know, but as in Tarot the card of Death is one of change, I would like to offer this ancient, painted card to the world to remind them, on this day of blood, that we are the Senate and we are the ones that can change the things wee don't like about our countries and their politics.

Please, do feel free to correct me on any of the afore mentioned historical data, or expand on it. I'd love also to learn more about it.