“Friends, Romans, Countrymen”… A Bit Of Political Stress Relief

Guest Commentary by Herb Schoenbohm

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
— Life of Reason, Reason in Common Sense, George Santayana 1905, p. 28 

Roman Emperor Julius Caesar

This item offers some needed stress relief from the day-to-day election mudslinging.  Mindful that many children observing this mind numbing wall-to-wall invective are going back to school next week. Since we are using their schools to vote how about the students using our election discourse as a means to learn classic literature and history?  Trying to teach iambic pentameter by itself won’t get much attention but coupling the learning experience and challenging students with the local political arena makes for fun and I bet they will love it.

This is how it could go………

“Now class, your attention please! Welcome back to school.  This year we are going to try something new and different. Today we are going read a short part of William Shakespeare’s play about Roman political leader Julius Caesar, specifically Act III, Scene II. Your assignment is to compare the cast of characters with people in local Virgin Island politics whom you have observed recently. Match them up to those in the play. The play speaks volumes about some of the traits or perceptions of our local politicians.

Most noticeable are references to honor, corruption, ambition, conspiracy, and violence. The eulogy to the crowd by Marc Antony is a famous example of emotionally charged rhetoric not unknown in VI politics but a special gift of the use of sarcasm and understatement to drive the point home.  VI political giant Walter I.M. Hodge was a master of this technique as well as and many others since.” 

“I have listed the characters and all you need do is put the name of the current VI politicians who closely resemble those of ancient Rome.” 

“Please begin your work…If you have any questions, tell the hall monitor as I will be in the teachers lounge listening to the talk shows and sipping on my latte.”

                                                                  _______________________

 Teachers reference guide and syllabus:  

Julius Caesar.  This is obviously Governor deJongh, “Veni,Vidi, Vici” or I came, I saw I conquered which was a message sent to the Senate. A popular leader, inventor of the Julian Calender so all government employees could get to work on time, rebuilder of Carthage (STX), invader of Great Britain and founder of London, fond of Queen Cleopatra, and the victim of intrigue and scheming by his own party’s compatriots to get rid of him because they felt he was actually a republican or wanted power for themselves. 

Soothsayer.  “Beware the Ides’ of the Primary” was a blogger on CIF suggesting that the governor not run as a Democrat in the primary since a plot existed, that he could easily avoid. 

Cicero.  This great silver tongued orator, feared by Marc Antony, and loyal to Caesar is none other than Senator Celestino White of course. 

Cleopatra.  She was fond of Caesar, sought by many candidates even by Marc Antony. Most likely this is Senator Alicia “Chucky” Hansen. Everyone wants her support, wants her love, but still fears her gaining too much power. 

Marc Antony.  He will come after the primary to say “Friends Virgin Islanders and countrymen. I am here today to praise John deJongh, I never intended to bury him.” Of course you got it right…. Luz James II! He will go on to say at the eulogy, we were warned that Governor deJongh was ambitious.  From Act III Scene II, a portion of Marc Antony’s famous speech about Caesar after his assassination; “The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:  If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answered it.  Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest.    For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable men.    Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.  He was my friend, faithful and just to me; But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man.  He hath brought many captives home to Rome.  Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill; Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:  Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:” 

As in the play rhetorical skills and sarcasm eventually turn the crowd against the conspirators. He reminds the crowd of Caesar’s kindness and love for the people. The crowd then understands and riots in search of the conspirators. Antony eventually purged the democrat party of conspirators and ordered the assassination of Cicero. Then went on to Egypt to try some of Caesars pick up lines on Queen Cleopatra. 

Brutus, Once loyal to Caesar and the party, whose wound was the “unkindest cut of all” as Caesar mortally wounded cries “Et Tu Brute”…”Then fall Caesar.”  For sure this is Jimmy O’Bryan, known to turn against the very people who have helped him, i.e. Senator Lorraine Berry, who gave him a big job when he needed it;  Rick Ricardo, who hired him as a broadcast intern and trained him well,  Mr. P, who gave him a free radio platform to inveigh for many months against Governor deJongh, and deJongh himself who had helped him some time ago. 

Cassius, Equates well to Senator Ken Mapp who in the Eastern (East end) campaigns impressed Pompey (Governor Schneider) until Pompey’s defeat.  He was pardoned by Caesar but joined the conspiracy to have him assassinated.  Outlawed from Rome, he quietly received 600,000 Roman dinarius to go abroad to launch his future campaign in Philipi but committed suicide after his defeat there in 42bc. 

Teacher’s note:  I left out Nero, who fiddled on the island of Anguilla while St. Croix burned and the obvious Governor Caligula who we all know.  Neither were part of this time period nor in the play. The next study will be of characters in Victor Hugo’s classic Les Miserables whom you can compare with their Virgin Island contemporary characters. JeanVal Jean, Inspector Javer, Mssr. Madelaine, Madame deFarge, and Robbespierre.

Share on Facebook