Peace is boring
Alexander the Great was not that great. He belongs to the type of emperors who raged the fiercest proactive wars. His greatness was notorious, not heroic. This I learned in an article about him in P.M. Magazin, issue November 2004.
Do we still call those great who brutally enforce their (bold) views on other nations or societies? The next election for president of the United States will show. People admire resolute and consistent behavior, no matter if it's right or wrong.
Alexander´s life must have been adventurous, but that does not make him great. His vision was great, bold, insane. Hollywood is stupid enough to have Oliver Stone reinstate Alexander as Great at a time where George W. Bush tries to build his reelection on the image of being an unwavering warlord. Just like Alexander, just a little less aggressive. At least Bush does not order his soldiers to marry Iraki women, as Alexander ordered his soldiers to marry Persian women.
War is in our nature, conflicts big and small make up everyday life. Calling those great who proactively go to war seems natural, though not moral. Why else are the prevalent political characters of the past those who raged the most bloody wars? But I don´t feel Bush is great. What is great today?
It doesn´t matter if you win or not, because the meaning of winning is simply not evident after war. You fight, that´s all that matters. Warlords change the world and stand out. Why you fight is not understood by all. It doesn´t have to be.
Anyone heard of Antoninus Pius? He ruled over the Roman Empire for 23 years. He kept the peace. He did his job. People loved him. But that´s boring.
Published: October 20, 2004
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