| In a recent article, I wrongly stated that | | | | Alexander and his best ideals should always be |
| Alexander the Great had been taught by the | | | | with us, all through West Asia today, and |
| brilliant Socrates. I was wrong: read in horror last | | | | everywhere that honest people want peace and |
| night while planning my next stories with historical | | | | goodwill between men, and women. Alexander |
| morals that it was Aristotle, a student of | | | | was Great not only for his exceptional skills as a |
| Socrates and there at his death cup of hemlock | | | | motivator of men, an astute observer of human |
| ceremony. Remember the story, but check who | | | | nature, highly understanding from his mother that |
| was what where when. Just the facts, sir. Joe | | | | women required a more delicate handling than |
| Friday here, mind if I check your books? OK this | | | | men, and needed to be treated differently, with |
| all can pass as fact., from what we have to date. | | | | quiet respect and honor of their privacy of their |
| Aristotle was he who taught Alexander, and by | | | | person. |
| this time the revulsion by the citizens of Athens | | | | They knew the bloody sword dripped of the |
| at the senseless execution of the brilliant soul of | | | | blood of their father or brother: now what for |
| Athens, who while annoying the elites with sons | | | | them? Alexander brought them diamonds, |
| who questioned their every motive as to whether | | | | gemstones and jewels, treated them as the royal |
| it was noble and good, or cruel, selfish or self | | | | historic honorable custodians of ancient Persia, and |
| serving. Socrates lives on in many modern | | | | they were forever after awarded seats adjacent |
| publications that demand truth, honest thoughts | | | | the throne of Alexander, and all Persia relaxed at |
| and seek noble deeds as outcome of discussion. | | | | these obvious signs that the Greek barbarians had |
| This was Socrates, this was Aristotle, and this | | | | been drawn over to them and their great |
| was Plato. | | | | civilization. And they had. |
| The thoughts of these philosophers who no more | | | | Alexander was a brilliant success because he |
| than walked the streets of Athens and invited | | | | knew when to push, and when to pull back and |
| debate and thought wherever active minds came; | | | | allow all to get their new positions in place in the |
| and they came to Socrates, and after his death in | | | | new order. Before long, citizens of Persia were so |
| which the people of Athens turned against the 30 | | | | relieved to be able to welcome their former |
| Elites, the executioners of Socrates, putting them | | | | queen and her daughters on the Review Stand in |
| to death or causing their exile or ruin. | | | | honor with Alexander and his group: they all |
| Think about it. Alexander came into this seeing | | | | represented the new Greek Persia. |
| that a good man could be appreciated even more | | | | And while it lasted, the men and women of Persia |
| after his death when people had time to reflect | | | | relaxed under a kinder ruler than they had ever |
| on his goodness and worthy deeds. Alexander | | | | known, one who gave down edicts that were all |
| pushed himself so hard and accomplished so | | | | Greek to them, but when translated made them |
| much, that surely when he died in Baghdad at 33, | | | | euphoric: more rights, freedoms, women the equal |
| having conquered half the known world, and in so | | | | to men, Persian able to lay a charge against a |
| doing, taking democratic values from Egypt | | | | Greek. |
| through Persia and West Asia, he surely knew he | | | | Welcome to the new, peaceful middle east. 333 |
| was passing into history as one who was truly | | | | B.C.E. and all is well. |
| Great. | | | | |