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