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