Beware the “Cides” of March
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 13 Mar 2023
Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D. – TRANSCEND Media Service
Reflections on Human Frailties, Virtues, and Betrayal: Finding Solace in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”
“Where of what’s past is prologue;
What to come, in yours and mine discharge.”— William Shakespeare (26 Apr 1564-23 Apr 1616), The Tempest (1611)
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“There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood leads onto fortune; Omitted all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and misery.
On such a full sea, are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.”— Julius Caesar (1599) – Act 4, Scene 3
Introduction
8 Mar 2023 – There is an omnipresent compliance with death in our world, fashioned by a secretive “Confederation” of individual, groups, and corrupt nations creating a “Dystopia” to serve their purposes of global control and domination (Marsella, 2021).
Citizen opposition to the “Confederation” is insufficient for stemming the “Mortal Tide.” The Confederation’s collaborative concentration of wealth, power, and position, includes corrupt national governments, financial organizations, mega-corporations, stakeholder Capitalism, media platforms, and military cabals and alliances. Citizen reliance on media platforms offer “No Information,” “Limited Information,” “Disinformation,” and/or biased and corrupt “Propaganda.”
Citizens have passed the point of no return. The die is cast.” (Suetonius to Julius Caesar, on January 10, 48 BC, as Caesar crosses the Rubicon in direct defiance of the Senate, beginning a war with Pompey)
CIDES . . .
“Cides” (Root:“Cidium,” refers to the act of killing), is a process term. When joined with targeted nouns, it communicates intentional, deliberate, extermination, by killing, murder, and slaying. A “lexicon” of “Cides,” is displayed in Chart 1. “Aye, there’s the rub!”
Chart 1: A Lexicon of “Cides”
In all “Cides” reside an end to life, a “betrayal” of the forces which once sustained survival among human, cultural, and nature life-forms. Extinction is now upon us, at all levels.
IDES . . . Ides . . .
“Ides” refers to the fifteenth day of March, May, July, or October. The “Fifteen” day was considered a day to pay off all financial debts owed. Perhaps, however, it was also a day for personal debts of gratitude and appreciation to be repaid, lest we forget obligations to those who cared for us. The “Thirteen” day was used for similar purposes in other months.
“Ides” are a poignant departure place for writing about “Cides,” the “Act of Killing,” an act familiar to us amidst constant and continuous civil and international wars and violence resulting in billions of deaths.
Compliance with Death
Tolerance, indifference, and willful to compliance with death is emblematic of our times! The “Confederation” has seized control. “Moral” Authority” is now under their control, eluding law and justice. A “Dystopian” world is imminent.
Robert Burrowers, (February, 2023) a well-known scholar and social commentator, has published a detailed history of these groups, entitled: ‘Historical Analysis of the Global Elite: Ransacking the World Economy Until “You’ll Own Nothing.”
Ian Davis and Whitney Webb (2023), and Webb (2023) have published an exposes of “Confederation” members, using the term Global Public- Private Partnership (G3P). Members of G3P include:.
- Bank for International Settlements,
- Central banks, global (including media) corporations,
- Philanthropic’ Foundations financed by multi-billionaires,
- Policy Think-Tanks,
- Governments (and their Agencies),
- Key Non-Governmental Organizations,
- Global Charities,
- Selected Academic and Scientific Institutions
- Labour Unions,
- Chosen ‘Thought’ Leaders
According to Davis and Whitney, G3P will determine the future state of
- global relations,
- the direction of national economies,
- the priorities of societies,
- the nature of business models, and
- the management of a global commons.
Chart 2 displays known “Confederation” members
CHART 2 Confederation
Betrayal by Any Other Name Is . . .
Without recourse to justice and law, visible betrayals of humanity are creating a Dystopian existence, rivaling prophetic fictional works (e.g., Brave New World; 1984).
The wanton slaughter of millions in the endless war among Rwanda, Uganda, and the Congo, the civil wars in Sudan, the genocide in Yemen, the mortal apartheid in Palestine by Israel, the sheer brutality of NATO-Russia’s sacrifice of the Ukraine, epidemics of Malaria, Cholera, COVID, Tuberculosis in colonized nations, the intentional imposition of sanctions bringing starvation in the name of “Demoncracy,” the re-arming of Japan, Germany, and the USA, the reckless ecocide of our environments, the extinction of life forms, the lawlessness, assaults, robberies, and accidents, all risk of “Global Nuclear War.” “Tides of Life” have reached the flood.
Willam Shakespeare (1564-1616): Bard of Avon
To grasp a meaning of the “Tides” of Life, I turned to the Works of William Shakespeare, hopeful their ending their wisdom and beauty, may reveal a portal, sufficient to stem the flood of betrayal. Perhaps Heaven gifted us with the Bard of Avon, to inspire, human potential for stemming the tide of deaths.
1. More on Shakespeare . . .
Shakespeare’s “Tragedies,” “Histories,” and “Comedies,” offer poignant insights and reminders of human frailties and virtues. No other author or playwright, has better grasped the sources of humanity’s purposive and reckless pursuit of survival, rooted in historical context and individual virtues and flaws. Shakespeare’s immortal words remind us, we are part of the “Grand Play of Life.”
Is there any human experience, any nuanced remark, which eludes his grasp? In Shakespeare’s words, the panorama of humanity’s endless polarities are apparent: life-death, love-hate, friendship-betrayal, conscience-guilt, suffering-hope, honor-dishonor, courage-cowardice.
I am not a Shakespeare scholar, I am only a periodic reader, seeking consolation in moments of personal lament. I find when I turn to any page of his collected works, insight, comfort, solace. Each of his works are an endless legacy of human ontology.
Encountering Shakespeare . . . “Julius Caesar”
I was first exposed to Shakespeare in elementary school via one of his comedies (e.g., A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and later to viewing plays in the Cleveland Playhouse, especially Hamlet. The immortal words: “To be, or not to be; that is the question,” were immediately relevant to my teenage search for Identity. Who can say it better to a tumultuous teen mind?
Among Shakespeare’s “Histories” and “Tragedies,” Julius Caesar, offers little comfort for one seeking solace. Perhaps his comedies may be a better choice. “Julius Caesar,” is, however, filled with insights, ideas, frailties, and virtues, informing life.
2. Endless “Ides of March”
“Beware the Ides of March.” Shakespeare’s oft quoted lines from his play, Julius Caesar, a tragedy, first performed in 1599, remain relevant today. They are used to remind us of perils lurking among auspicious and inauspicious dates, places, events, and people. There are times when we feel: “Very fates in heaven conspire against us.”
Shakespeare’s lines in Julius Caesar, refer to the 15th Day of March, when Caesar is assassinated by the hands of those he both respected and suspected, including his friend, Marcus Junius Brutus. Betrayal!
In Shakespeare’s Play, Cassius, a supporter of Caesars’ rival, Pompey, conspires to assassinate Caesar because he believes Caesar poses the risk of becoming an acceptable tyrant among Rome’s people.
Caesar defeated Pompey in a decisive major battle (i.e., The Battle of Pharsalus), where Caesar, fresh from victories in Gallus France, crossed the famed Rubicon River, to bring victory. Like “The Die is Cast,” Crossing the Rubicon” becomes a reminder of an irreversible destiny.
Caesar’s rising popularity brings a warning from Soothsayers: “Beware the Ides of March,” poignant words perhaps alerting Caesar to a gathering conspiracy. Caesar, emboldened by his defeat of Pompey, and flush with confidence, he hints at the personal appeal of holding the “Crown of Authority.”
A mistake! Caesar is not immune to the lustful possibility of ruling Rome as an autocrat, and this frightens former supporters of Pompey; thus, begins the path to Caesar’s assassination.
There are numerous lessons to be learned from the assassination scene, especially the consequences of lusting for power while erroneously believing those about you, share your beliefs and desires.
Alas, the allure of power! Now fearful of this reality, Cassius, and others, conspire to assassinate Caesar (actually on 44 BCE by an alleged 44 Senators), fearful he will become an autocrat. Cheers among the people justify Caesar’s wish to ascend to absolute power, and confirm the need to seek his death.
Caesar, in his waning moments from multiple stab wounds of his assassination, stares at Brutus, uttering the fateful words, Et Tu Brute? (“And you as well, Brutus”).
Among all the knives stabbing him, leaving him bleeding on the steps, it is Brutus’ knife which most leaves Caesar filled with remorse. A trenchant moment! A trusted friend’s unexpected betrayal, a participant in the assassination.
These words place a lifetime curse of “betrayal” upon Brutus. Now amidst the gathering crowds, Brutus seeks justification for what has occurred; he appeals to reason from a now disconsolate crowd, claiming he acted on the crowd’s behalf, protecting their rights. Can they not see his noble motive? Here too, a lesson from Shakespeare: “Reason does not absolve guilt.”
At this point, Mark Antony, a longtime friend and supporter of Caesar seizes the heated moment, to deny of Brutus’ words and intentions, reminding the audience the good Caesar has done for Rome and its citizens. He shares Caesar’s will specifying every Roman citizen would receive 75 drachmas upon his death.
Regicide has occurred! The killing of a ruler. Brutus is now angry with Cassius and the conspirators, for recruiting him in the assassination. He has stained his conscience, and his responsibilities to serve Rome: “Et tu, Brutus!” These words remain etched in Brutus’s mind. Brutus, aches for forgiveness. Conscience has no mercy!
A Closing Thought . . .
A tragedy of massive proportion is upon us in our Computer and Information Age, which thrives on information of any sort and source. Centuries have passed, yet “Beware the “Ides of March!” remains a cautionary alert.
Abuses of power, concentrated in the hands and minds of evil people, is humanity’s ancient “Curse;” I share the timeless words and wisdom of Shakespeare, to remind us death is not heir to Life.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in the famous cemetery scene when Hamlet and Horatio are digging a grave, Horatio finds the skull of Yorick, Hamlet’s old friend. Hamlet, says “Alas poor Yorick! (Hamlet, Act 5, scene 1). The dialog between Horatio and Hamlet continues, until Hamlet’s digging reminds him of “Julius Caesar.” Hamlet reflects mighty Caesar’s death:
Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the winds away,
O, that that earth which kept the world in awe,
Should patch a wall to expel the Winter flaw!
A lesson from Shakespeare: “Deaths lives in memories, arising when recalled
to affirm time passes, memories are the stuff of life.”
References:
Burrows, R. (2023). We Are Being Smashed Politically, Economically, Medically and Technologically by the Elite’s ‘Great Reset’: Why? How Do We Fight Back Effectively? https://www.globalresearch.ca/we-being-smashed-politically- economically-medically-technologically-elites-great-reset-why-how- do-we-fight-back-effectively/5809364
Davis, I., & Webb, W. (2003). Sustainable debt slavery. https://organicconsumers.org/sustainable-debt-slavery/
Marsella, A.J. (July, 2017). Beware the “Cides” of July. Transcend Media Service http://www.transcend.org/tms/2017/07/beware-the-cides-of-july/
Marsella, A.J. (January 13, 2020). Becoming God: Controlling Human ontology : Ambitions of the Secret State Confederation https://www.transcend.org/tms/2020/01/becoming-god-controlling- human-ontology-ambitions-of-the-secret-state-confederation/
Marsella, A.J. (January 16, 2023). Hope . . . An Implacable Cosmos- Endowed Vitalism. https://www.transcend.org/tms/2023/01/hope-an-implacable-c cosmos-endowed-vitalism/
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Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D., a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, is a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, Emeritus Professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Campus in Honolulu, Hawaii, and past director of the World Health Organization Psychiatric Research Center in Honolulu. He is known internationally as a pioneer figure in the study of culture and psychopathology who challenged the ethnocentrism and racial biases of many assumptions, theories, and practices in psychology and psychiatry. In more recent years, he has been writing and lecturing on peace and social justice. He has published 21 books and more than 300 articles, tech reports, and popular commentaries. His TMS articles may be accessed HERE. Emails: marsella@hawaii.edu or ajmarsella@gmail.com
Tags: Humanity, Life
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 13 Mar 2023.
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