Author: adazhang

It is pleasant, when the sea is high and the winds are dashing the waves about, to watch from the shores the struggles of another.

                  – Livy

What could the ancient Athenian empire and the modern extremist group, ISIS, have in common? Motivations aside, these expansionist factions attacked and besieged the settlements of smaller nations while such nations’ allies stood by the sidelines and watched. As Athens besieged the nation-state of Syracuse in Sicily, Sparta stood idle. As ISIS besieges the small Kurdish town of Kobani on the Syrian–Turkish border, Turkey stands idle as well.

The advance of ISIS in Southwest Asia has been receiving a great deal of press coverage in recent weeks, especially regarding the siege of Kobani. ISIS forces are focusing their attack on Kobani because the town is, according to a senior security official with the Kurdistan Regional Government, “A bastion of democracy and secularism,” which are two virtues that ISIS does not appreciate. This siege has lasted for months, resulting in many deaths and a new wave of Kurdish refugees in the thousands who have fled to Turkey in fear of persecution and death. For the past few weeks, the nation of Turkey, from which one can see the smoke rising from the besieged town just across its border, has refused to commit any military forces or aid to the conflict. According to high-ranking Turkish officials, they believe that the group currently defending Kobani is an offshoot of a known terrorist group called the P.K.K. Therefore, Turkey has refused to offer any support. The P.K.K. led guerrilla-style warfare against the Turkish government before the two groups stopped fighting and entered into ongoing negotiations for a permanent peace. Despite hesitation to become directly involved, as of October 21, 2014, Turkish leaders have given the okay for a Kurdish militant group called the Peshmegra to pass through Turkish territory in order to assist the defenders at Kobani. NATO has promised its support if Turkey is attacked directly by ISIS but, at this point, it does not seem likely that Turkey will commit any of its own resources to the fight.

Why does this matter? ISIS is an international threat that attacks aggressively and spontaneously – slaughtering innocents based on their respective faiths and cultures. With every settlement that ISIS takes and every region that is consequently subjugated, their extremist movement gains more power. History shows us the importance of putting aside our differences and joining together in the face of the adversity for the greater good. Since we are talking about the greater good, I might as well bring up Socrates. We freshmen thought we were done with Plato and our favorite philosopher, Socrates – but we were wrong. In reading Plato’s Euthyphro and Apology in World Cultures last week in correlation with the advance of ISIS, I was reminded of the Peloponnesian War, which preceded these writings.

(Fun Fact: Socrates fought in multiple campaigns during the Peloponnesian war – can you even imagine Socrates fighting?! I like to imagine him charging down a hill with spear raised yelling “Here comes a gift from the gods!”)

The Peloponnesian War was a conflict between Athens (with its allies) and Sparta (with its Peloponnesian allies) that lasted from 431 to 404 BCE, resulting in a Spartan victory and the end of the Athenian empire. In 413 B.C.E., the Athenians launched an invasion of the island of Sicily, specifically against the nation-state of Syracuse, which had allied itself with the Peloponnesians. The Athenians held the city of Syracuse under siege for over a year, starving its residents of hope and supplies alike. Just as Syracuse seemed ready to collapse, however, a contingent of Spartan and Peloponnesian reinforcement arrived and bolstered the city’s defenses. Within a few months, the siege was broken and the Athenian force was decimated, with the few remaining survivors being sold into slavery. Without the aid of the Spartans, Syracuse would have fallen. After taking Sicily, the Athenians could have sailed to Africa and Italy, expanding to rival the might of ancient empires such as Carthage and Rome. Who knows how different the world could be if this had happened?

The same goes for Turkey as ISIS pushes toward its border. If Kobani falls, ISIS may push further into Syria or even attack Turkey directly. Sometimes, inaction has more severe consequence than acting and making the wrong decision. Though, if you’re acting against the advances of ISIS, I would say that you have made a pretty great decision.

Should Turkey intervene directly in Kobani? Leave a comment below. To continue the conversation on ISIS, attend the panel discussion on Wednesday, November 5th at 5:30 p.m. in Morrison 120. 

 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? All are welcome! Email me at Lee_Shaw@baylor.edu

Further reading on the Peloponnesian War:

http://www.livius.org/su-sz/syracuse/siege.html

http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/peloponnesian-war

http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/PeloponnesianWar/

 

Further reading on ISIS’ siege of Kobani:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/world/europe/isis-kobani-syria-turkey.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A7%22%7D&gwh=61105F0929BAC176299A39583315AC1B&gwt=pay

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/world/middleeast/isis-syria-coalition-strikes.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A7%22%7D&gwh=1E5DECAC6D78957944240FC172A2F576&gwt=pay&assetType=nyt_now

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/13/world/middleeast/kurdish-rebels-assail-turkish-inaction-on-isis-as-peril-to-peace-talks.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A7%22%7D

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/21/world/middleeast/kobani-turkey-kurdish-fighters-syria.html

 

We all learned when we were young that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, but you might be shocked to know what he did once he stepped off the Santa Maria. These horrors could put Catiline, Roman aristocrat and conspirator who is also guilty of many atrocities, to shame.

Christopher Columbus was a 15^th century Genoese explorer who, under Spanish monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, made three voyages across the sea to what he thought was India. Columbus had presented his plan to sail from Europe to Asia to many rulers and monarchs, specifically those to be found in Portugal, but each rejected his proposal. It was not until he offered his plan to King Ferdinand of Spain that his proposition was accepted. Columbus wanted to make a legacy for himself as well as a fortune, and the Catholic monarchs of Spain wanted to spread their religion to the new world. Columbus was happy to oblige. On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, heading for Asia. Once he met land, however, he had actually landed on the Bahamian Islands in what is now the Caribbean. He made two more trips back to the Americas, seizing loot and discovering the New World. At least, that’s what we were told about Christopher Columbus.

The truth, however, is quite different. Christopher Columbus and his comrades raped, enslaved, and pillaged many of the Native American tribes which he encountered. In reference to Columbus’ travels, prominent Spanish historian of the time, Peter Martyr wrote in 1516, “… a ship without compass, chart, or guide, but only following the trail of dead Indians who had been thrown from the ships could find its way from the Bahamas to Hispaniola.” Queen Isabella of Spain had specifically told Columbus not to enslave any people that he met in his travels, as they should be considered Catholics under the protection of the Spanish crown. Columbus skillfully circumvented this command by refusing to baptize any of the natives he encountered, and thus, since they were not Christians, put them to work in gold mines or as sex slaves. Referencing sex slaves in his journal, Columbus noted casually, “It is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for girls; those from nine to ten are now in demand.” Christopher Columbus and his brothers were eventually brought to Spain to answer for their crimes but, as their exploits had made the king’s coffers excessively full, were pardoned – though their spoils and titles were stripped.

Given this brief example of Columbus’ foul misdeeds, we must ask ourselves, why do we celebrate Columbus Day? Maybe the past can provide an answer. Lucius Sergius Catilina, more commonly known as Catiline, was a Roman aristocrat in the late Roman Republic who Cicero famously spoke against in his series of speeches entitled In Catilinam. Catiline wanted to become consul, but after running multiple times, was never elected. In response, Catiline decided to mount an insurrection, which only Cicero uncovered. Once Cicero knew of Catiline’s plan, he gave multiple speeches to the senate (In Catilinam) and presented a great deal of evidence against him, but the senate would not listen, giving Cataline the time to flee Rome and join his insurrectionist army. It was not until Cicero’s spies brought undeniable evidence of the insurrection that the senate admitted its mistake and sent an army that would crush Catiline and his allies.

Why does this matter? The Roman senators did not want to seem foolish. They had made Cataline the governor of Africa and praetor, bestowing a great amount of trust and title in him. If this man was, in actuality, an enemy of the Roman state, this would make the leaders of the state who appointed him appear weak and idiotic. I would motion that the same could be said as to why we still celebrate Columbus Day. No one wants to step up and say “So . . . we’ve been celebrating a slave-trading, murderous rapist – but we’re going to stop now,” because that makes us all look ridiculous. Did Columbus discover the New World? No. Did he open the door for exploration and discovery thereafter? Yes – but at what cost?

I have included a few links below that offer an interesting description of the Columbus we were not taught about in grade school. What do you think about Columbus Day? Should we celebrate it? Leave a comment down below.

 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? All are welcome! Email me at Lee_Shaw@baylor.edu

 

 

Further reading on Cicero and the Catiline’s Insurrection:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99879/Catiline

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romerepublic/a/CatilineConspir.htm

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0019:text=Catil.:speech=1:chapter=1

http://www.unrv.com/roman-republic/catiline-conspiracy.php

 

Further reading on Christopher Columbus:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-kasum/columbus-day-a-bad-idea_b_742708.html

http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus

http://racerelations.about.com/od/historyofracerelations/a/The-Argument-Against-Columbus-Day.htm

http://www.biography.com/people/christopher-columbus-9254209

What could the citizens of modern West Africa and our favorite Greek heroes from the Mycenaean Age have in common? Unfortunately, both of these populations have been afflicted with severe illnesses that their respective cultural practices have helped to spread. The good news, however, is that modern medicine has a much greater potential to fight disease than that of the mystical “medical” practices of old.

As I’m sure many of you know, the recent breakout and spread of Ebola in West Africa has been a prominent headline for the past few weeks. According to the CDC, “Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains” and is spread “ . . . through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with blood or bodily fluids, infected animals, and objects (like needles) that have been contaminated with the virus.” When one looks at how quickly the virus has spread through Africa, even reaching the United States in my hometown of Dallas, he or she might initially think that this virus is extremely infectious and is a serious cause for concern.

The truth, however, is that the current culture of the people in West Africa has abetted the spread of Ebola. West Africans maintain a culture that, much like that of the ancient Greeks, emphasizes the importance of hospitality and kinship. Despite the spread of this disease, these people have continued to trade with, embrace, and remain in close contact with each other, not realizing that such practices encourage the spread of the virus. This disease is not spread through water or air, but from animal to person then person to person, and so on. In response to this virus, the United States, among other nations, has started building medical centers in the afflicted areas of West Africa that are meant to stop the spread of the disease. When treating the infected, medical professionals wear sterile suits with a laminate cover, as well as gloves, goggles, masks, respirators, aprons, and boots, meant to make the body impervious to the contaminated fluids of those already infected. In collaboration with modern medicine, education is the next best means to fight the spread of Ebola. Medical professionals are encouraging those to report their symptoms early on, and avoid other people if they begin to feel sick. According to the CDC, simple masks and gloves as well as covering any open wounds can help a great deal to stop the spread.

Without the aid of modern medicine, we might have concluded that this virus was due to the wrath of the gods or the presence of demons. Even though Ebola has spread rapidly, modern medical practices can tell us why and how to prevent it from continuing on. In the Mycenaean Age, however, when Achilles and Odysseus made names for themselves, the majority of the ancient Greeks’ medical practices involved spiritual remedies involving incantations, prayers, exorcisms, and the occasional ritual surgery such as non-therapeutic trepanation in extreme cases (this is a fancy way of saying ‘to drill a big hole in the skull’). BIC freshmen have a great example of such practices from our recent reading in The Odyssey. In Book 19, Odysseus recalls his encounter with a wild boar on a hunting trip. While he ends up killing the beast, it slashes his leg, resulting in the scar that his wife and maid would notice later upon his homecoming. After he killed the boar, Homer explains, “Autolycus’ sons took care of the carcass/ And tended to the wound of the flawless Odysseus,/ Skillfully binding it and staunching the blood/ By chanting a spell (Odyssey 19. 498-501). As such, disease had no trouble spreading during this time, as the Greeks did not know the true cause of disease and thus had no way to stop the spread. Of course, their culture of hospitality further aided the spread of such diseases, as even if your guest is coughing and acting strangely, he still deserves some wine.

Thankfully, with the help of modern medicine and health information, the spread of Ebola will be slowed and may eventually be eradicated. What the Greeks sought to understand through spirituality, we have come to understand through medicine and science. There are many organizations that are accepting donations to help those infected with Ebola in West Africa; I have included links to a few below. The best way to fight this virus is to stay educated – don’t mope around like Achilles – stay healthy!

 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? All are welcome! Email me at Lee_Shaw@baylor.edu

 

Further reading on the Disease in the Mycenaean Age:

http://www.ancient.eu/Trephination/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1295778/pdf/jrsocmed00055-0029.pdf

http://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC1295778&blobtype=pdf

Further reading on the recent breakout of Ebola:

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/index.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26835233

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/us/us-effort-in-liberia-barely-gets-on-the-ground.html?action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/united-states-imported-case.html

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/world/ebola-virus-explainer/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/health/ebola-fast-facts/

To Donate:

https://www.unicefusa.org/donate/stop-spread-ebola-west-africa-your-gift-matched/18771?gclid=CjwKEAjwzeihBRCQ84bhxrz_0w8SJAAohyh1eYw-f866yV55FgcRVhqZMIVHq2S105qrHyEzvmbePRoC6APw_wcB

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/fighting-ebola-in-west-africa/?utm_source=Ggl&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=m_YGCR-014V_GGLAfrEbol&gclid=CjwKEAjwzeihBRCQ84bhxrz_0w8SJAAohyh1jKKog12zDq3zoRBvOTCeljMu1eKllBMan0NmsEwAJhoCVMXw_wcB

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/our-work/medical-issues/ebola