Beware the Ides of March

In early 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by his rivals. Fearing his plans for Rome, a group of senators killed him because they couldn't beat him in elections.

Throughout history and around the world, humanity has been known for terrible behavior when emotions overpower reason. People abandon principles and morals when their arguments fall apart. They want to force their will because they believe they are the only ones right. And if you don’t agree with them, there is no middle ground; you must go.

But here in our country, we have protections against such behavior. We don’t drag people out of their homes in the middle of the night because of things they said. We don’t fabricate false stories against a neighbor to discredit them out of fear of their political views. And we don’t eliminate our opponents through authoritarian means because we can't beat them fairly. Or do we? Those things happen in less civilized societies, under communist rule, and in dictatorships. But it should not occur in the USA.

Recently, we have seen a rise in extremism related to politics. Violence, threats, falsehoods, and lies are widespread in the media, and there are even calls for the governor to remove commissioners arbitrarily. All of this aligns with the Marxist style of revolution, subverting democracy.

We must stay vigilant against these tactics and not overlook them. We need to speak up whenever boundaries are crossed. We must not allow our elected officials to be threatened or intimidated. Once a mob forms, it becomes nearly impossible to return to civilized dialogue. Since we've already reached the boiling point, it's up to individuals to reflect and regain their composure. They must put down their torches and pitchforks, put away the knives, and refrain from stabbing Caesar.