User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Is Trump a Modern Caligula?

  1. #1
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Is Trump a Modern Caligula?

    Before Trump supporters freak out, try to understand that the historical legacy of the Roman Emperor Caligula is much more complicated than it is often portrayed as.

    The simplistic, grade school version of history paints him as a debauched, insane monster with no redeeming qualities. But more nuanced interpretations of Caligula portray him as a populist who routinely defied and enraged the Roman aristocracy. Incidentally, it is the members of that very aristocracy who typically serve as the historical sources painting Caligula as a deranged madman.

    For example, one of the more well-known examples of Caligula's alleged madness is his triumphal crossing over the Bay of Baiae.

    It is offered up as proof of his madness because of how frivolous and ostentatious it was. Building a giant crossing in order to celebrate some imaginary victory. Indeed, on first blush, this appears quite insane.

    But if one enlarges the context, we can see that this location has particular relevance to the Roman aristocrats that Caligula was in the habit of defying and humiliating. That is, the Bay of Baiae was where much of the Roman aristocracy lived, and crossing it in such a manner would have served at least two purposes: (1) A populist nod to the Roman people and (2) a demonstration of his power to the elites.

    Now, I don't presume to know if Caligula was mad or if he was just a shrewd populist, but it is an interesting parallel to consider given the modern elite's utter disdain for Trump and his often times ostentatious mockery of them.

    Thoughts?
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Ethereal For This Useful Post:

    Peter1469 (09-18-2016)

  3. #2
    Original Ranter
    Points: 858,837, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 92.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialCreated Album picturesOverdrive50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Awards:
    Posting Award
    Peter1469's Avatar Advisor
    Karma
    496508
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    NOVA
    Posts
    241,624
    Points
    858,837
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    153,194
    Thanked 147,518x in 94,379 Posts
    Mentioned
    2552 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    In that context, that is a good analogy.

    Ancient governments tended to malign rules that they disapproved of.

    Trump is an elite - who at least is running on a platform that has the welfare of the little people at heart.

    Hillary is an elite who says she is for the common man, but most of her policies benefit the wealthy and foreign governments.
    ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ


  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Peter1469 For This Useful Post:

    NapRover (09-18-2016)

  5. #3
    Points: 66,681, Level: 63
    Level completed: 6%, Points required for next Level: 2,069
    Overall activity: 0.2%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    AZ Jim's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    136309
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    11,457
    Points
    66,681
    Level
    63
    Thanks Given
    4,760
    Thanked 4,319x in 2,953 Posts
    Mentioned
    344 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter1469 View Post
    In that context, that is a good analogy.

    Ancient governments tended to malign rules that they disapproved of.

    Trump is an elite - who at least is running on a platform that has the welfare of the little people at heart.

    Hillary is an elite who says she is for the common man, but most of her policies benefit the wealthy and foreign governments.
    OMG!!!! *Kool-aid Brain rot illustrated.*
    Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I digress....

  6. #4
    Points: 445,259, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 2.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialVeteran50000 Experience PointsOverdrive
    Common's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    339112
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    66,765
    Points
    445,259
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    8,785
    Thanked 18,315x in 10,924 Posts
    Mentioned
    396 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Trump is merely the only viable candidate that isnt Hillary Clinton and a continuation of obama that even has the remotest chance of saving us from that. Whatever flaws trump has and he has many, it is less than Clintons.

    I dont like trump for my president, I just like Hillary less. I think strictly in terms of my family, I do not thing at all about what is good for me or better for me. I think soley of my grandkids and great grandkids.
    All my children have reached an age their decisions are their own. Hillary would be as disastrous as Obama for their future.
    LETS GO BRANDON
    F Joe Biden

  7. #5
    Points: 79,997, Level: 68
    Level completed: 98%, Points required for next Level: 53
    Overall activity: 0.3%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    nathanbforrest45's Avatar Banned
    Karma
    77960
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    In a house on a hill
    Posts
    28,260
    Points
    79,997
    Level
    68
    Thanks Given
    7,102
    Thanked 16,261x in 10,568 Posts
    Mentioned
    129 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by AZ Jim View Post
    OMG!!!! *Kool-aid Brain rot illustrated.*

    Well, ok. No thoughts from this one I see.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to nathanbforrest45 For This Useful Post:

    Peter1469 (09-18-2016)

  9. #6
    Points: 445,259, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 2.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialVeteran50000 Experience PointsOverdrive
    Common's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    339112
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    66,765
    Points
    445,259
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    8,785
    Thanked 18,315x in 10,924 Posts
    Mentioned
    396 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by nathanbforrest45 View Post
    Well, ok. No thoughts from this one I see.
    The only original thoughts hes ever had are insults to others
    LETS GO BRANDON
    F Joe Biden

  10. #7
    Points: 79,997, Level: 68
    Level completed: 98%, Points required for next Level: 53
    Overall activity: 0.3%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    nathanbforrest45's Avatar Banned
    Karma
    77960
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    In a house on a hill
    Posts
    28,260
    Points
    79,997
    Level
    68
    Thanks Given
    7,102
    Thanked 16,261x in 10,568 Posts
    Mentioned
    129 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    If Trump is indeed a modern day Caligula we can hope we won't be seeing any orgies in the White House. We had enough of that with the last Clinton in office.

    This is a thought provoking thread to be sure. No one is all good or all bad. When Joseph Stalin died the Russian people wept for days, even those he had tortured and imprisoned. Saddam Hussein may have been a murderer but he kept the various Iraqi ethnic groups in check as did Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia. If only a small percentage of the depravity of Caligula is true he could still be classified as a madman.

  11. #8
    Original Ranter
    Points: 858,837, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 92.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialCreated Album picturesOverdrive50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Awards:
    Posting Award
    Peter1469's Avatar Advisor
    Karma
    496508
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    NOVA
    Posts
    241,624
    Points
    858,837
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    153,194
    Thanked 147,518x in 94,379 Posts
    Mentioned
    2552 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by AZ Jim View Post
    OMG!!!! *Kool-aid Brain rot illustrated.*
    Public school education?
    ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ


+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts