Shakespeare and the Exchanged Prisoner Bergdahl

Thus may poor fools Believe false teachers: though those that are betray'd Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor Stands in worse case of woe, Shakespeare quotation applicable to the liberation of soldier Bergdahl“Thus may poor fools
Believe false teachers: though those that are betray’d
Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor
Stands in worse case of woe”

Cymbeline, act 3, sc. 4

Sometimes an episode, like a good novel, sheds more light on the history of the times than academic essays written by experts. Such is the event of the American soldier Bowe Bergdahl, released in Afghanistan after 5 years of captivity, in exchange for five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo. Continue reading

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Shakespeare, Patriotism and Exceptionalism

“…there's not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself.” quotation from much ado about nothing, best shakespeare quote“…there’s not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself.”

Much Ado About Nothing, act 5, sc. 2

The term “Patria” or homeland is, of course, of Latin origin, meaning “land of the fathers”. In turn, presidents’ patriotic speeches celebrate the achievements of the inhabitants of their respective “land of the fathers” and, by not-too-subtle reflection, the achievements of the presidents. Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the Mass Killing at Santa Barbara

“... hie thee from this slaughter-house, Lest thou increase the number of the dead” quote from Richard III to underscore the massacre in California by a student frustrated for not havong status“… hie thee from this slaughter-house,
Lest thou increase the number of the dead”

King Richard III, act 4, sc. 1

Mass killings have become almost habitual news. To the point that if the slaughter affects less than five people, it barely reaches the pages of the corporate media. Continue reading

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Shakespeare, Religion, Tolstoy and Martin Luther King

“…and sweet religion makes A rhapsody of words.” Hamlet. A quotation as a starting point to compare the philosophy of Tolstoy and of Martin Luther King“…and sweet religion makes
A rhapsody of words.”

Hamlet, act 3, scene 4

 

Say “Tolstoy” and most of us think of “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina” and maybe of some of his short stories. Few, however, would associate Tolstoy with the philosophy of a Christian-anarchist. Though “anarchist”, given the usually negative connotation associated with the term, does not convey at all what Tolstoy had in mind. He merely wanted to correct what is corrupt in the official Christian narrative.

This lesser-known aspect of Tolstoy the philosopher is masterly illustrated in his book, Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the Marijuana Refugees to Colorado

Within the infant rind of this small flower Poison hath residence and medicine power - Friar Lawrence is a herbal naturopath“Within the infant rind of this small flower
Poison hath residence and medicine power.”

(Romeo and Juliet, act 2, sc. 3

Having never partaken of the substance in question, I feel entitled to express an opinion, based on what I read and researched on the subject.

Beginning last year, over 100 families have moved to Colorado from various states in the Nation. The reason? To be able to administer cannabis to their sick children, who had been made worse by other medicines, or to whom the proposed remedies were dramatically worse than the disease, as we will see in an instant. Colorado is currently the only state where cannabis is legal. There are other states with some legal avenues available but Colorado is the most liberal. Continue reading

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Shakespeare on Antiseptic and Anesthetic Words

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet. Romeo and Juliet“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

Romeo and Juliet, act 2, sc. 2

So says Juliet, thinking that, yes, Romeo is a Montague by last name, and as such an enemy of her family. But she does not care – so much so that the lines have become a classic to assert that substance prevails (or should prevail) over form, politically correct facades, euphemisms and “spins”. Continue reading

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Shakespeare and Parallel Revolutions. Ukraine and the Shays’ Rebellion

Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, a Shakwespeare quote from hwenry V“Treason and murder ever kept together,
As two yoke-devils sworn to either’s purpose”

King Henry V, act 2, sc. 2

The Greek writer Plutarch is famous for his “Parallel Lives”, in which he arranged the biographies of famous figures of his time (1st  century AD), to outline and compare their moral virtues and their vices.

No modern Plutarch has undertaken the illustration of parallel revolutions. But the absence of the whole does not preclude the presence of a part. Continue reading

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Shakespeare and Gender Ideology

how chances mock, And changes fill the cup of alteration With divers liquors! (On societal changes that creep on us without us realising it)God! that one might read the book of fate,
And see the revolution of the times
… how chances mock,
And changes fill the cup of alteration
With divers liquors!

King Henry IV, part 2, act 3, sc. 1)

After the veil of oblivion has been cast on individual events, historians can draw their conclusions about the changes, the spirit and the mutations of the age under their investigation. It is somewhat more difficult to detect the significance of the changes when they occur, as we say, in real time. Continue reading

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Shakespeare, Appearances and the Jones Plantation

Who makes the fairest show, means most deceit - a parable on appearances created by words“Who makes the fairest show, means most deceit”

(Pericles, act 1, sc. 4)

Cornel West  is an African-American philosopher, academic, activist, author and public intellectual. He defines himself as a “blues man in the world of the mind, and a jazz man in the world of ideas.”
Recently, Cornel West commented on the impact of electing an African-American to the presidency of the US, followed by the appointment of other African-Americans to posts of responsibility in government Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the One Dollar Ignition Switch

A faulty ignition switch leading to the quote from Macbeth, And my more having would be as a sauce To make me hunger more“And my more having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more…”

(Macbeth, act 4, sc. 3)

 A brief background for our international visitors. General Motors has recalled millions of cars due to a minor but deadly design flaw. In some models, the ignition switch can unexpectedly turn itself off. The sudden engine stall also disables the air bags, power steering and power brakes. Officially, the design flaw has cause 13 deaths, unofficially hundreds, without counting the wounded or disabled. Continue reading

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