RSS SPIRIT

Proper spoils of war



When Julius Caesar returned from Gaul, the grateful Romans threw the longest triumph holiday in the history of the empire. They were certainly glad he had returned safely from a long campaign of subduing European savages. But more important, he came home victorious and loaded with plunder. Thence commenced one of history's best parties.

Sadly such holidays do not exist in America today. All we presently distribute are the fruits of unconquest: recrimination, death, injury, impoverishment and despair. It is not enjoyable to dish out heaping scoops of loser loot.

One problem with handing out the failure, nobody seems to want it. It is hard to find anybody within a hundred yards of the shame ceremony. Try to pin blame on people and you will find the job impossible. For victory is a glorious glitter worn by all, while defeat is a gloppy glob hocked into the street.

Failure first arrives wrapped up like a winner. Those who lose hope to fool us into believing lies. After that gold paper has been ripped off to expose a steaming pile, then there arrives the muddle of 'shifting expectations.' What once would have been considered abject failure is now shined up as circumstantial victory. Alas, for the losers, the spoils are the same: blood and treasure go out of the country by the bucket full. Whither, we know not, and so do not arrange for imminent commemorative holidays to rejoice and put out more flags.

Wisdom, that dear teacher, is maybe the only real treasure of defeat. And even it is a bitter piece of booty. For all it teaches us: forever be vigilant that old men suffering cataracts of foolishness assisted by henchmen seeking easy money never be allowed to decide a contest in which victory needs be certain.

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