ESSAY THREE

[Joy.c]

Slightly changed from the handed in version to highlight the good
versus bad. It is copying and pasting weirdly.... I am sorry about
this....

Joy Collingbourne
English 101
Essay Three
Rough Draft and ideas

Are we Rome?

The Roman Empire that once stood fierce and proud, an
unbeatable force within the fighting world echoes many aspects of the
United States today. Rome boasted an army that could match any other
in strength of arm and numbers, defending the empire and the dictators
who pioneered it.
In Cullen Murphy’s Are We Rome? Murphy discusses the view of
outsiders from the point of the Empire. The Roman’s believed they
were unstoppable and looked down on other armies and military force as
being secondary and inferior. Cullen quotes that “The Roman’s did
see themselves as superior to non Roman peoples”, something that the
United States has very publicly in the news been criticized for.
After September 11th, the Bush Administration publicly promoted
patriotic attitudes that the US was stronger than ever and would not
be beaten. A lot of minority groups and other countries deemed non-
American were put in a place of lesser value and also viewed as
outsiders and others. Cullen also goes as far as to say that one of
the
people the Roman Empire humored were the Egyptians, with whom they saw
to be “Weak and degenerate”, two very uncomplimentary characteristics.
The way that the Roman Empire viewed the Egyptians, can be compared to
how the US have viewed the Iraqi population and the Middle East.
Looking towards stereotypes and generalizations when coming up with
war strategies especially when generalizing in the way the Middle
East live and the Religion that they
use.
When looking at Shakespeare’s tragedy Antony and Cleopatra,
Cullen in his writings could have been directly looking at the
differences in views, behavior and opinion between Caesar of Rome and
Cleopatra of Egypt, and also that of Antony who found comfort away
from Rome within the Egyptian boundaries, and his best friend and
comrade Enobarbus who unable to respect the behavior of Antony,
changed to fight for Caesar before ending his life in shame. Caesar,
although a young leader is a solid comparison between that of Antony
and Cleopatra. Caesar sees the weaknesses in Rome and worries about
strengthening his Empire. He is proactive and very diligent in his
work ethic. Although Antony is a better soldier and wiser in years,
his reckless behavior shows the descent in believing the hype of ones
superiority due to his torn heart between Rome and his inability to
leave Cleopatra and Egypt. Caesar is younger yet more correct than
the drunken Antony, and as the wise prophet gypsy says to Antony it is
his weaknesses that will always make him fail when next to Caesar
despite having more experience. Cleopatra is a lazy leader who cares
little for that of fighting and Empires and has eyes only for Antony
and life’s greatest pleasures, which to herself are wine and love.
Although Cullen fails to look at the US deserters in the military
there are growing examples in the media of soldiers who have helped
the so-called enemy and even chosen to fight for them. Enobarbus
exemplifies this. These four complex characters show many
similarities to what is happening within the USA today, and through
the view of the Roman’s towards the Egyptians, and the behavior of
Caesar against that of the exotic hold Cleopatra held over Antony,
Murphy’s question of Are We Rome can be answered somewhat through the
metaphoric interaction between these four key characters, that
represent the opinion of the US against that of our own outsiders and
ourselves. From leaders, to the exotic image that is held of the
Middle East, to the soldiers who desert their point of call, Antony
and Cleopatra and Are We Rome hold many parallels that act as a
warning against modern day America and the politics within that are
finding themselves public.
Caesar is in some ways similar to soon to be ex President
Bush.
He hails from a lineage of Roman leaders, as Bush hails from a
hierarchy of politicians and it can be argued that both Caesar and
Bush are the younger and foolish leaders for their consecutive
armies. However unlike Bush who has famously been known to act upon
personal interests, Caesar is an example of a leader who acts with his
means as best he can to protect the country that he has come to lead.
Although his attitude is that of Cullens view, which promotes the self
importance of Rome, he is very practical in wanting the best soldiers,
the best armies and the best leaders, which is why he asks for
Antony’s help. As opposed to simply talk about his greatness, Caesar
hails from a lineage of grandeur and he defends the title and honor
well and dutifully, if a little inexperienced. Cleopatra mocks Caesar
when Antony gets a message from him by chiding, “ Caesar have not sent
his powerful mandate to you. Do this
or this… or else we damn thee”(Act 1 scene 1). Cleopatra looks at
Caesar as a child, and his demands as being somewhat juvenile. Even
Antony sees Caesar as being too young to fully know how to fight.
The backwards and forwards debate between Anthony and Caesar
comes across as being petty fighting in which Antony clearly and
rightfully sees himself as the greater soldier. This situation can
be
seen in modern times where there is a lot of debate about the ages of
US Military being too young for the positions that they hold. More
Antony stature soldiers are looking down on the Caesar stature
soldiers and the US military is looking under equipped against
foreign
attack due to inexperience and lack of aged wisdom. However, the
backwards and forwards between Caesar and Antony also magnifies the
youthful enthusiasm against that of a jaded soldier.
In the HRW.org article of 1999, even before the mass recruitment post
September 11th, the Congress of the United States argued that
contemporary conflict has caused the death of 2,000,000 minors in the
last decade alone and that soldiers are too young to fight and lead.
One of the points raised by the congress in the article is that
“Children
are uniquely vulnerable to military recruitment because of their
emotional and physical vulnerability”. Although Caesar was born into
his role and not recruited, in a age and country where positions are
earned and recruited for, it is interesting to see that Caesar was
too
young and also the common views in today’s society is that many
soldiers are too dying too young and fighting too young and lack the
knowledge and experience that trained combatants such as Mark
Antony had / his equivalent has.
The view in Are We Rome of how much the Romans looked down
on other people including the Egyptians as “Weak and degenerate” can
be emphasized in Shakespeare’s play via the way that people see
Cleopatra and Egypt. Throughout the play we are shows such
stereotypes of the Egyptians being goddesses and elaborate drinking
wine and eating till the small hours of the day, but mostly in how
other
characters describe Cleopatra and her country drives home Cullen’s
point that the Romans really did believe they were better. Caesar in
Act one Scene five describes what Mark Antony does in Egypt with
Cleopatra as “ Fishes, drinks and wastes the lamps of night in
revel”.
The scene in Egypt is made to look like a full time party where
drinking
till the morning takes place among a lot more than serious work.
Scene II of Cleopatra after Antony and Caesar decide that Octavia and
Antony should marry, Enobarbus tells his Roman friends Agrippa and
Mecaenas about what it was like living in Egypt. Enobarbus says they
“Made the night light with drinking”, ate “Eight wild boars roasted
for
breakfast”, and that Cleopatra’s boat was “So perfumed that the
wind’s were love sick with them”. The overall picture of Cleopatra
is
that of a goddess that is unreachable to the common people, someone
who is decadent and living a high life of sinful activity. This
mixed
with Cleopatra’s behavior of belittling Antony and mocking him to
regain power emphasizes Cullen’s view of how Rome viewed other
countries as being less superior. The Romans looked upon themselves
as being noble and worthy while the Egyptians were not. This can be
seen in modern day America with the way the US puts itself upon a
pedestal against the Middle Eastern countries and citizens.
The US may not look at Iraq and Iran as decadent and sinful, but
the US holds a view of these countries to be terrorists. As Egypt
was
labeled dim and drunken, Iraq and Iran have been labeled as terrorist
threats. This level of attacking with names is a bad thing because
to
draw on stereotypes shapes a whole misconception of people and
generalizes to create fear and hatred. As the Romans hated the
Egyptians and many others, so does the US. In The Washington Post
April 17th 2008, President Bush and Prime Minister Brown talk Remark
on Iraq and Terrorism (CQ Transcripts) is a good example of this
generalization. The title alone is enough to back up Cullen and also
Shakespeare in their attitudes and opinions. The title does not
suggest that the President and Prime Minister question Iraq and
terrorism, or discuss possible terrorism within Iraq, but it offers
that
they remark about the whole of the country and the threat of
terrorism. This instills a belief of fear and that Iraq is full of
terrorists.
The Transcript from Gordon Brown begins, “The world owes George
Bush a huge debt of gratitude…determination to root out terrorism”.
There is talk that could come out of a comic. Us against them. Good
against bad. Good being the US and the bad being anyone who could
threaten the US Empire just as people did the Roman.
The superior feel that the US soldiers hold against such as
Iraq can
also be seen in the mocking that takes place. Where as the Egyptians
are mocked and laughed at in Shakespeare, the contemporary
equivalent can be seen in the reports that the US soldiers in power
play have been pulled aside for toying and killing innocent Iraqi men
and women. The only reason why being that there is a sense that the
US is the good guys and therefore can do what they want. Is there a
sense that the Iraqi people are so worthless and dumb that no one
will
care when such barbaric actions take place? And really it can be
asked
when such happens, how can there be any wonder why insurgent
groups start to build?
AlterNet, September 27th 2007, I Was Ordered to Murder
Unarmed Iraqi, Alternative Press, uncovers just one in many cases in
which a US soldier “Broke down in tears” after he testified he was
ordered by a Trooper and sergeant to kill a harmless Iraqi man who
stood with his hands above his head. One of the Sergeant’s,
“Sandoval” is written up to be facing five charges including the
murder
of a unknown Iraqi male, and failing to ensure humane treatment to
detainee’s. This article is horrific in texture due to the fact that
it
takes Cullen’s thoughts and Shakespeare’s ideologies of the times and
brings the truth that with time things will and can get worse with
prejudice. What starts as a simple view of others, and mockery of
others can end in the mislead belief that one is better than the
other
and rightfully allowed to behave in their own way. The American
way.
CNN.com also reported how the U.S soldiers acted towards the
Iraqi
detainees. Army: Soldiers did mock executions, Mike Mount, CNN
Washington Bureau May 19th 2005 is an article that shows how the US
soldiers performed mock executions on Iraqi detainees and terrified
them in their own form of terrorism. Although the army tries to stop
any forms of enemy attack within detainment camps, this article
shows again, more US soldiers held in question for wrongful
behavior.
“Witness statements from his platoon said Yancey took a boy detainee
out of a truck and fired his weapon next to the detainee's head” This
is
merely one account from the article of a US soldiers actions. It is
horrifying to see such attitudes from Shakespeare’s play between the
Romans and Egyptians mirrored and multiplied in aggression between
the US and Iraq in a Cullen-esque example of how “We” as the US and
even UK view others.
One other character that is an interesting study within
Antony
and Cleopatra is that of Enobarbus. Enobarbus is Antony’s right hand
man and best friend. At the beginning of the play when Antony is
tasting the delicacies of Egypt, it is Enobarbus who stands by him,
wine in hand. When Antony hears of Fulvia’s death and declares they
must leave Egypt, Enobarbus jokes, “Why sir, give the God’s a
thankful sacrifice”. He jokes about Fulvia’s death and about the lure
of
Egypt. When Antony wants to leave Enobarbus chides him and then
assists with a simple, “I shall do’t”. This simple three words
emphasizes the bond between the two men. They are fighters and
friends, and a team. Where as Cullen doesn’t really look into the
subject of deserters from the Roman army, Shakespeare does look at
this not only through Antony but also Enobarbus. By Antony’s neglect
of Rome and his passion towards Egypt, Shakespeare looks at the pull
between pleasure and duty, but with Enobarbus he looks at the
desertion from Mark Antony to Caesar, and then death through shame.
Enobarbus starts to feel guilt for his frivolous living with Antony,
worrying about the strength of their once strong army. “You’re ships
are not well manned”. His honest truth is different that the once
thicker than wolves pack they ran in. Enobarbus admits aside to the
audience, “Mine honesty and I begin to square… To follow with
allegiance a fall’n lord”. He talks about Antony as a fallen lord
and
that to follow him is stupidity. He also adds, “I will seek some way
to
leave him”.
The pull that Enobarbus has is that between Rome and Antony,
his comrade and his leader, and this inner battle causes him to
desert
Antony and back Caesar for the greater good. However, feeling the
shame, and knowing Antony holds no grudge except that of sadness,
Enobarbus ends his life having deserted first his loyal friend and
leader, and then Rome. Cullen would possibly see this as a reaction
to
the feeling that Rome was so great. Can there be a backlash to the
us
versus them mentality and view of others, when someone begins to
lose the respect of the army they fight within? Enobarbus sure did,
and
many reports show that today this happens a lot too.
The New York Times, Army is cracking down on deserters, Paul Von
Zielbauer, April 9th 2007 delves into the army’s reaction to
deserters
who no longer want to fight for what they once did. Where as Antony
forgave Enobarbus and then without facing Caesar, Enobarbus killed
himself, the NY Times article writes about how in the last four years
the army prison numbers have risen. One example in the Times is
how in an Alaskan army base one soldier “Chopped off his trigger
finger with an axe to prevent deployment”. In 2006 alone, 3196
soldiers deserted the army, and that has risen from 2004 in which
2357 soldiers absconded. The figures are showing that jail time and
prosecution are not deterring the soldiers from leaving the army and
refusing to fight in Iraq. While looking for Congressional bills
regarding deserting the army, it is hard to locate one that deals
directly with this situation. However, it could be argues that with
the
figures increasing, then one will surely be in the works. Enobarbus
felt
shame and committed suicide, but in the modern day, soldiers would
happily face prison time if it meant not fighting for wars they do
not
believe in.
This could show how the attitude towards the US being better than
others, from inside the organization as a whole, is becoming
fragmented and weaker.
Cullen Murphy shows how the Roman Empire saw others as
weaker than their own power, and Shakespeare also showed how the
Romans viewed the Egyptians as a joke of a nation. These attitudes
are present in today’s world, but as machinery becomes more and
technology advances, the hostility grows a and the repercussions of
such an attitude cause the US to behave in ways they say their
“enemies and potential terrorists act”.
It is however clear to see a parallel through Cullen’s Are We Rome,
Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra and also today’s world where the
US, especially through President Bush viewed themselves as being
very different to “Others”.








SOURCES USED

HRW
www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/congress.htm
A congressional article arguing for the cease of young soldiers /
child soldiers being deployed and used in the line of fire.

The Washington Post
President Bush and Prime Minister Brown Remark on Iraq and Terrorism.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041702641.html
April 17th 2008 – transcripts between President Bush of America and
Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the UK.
The Transcripts talk about the US and UK view of terrorism within Iraq
and the threat it holds over the US and UK.

The Associated Press: Alternet.com, September 27th 2007
US Soldier: I Was Ordered to Murder Unarmed Iraqi.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/63780/?page=1
The account and trial of troopers and sergeants who ordered a US
soldier to kill an unarmed Iraqi man in one of many innocent civilian
attacks.

CNN
CNN.com Army: Soldiers Did Mock Executions.
May 19th 2005, Mike Mount
Accounts of US soldiers terrorizing detainees via mock executions and
torture.


New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/us/09awol.html?_r=1
By PAUL von ZIELBAUER, Published: April 9, 2007
Army is cracking down on Deserters.
This article looks at army deserters, which again, Enobarbus could be
seen as being an example of.