My esteemed fellow Athenians, I come before you today with a heavy heart. It is not with joy, but with a steadfast purpose that I speak. We have often spoken of our hope for the future, and that that hope lies in our sons. I stand here today to tell you that that future is insecure. There are those who would pervert the minds of our sons and have them believe lies about our glorious democracy. Today, we come to try the smooth-tongued viper that would corrupt our children, namely Socrates.
Socrates has a love of leading our young men astray with his golden tongue, from which flow honeyed words, laced with poison. I cannot quietly observe while Socrates seduces our children with his ideas that undermine our very city. Some will say that Socrates is harmless, simply presenting ideas to our youth. I am not such a simpleton, however. It is has been a long time since I thought that ideas are weaker than the sword. Indeed, they are far more insidious, for one knows an enemy when he thrusts a sword into your heart. One thinks a man is his friend while listening to mellifluous words, until the day that he lies on his bed, regretting the betrayal of his fair city. My heart is very sorrowful this day, for the more I struggle to protect our glorious city, the more I discover vipers lurking in the alley ways of our democracy. I fear that my fellow citizens have been blinded by the rhetoric of Socrates, seduced by the same golden tongue that seduced Alcibiades. Have any of you forgotten that bitter betrayal by the man who was Socrates’ lover? I have not; the grief still lies heavy upon my heart.
Many of us have enjoyed the plays of that great comic Aristophanes. In his comedy Clouds, however, there lies a truth that is far more suitable for a tragedy. In the play, Socrates teaches a young man to argue in such a way that right and wrong are disregarded. We all know how the play ends; the young man, Phidippides, beats his father and uses the tools of rhetoric taught to him by Socrates to justify it. You laugh, but I have seen the results of Socrates teachings. Many of our youth have been seduced to believe that we should institute a government of a select few, destroying our democracy and ensuring tyranny and corruption. Would you have our sons destroy our fair city because Socrates has made them believe that our glorious democracy would be better replaced with a few unaccountable and suspect men? Some will argue that if this is the case, then silencing Socrates will accomplish nothing and we must prosecute others. I would respond that the opposite is true. By making an example of Socrates, it will be made clear that such words of sedition are not tolerated. Our conviction of Socrates today will ensure the security and stability of our fair city.
Socrates, who proclaims his humility so proudly, has violated our children with his words that seek to destroy our democracy. Can you not see the Long Walls, as they are even now almost finished? They are beautiful, a testament to our democracy and the security of our city. Yet, I fear that the Long Walls cannot protect against our bitterest enemy; the man who would destroy our democracy with his tongue, rather than his hands.
While I recognize the imperative need for Socrates to be silenced, I cannot wish death upon him. This would be far too excessive and can only cause disharmony. Furthermore, his followers would happily make a martyr out of the man, ensuring Socrates a place in our history he does not deserve. Rather, let us silence that golden tongue and exile Socrates so that our children will retain the wisdom of the gods and will continue to protect the freedom of our beautiful Athens, the city of the grey-eyed goddess.
What can I say to you today, my fellow Athenians? Should I speak once more of the dream I have had of my son entering the fair Assembly, or of the harbour full once more of ships carrying their goods from all parts of the sea? Should I tell of the dream I have had of the fair Athens, graced with freedom and secure in liberty, powerful once more and secure from tyranny?
I am reminded of the words of the great Pericles, when he spoke of the men who willingly died to save Athens, “Thus choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting, they fled only from dishonour, but met danger face to face…” Today, we must choose to meet the danger to our city face to face and silence Socrates.
Socrates has a love of leading our young men astray with his golden tongue, from which flow honeyed words, laced with poison. I cannot quietly observe while Socrates seduces our children with his ideas that undermine our very city. Some will say that Socrates is harmless, simply presenting ideas to our youth. I am not such a simpleton, however. It is has been a long time since I thought that ideas are weaker than the sword. Indeed, they are far more insidious, for one knows an enemy when he thrusts a sword into your heart. One thinks a man is his friend while listening to mellifluous words, until the day that he lies on his bed, regretting the betrayal of his fair city. My heart is very sorrowful this day, for the more I struggle to protect our glorious city, the more I discover vipers lurking in the alley ways of our democracy. I fear that my fellow citizens have been blinded by the rhetoric of Socrates, seduced by the same golden tongue that seduced Alcibiades. Have any of you forgotten that bitter betrayal by the man who was Socrates’ lover? I have not; the grief still lies heavy upon my heart.
Many of us have enjoyed the plays of that great comic Aristophanes. In his comedy Clouds, however, there lies a truth that is far more suitable for a tragedy. In the play, Socrates teaches a young man to argue in such a way that right and wrong are disregarded. We all know how the play ends; the young man, Phidippides, beats his father and uses the tools of rhetoric taught to him by Socrates to justify it. You laugh, but I have seen the results of Socrates teachings. Many of our youth have been seduced to believe that we should institute a government of a select few, destroying our democracy and ensuring tyranny and corruption. Would you have our sons destroy our fair city because Socrates has made them believe that our glorious democracy would be better replaced with a few unaccountable and suspect men? Some will argue that if this is the case, then silencing Socrates will accomplish nothing and we must prosecute others. I would respond that the opposite is true. By making an example of Socrates, it will be made clear that such words of sedition are not tolerated. Our conviction of Socrates today will ensure the security and stability of our fair city.
Socrates, who proclaims his humility so proudly, has violated our children with his words that seek to destroy our democracy. Can you not see the Long Walls, as they are even now almost finished? They are beautiful, a testament to our democracy and the security of our city. Yet, I fear that the Long Walls cannot protect against our bitterest enemy; the man who would destroy our democracy with his tongue, rather than his hands.
While I recognize the imperative need for Socrates to be silenced, I cannot wish death upon him. This would be far too excessive and can only cause disharmony. Furthermore, his followers would happily make a martyr out of the man, ensuring Socrates a place in our history he does not deserve. Rather, let us silence that golden tongue and exile Socrates so that our children will retain the wisdom of the gods and will continue to protect the freedom of our beautiful Athens, the city of the grey-eyed goddess.
What can I say to you today, my fellow Athenians? Should I speak once more of the dream I have had of my son entering the fair Assembly, or of the harbour full once more of ships carrying their goods from all parts of the sea? Should I tell of the dream I have had of the fair Athens, graced with freedom and secure in liberty, powerful once more and secure from tyranny?
I am reminded of the words of the great Pericles, when he spoke of the men who willingly died to save Athens, “Thus choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting, they fled only from dishonour, but met danger face to face…” Today, we must choose to meet the danger to our city face to face and silence Socrates.
posted by Julianna | 10:35 AM
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