"Divide et Impera" (I.P.)

By luigi_pagano

Sat, 14 Jun 2014
  • 1931 reads
8 comments
 

Nowadays we are trying to achieve unity,
to avoid conflicts and seek co-operation
with others in the European Community
but it wasn’t always so; “Divide and Rule”
was the Roman politicians’ tricky strategy
which for a long time was an effective tool
to suppress and subdue defeated nations.
The notion of diluting power took hold
and it was even endorsed by Machiavelli
who, writing about the art of war, told
that a Captain should always endeavour
to undermine and split the enemy forces.
Many tyrants have been known to favour
the use of this diabolical, sly, device
but an American statesman, James Mason,
offered to President Jefferson the advice
that  “Divide et impera” is, in some cases,
the only policy by which a republic
can be administered on just principles.
This appears to mean that a democracy
can forfeit ethical values without scruples.
Personally I think we have to take on board
the opinion that it is never acceptable
to allow such tactics to divide the world.

© Luigi Pagano 2014

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Historical Fiction
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Thisis really good, Luigi. You are so clever to get something like this to flow so well and also to rhyme, whilst getting over a point of view.

Bee

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Your feedback is greatly appreciated, Bee. I get inspired when the subject matter is familiar to me. It was quite easy to associate the inspiration point to the well known Roman strategy of creating divisions in vanquished territories to weaken their enemies' resolve. It is important to put forward a point of view well and better still if suitable rhymes can complement the poem. I am pleased that you think these points come across.

Thanks, Luigi

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

this was not something I had really thought about. I presume you wouldnt mind disunity being encouraged amongst those  planning hatred, murder, evil and crime? Rhiannon
 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Dear Rhiannon, you'll have to excuse me for not getting the gist of your question. I summarised my views on the matter with the last three lines of the poem, namely

"Personally I think we have to take on board
the opinion that it is never acceptable
to allow such tactics to divide the world."

Best wishes, Luigi

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Sorry, Luigi, I didn't realise I was being rather abstruse. I had taken your point, but was just thinking that though you were critical of those trying to disunite proper opposition, you would not be unhappy at any encouragement of disunity amongst those working together to terrorise, or commit crimes, promote hatred. But if that is still not clear, don't worry about it! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Obviously nobody in their right mind would want unity among criminal organisations, terrorist groups or people with extreme views who promote hate. The notion that anybody would condone such violent behaviour is mind boggling. Mind you, left to their own devices, they are the ones that create disunity among themselves, vide gang warfares and tribal fights. We can only hope that that will lead to their extinction. The downside is that innocent civilians are caught in the middle of their skirmishes.

Luigi

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Luigi,

I enjoyed your interpretation of this I.P.  It seems to me that where evil is being done in whatever form then divide to disrupt seems to me to be an acceptable way of dealing with the problem.  It is the 'Rule' part that is questionable.

Moya

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

You have made a very good point, Moya. When it comes to 'Rule', what rule is applied and for whose benefit? The question has to be debated.

Luigi