"WHAT THE HAND DARE SEIZE THE FIRE?"

Prometheus (portrayed in the feature photo) was a titan in Greek mythology. A titan was half mortal, half god. In some Greek legends, he is credited with creating humanity from clay. In all of the legends, he was responsible for giving mankind fire, tricking Zeus in the process, and who cared then what the hand, dare seize the fire? For this reason, Zeus had Prometheus chained to a rock, and a giant robotic eagle, crafted and assembled by Hephaestus, who forged many of Zeus’ toys and Athena’s owl, tore out and ate Prometheus’ liver each day (the liver grew back every night to compound the titan’s misery.) The eagle, symbolic of Zeus, himself, was so large that Jason and his Argonauts saw it on several occasions, and said that the beat of the eagle’s wings flying at cloud level caused the sails on his ship to quiver (Mayor: 127.)

Prometheus as a precursor to Orc

William Blake, when writing his eighteenth century book America a Prophecy, tapped into the Prometheus myth to develop his character Orc, a “Luciferian” and “fallen figure” and a spirit of fire and rebellion. Orc is also associated in Blake’s pantheon with the serpent in the Garden of Eden and who was also a transgressor of God’s laws. It was Blake’s poem The Tyger from which the title of this post was taken.

If we contemporize the legend, the fire in Prometheus’ hand (read Orc) is about to be passed to a citizen of the U.S. who desires to lead us as President. Who I personally believe this individual to be is immaterial. But whoever it is, he or she must pass the test, or our nation will go to Hades in a hand basket. Please read on.

Blake was disappointed that the U.S. did not ban slavery once the American War of Independence was over. And he was very concerned that there might develop some sort of “hero worship” in the U.S. towards Washington or someone else, perhaps in the future. Perhaps even now.

Rome

Rome was a Republic until the period of 133-27 B.C. Historians will list different reasons that the Roman Republic fell: Slave revolts such as the one led by Spartacus, the rise of private armies, economic stagnation and ultimately, the rise of Julius Caesar who declared himself Dictator in Perpetuo in 44 B.C. From then on, Rome was blown hither and thither by a series of tyrants such as Claudius, Caligula, Nero, Domitian, Trajan and others. But some scholars will tell you that Rome dropped the ball when its citizens ceased to become virtuous, trading these elegant qualities for tickets to the arena, where men hunted each other down in a deadly, bloody game. Nor should we confuse virtues with values, because values can change much as the wind or consumer preferences, else we’d all want hula hoops for Christmas.

What I wish more Americans knew

Civil virtue describes the character of a good participant in a system of government —the personal qualities associated with the effective functioning of the civil and political order or the preservation of its values and principles. According to White, the Founders designed the American republic with those qualities in mind and believed they were essential to upholding it. Here are some of the virtues enumerated either by Benjamin Franklin or in the Federalist Papers written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay (Hamilton and Madison helped write the U.S. Constitution as did Franklin.) I’ve embellished each of the nine terms in this list.

*Can you identify any civic virtues present in this crowd?*

Justice: Is there justice for all in this country, or do a certain few escape justice? See also here and here.
Self-Governance/Moderation: Can we as citizens control our destructive, uncivil impulses? Self-governnance depends on self-control.
Humility: Are we humble or are we arrogant?
Responsibility/Prudence: Do we readily accept those responsibilities that come with citizenship?
Perseverance: Do we tirelessly pursue virtuous civic goals?
Courage: Do we speak up when we see injustice or a citizen in physical danger or wrongly accused?
Respect: Do we respect people of all races and nationalities as much as we do people of our own race and nationality? Do we respect the poor as much as we do the wealthy? Do we respect celebrities no more than common people?
Contribution: What have we done for our country? In the words of JFK “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Integrity: Integrity is defined as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” How many of us can claim this virtue?

Storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters — *Washington, DC – January 6, 2021: Rioters clash with police trying to enter Capitol building through the front doors. Can you identify any civic virtues present in this crowd?* *Photo credit: lev radio (Shutterstock.) Editorial use only.*

Do you as a citizen have these virtues? Are they evident to the people around you? Do the friends you associate with have them? What about the people you depend on for news and information?

The American Republic is in danger

Writing in the “Constitution Daily,” Margaret Taylor, senior editor and counsel of the Lawfare blog, and Adam White, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute offer their comments on the state of the Republic. Taylor notes: “Our political culture right now, in varying ways, seems to be rewarding confrontation and party loyalty, and punishing compromise and cooperation among our political leaders, and I do wonder how that ends,” she writes.

“When we make it overly difficult for a minority of Americans to enjoy their right to vote, we simultaneously hinder them from performing their duty to vote. Civil rights protects people from tyranny. When we infringe on their civil rights, we become tyrannical, ourselves.”

“Taylor and White agreed that public figures must model the values of civic virtue in order for them to be revived among the public. ‘If you do not have people in government who are modeling these characteristics, it is taken as a green light with people in their normal lives to do the same thing,’ Taylor said.”

Legislative initiative	Bill number
Ban snacks and water to voters waiting in line	FL SB 90, GA SB 202
Limit the number, location, or availability of mail ballot drop boxes	FL SB 90, GA SB 202, IA SF 413, IN SB 398
Shorten window to apply for a mail ballot	AL HB 538, AR SB 643, GA SB 202, IA SF 413, KY HB 574, OK HB 2663

Legislative examples in the states of making voting more difficult.

Looking ahead to 2024

Candidates for President will soon be throwing their hats into the ring, implicitly if not explicitly. When you consider the candidates who are running for President and other high offices in 2024, ask yourself if these are virtuous men and women, or children of the same foul spirit. Policy is important, but a person without the least amount of moral decency can initiate policy. Any mercenary can arrange a quid pro quo. Remember, however, that the republic is not built and maintained on policy, but on virtue.

Prometheus unbound

*Eve of Destruction?* *Illustration credit: zef art (Shutterstock.)*

As you consider which candidate for president will get your vote, consider this: Prometheus is again on the loose with a vengeance. He will be offering the next President of the United States a new type of fire–the fire that can annihilate civilizations on a whim, in a second. What the hand that dare seize this fire? What the mind that moves this hand? What the spirit that inhabits this mind? The world is in a state of disequilibrium and chaos, and only a sober-minded individual of virtue, humility, prudence, and those Republican values dare grasp this fire from this Titan. May God, Almighty, turn aside any unfit, unqualified, ungodly or unyielding pretender to this high office.

Your vote, every vote counts in every election. It is not a privilege, it is your right. And more than that, it is your duty to cast your vote. The Republic depends on you doing so. Your children’s and grandchildrens’ future depends on it.