15 January 2011 Which staff member gets the blame for…?

http://www.tinadupuy.com/column/at-least-stand-by-your-free-speech/

At Least Stand By Your Free Speech

“On January 9, 2011, in Column, by Tina Dupuy

Last Saturday morning 20 people were shot in a Tucson Safeway parking lot by a 22-year-old who stated on YouTube he “won’t pay debt with a currency that’s not backed by gold and silver.” Fifteen minutes after the news broke, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin tweeted, “The price of gold today is at $1,368.90 an ounce.”

“Coincidence?”



It’s bright and sunny here today even if it is still cold. The newspaper showed up without one of us having to call and complain. We’re recording above freezing temperatures. We’re still waiting on the wood delivery.

I was pleased to find the column by Tina Dupuy on the editorial page of our local newspaper. I’ve only recently become aware of her material and I find it worth reading and worthy of sharing with friends. So look it over and I hope it amuses you as much as it does me.

Roman history, stealing much from classical Greek culture, gave us the phrase for and custom of falling upon one’s sword after losing a battle.

“The actual practice of committing suicide by falling on one's sword dates back to ancient Rome. Plutarch records such a death in The Life of Brutus:

Finally, he [Brutus] spoke to Volumnius himself in Greek, reminding him of their student life, and begged him to grasp his sword with him and help him drive home the blow. And when Volumnius refused, and the rest likewise ... grasping with both hands the hilt of his naked sword, he fell upon it and died.”

The cost of losing battles was high in terms of men, equipment, and territory. Often kingdoms fell with armies. The average battlefield commander had little hope of longevity unless he could be ransomed for the price of a small kingdom. Captured soldiers did not fare well in the hands of enemies. Suicide was often the most pleasant option before them at the end of a battle.

The phrase became common usage for resigning in disgrace from political office, with or without subsequent suicide. The most recent example of such a political debacle comes from Palin World. She has historically refused to accept any blame for any flaw, fault, error, or lack of ethics. Her small staff has gradually been reduced in size as people either become burned out by the need to assume blame for her actions, or fall into disfavor and are terminated. If ever it were appropriate for a politician to take the sword exit, it is now appropriate for Palin. It remains to see if she has the intellect to recognize the depths of her disgrace – doubtful, if she has the innate sense of honor that would require her to take the blade – also doubtful. She’s burned through most of her loyal retainers. I wonder how many are left to assume the disgrace that is rightfully hers. When she runs out of staff to blame, who’s next?