It occurred to me after the last Republican Primary Presidential Debate and the simultaneous Tucker/Trump interview, how stale and banal the subjects discussed at the debate compared to what Trump brings to the discussion.  As Jack Posobiec said, “they were discussing the Sunday picnic preparations in the face of the oncoming hurricane” (1) that is swirling around Trump.  No doubt Trump is joining the ranks of many controversial figures that have challenged the powerful and corrupt established powerhouse that has run it’s course in history and ushered in a new popular reformation leading to many years of peace, prosperity and stability.  

Each era in our history has started by societal reform.  This reformation begins by ushering in times of prosperity and well-being for the population.  But, as the movement runs its course, it gets hijacked by a powerful elite who then, in turn, corrupt it and try to keep the reigns of power and corruption for their own benefit and at the expense of the population.  Usually, there is a controversial figure that becomes iconic, the face, of the reformation movement that ensues.  The shining light though of all these reformations, is that the old, corrupt regimes either die or recede, giving way to the new movement that ushers in a time of peace and prosperity.  We are at such an inflection point in our current times.  There are many such iconic figures that head and usher in these great new times.  In this blog, I’ll refer to three: Socrates, Julius Caesar, and Martin Luther.  

Socrates questioned societal norms, traditions and beliefs through his Socratic method.  His Socratic method challenged Athenian wisdom, which was often doled out for a fee.  He challenged conventional wisdom incurring the wrath of the established norms.  He was then brought to trial in Athens for “refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state” and “corrupting the young”.(2)  By challenging the established powerhouse, he was cancelled through the use of the court.  Sound familiar? He was found guilty and sentence to death by drinking a cup of poison hemlock.  He famously stated that he believed his commitment to philosophy and critical thinking was more important than his own survival.  He was the inflection point figure that ushered in a profound change in thought, philosophy, ethics and education despite being cancelled by the establishment.

Martin Luther challenged the dominance of the Catholic Church’s doctrines and practices.  He challenged the sale of indulgences, Papal authority, and the translation of the Bible. For his daring, the powerhouse of the time, the Roman Catholic Church headed by Pope Leo X, officially excommunicated him.  Basically, the Pope cancelled Luther.  But, it was too late.  Luther’s ideas had already gained traction and sparked the Protestant Reformation leading to far-reaching religious, social and political consequences.  Martin Luther sparked a populist reformation of an institution that had brought people together at it’s inception, but grew corrupt and greedy at the expense of the people.(3) 

Julius Caesar, was a military general that was successful and immensely popular with the masses.  He challenged the Roman establishment.  Caesar aimed to help solve the economic and social issues plaguing Rome.  His actions sparked a civil war between himself and forces loyal to the Roman establishment.  For his actions, the Roman establishment famously assassinated him on the Ides of March, in 44 BCE.  They cancelled him.  But just like other iconic figures whose challenge to authority has led to the demise of old, corrupt powerful establishment, his actions led to the end of the Roman Republic and led to the establishment of the Roman Empire, which started the events that ultimately led to many years of relative peace and stability, the Pax Romana. (4) 

Each of these controversial inflection figures challenged their respective establishment’s power; each, was cancelled by said establishment.  But, despite being cancelled, their actions sparked the events that were popular with the populace and took on a life of their own ultimately leading to the demise of old corrupt practices carried out by a staid establishment and the formation of new norms and institutions much more beneficial to the population at large.  

Trump joins the ranks of these famous, controversial figures destined to bring down the corrupt establishment and usher in new times of relative prosperity and stability for years to come.   History is rhyming.  We must take heart.  The movement started by Donald J Trump has taken off and, even if the corrupt establishment is successful in cancelling him, their power will end.  It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when is a matter of when – and when is now.  That genie has left the bottle.  We must take heart.

— Lumen

 

References:

(1) Human Events with Jack Posobiec, Episode 547: The Return of the Don – Never Surrender, August 25, 2023

(2)  Publicpeople.org, “Who was Socrates”, J Gunsch , August 8, 2023

(3) Korcula.net, “Martin Luther and Reformation – Catholic and Other Religions in Europe 1500-1600s”, Marco Marelich, October 2005

(4) Education.nationalgeographic.org, “Rome’s Transition from Republic to Empire”,  resource article.