Tag: I Claudius

‘I, Claudius’ to the Rescue

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

First episode of I, Claudius - BBC 100

Derek Jacobi in the title role

You know, it’s amazing the way things somehow work out without your having planned them that way. I think we can attribute that to God’s providence.

Trying to finish writing Ozias, Prince in Peril before the cold weather sets in, I hit another snag in the story and didn’t know how to proceed. At the same time, my wife and I bought I, Claudius, the award-winning series that tells the story of the Roman emperor who tried to restore the Republic.

Voila! Inspiration! I, Claudius was just what I needed to move me along within the story I was telling.

Not that I copy from it, mind you–it doesn’t work that way. But the shenanigans and machinations of Rome’s imperial family–which are, after all, history–shed light on the situation in my fantasy kingdom of Obann. This is not easy to explain. Once upon a time, writers called it “following the muse.”

Inspiration comes from many sources. Shakespeare’s Richard III, for instance, often reminds me of our own day’s politics. Certainly I, Claudius does. We used to laugh at it, when it came out in the 1970s. But in 2022 it’s a little bit too close for comfort. Not so funny anymore.

Anyway, I’m out of the snag and back in action.

Murderers of Their Own Posterity

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Human Extinction Stock Photo - Alamy

Normally I don’t allow any nooze to break the peace of the Sabbath; but there are times when I see a need to make an exception.

In the wake of the Supreme Court putting the question of “abortion rights” back in the hands of the states, Far Left Crazy has gone totally wacko–as if abortion were THE best thing in their lives, and to restrain or limit it in any way a strike at their very existence.

So we’ve got a hot dog joint in Nashville offering you a free milkshake if you can prove you’ve had a vasectomy (https://www.foxla.com/news/restaurant-offering-free-milkshakes-with-proof-of-vasectomy).

In I, Claudius, Augustus Caesar, storming against Roman senators who won’t marry and have children, calls them “murderers of your own posterity.” Well, he should see it now.

How come “reproductive health” always comes down to stopping reproduction?

The self-hatred of the Left extends to all the human species. If we all do what they say we should do–abortion, same-sex “marriage,” transgender, assisted suicide, etc., etc.–we’ll go extinct. They seem to want that very badly. Hating themselves, they hate everyone.

Teachers’ unions and the Democrat Party–they’ll kill us if they can.

When Your Republic Fails

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

This is what you get when your republic fails. Lunatics who think they’re gods, absolutely drunk with power and insatiable for more. Most of them go on to be mass murderers. Who’s to stop them?

This is John Hurt in his unforgettable role as Caligula, the crazy-as-a-bedbug Roman emperor who thought he was a god. From the BBC’s award-winning series, I, Claudius.

Again, learn it well: This is what you get when your republic fails.

As the Poisons Hatch Out

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

This clip from the BBC’s I, Claudius series seems distressingly relevant today.

Republics die, usually by their own hand. Emperor Claudius, after absolutely everything has gone completely wrong, has named the evil lunatic, Nero, his successor as emperor. He thinks that Nero will be such a disaster that the Romans will have no choice but to bring back the republic. But when his adviser asks him why he has chosen to do this, Claudius’ reply is cryptic:

“Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out.”

Well, here and now in our republic, our poisons are hatching out all over.

God will have to intervene, if we are to survive this chaos.

Pray hard, pray several times a day–and work hard to stop this catastrophe. The people who are doing this to our cities want to do it to our country. And millions of voters will try to hand it over to them.

We’re finished, if they do.

College Offers ‘Space’ for Freaked-out Students to ‘Process’ Election Results

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Image result for images of student tantrum

Hmm, let’s see… How far would I have to push this story, to turn it into satire? What? You say it’s there already? And it’s not satire? Holy moly.

Elmhurst College in Illinois is offering emotionally shattered idiots–er, students–“space” in which to “process” the traumatic results of this year’s midterm elections (https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=11504). Here students can crumple into fetal position and be sustained with cider, coffee, hot chocolate, and treats.

Can you say “infantile”? And you’re paying how much to send your kids to be “educated” there? Please explain how that does not qualify you as crazy.

In 2016 the college provided its students with a “group cry” over Donald Trump’s election as president. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Crikey, I thought they were all happy over Democrats creeping back into a small majority in the House of Representatives. Hey, move over, I want some space, too! ‘Cause I get depressed whenever any Democrat is elected to anything, anywhere.

Maybe the college has simply taught these overgrown babies to be unhappy all the time.

Somehow it reminds me of an exchange in I, Claudius. The old, clapped-out pervert of an emperor, Tiberius, to the young, even worse, even crazier pervert, Caligula: “I shall make you my successor! Rome deserves you!”

Caligula: “Is this a joke, uncle?”

Tiberius: “Not yet–but it will be.”