Civilisation as we so call it? I believe started in the west in the ancient polis or city state of Athens in Greece. Now if there one place I would recommend visiting is metropolis of Athens the capital of Greece. I like to visit and take in the ambience of ancient cultures any where I sail to in the Mediterranean Sea. The acropolis is outstanding in its ancient beauty especially lit up at night. The acropolis totally dominates the city skyline. Acropolis actually means the highest point of the city. Housed on top are various buildings all of religious significants.
The Parthenon is the most famous temple of the site. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Athena. Inside the end of the temple was a beautiful large gold statue of Athena.
What did Athena represent to the Greeks? The ancient city takes its name from the female goddess. What’s did she represent to the people of ancient Athens; Athena is so important that the city of Athens is named after her.
As the goddess of Wisdom and War, she was charged with some of the essential aspirations of Greek culture. Athena was the favored daughter of Zeus. He produced her without a mother, so she sprang fully formed from his divine forehead. Her wisdom stems from Athena’s diligence. She was known as the patroness of weaving and spinning. According to the myths, diligently mastering her craft allowed her to develop greater wisdom than any other deity
What to the ancient democratic Greeks were her virtues I believe these virtues were her strength of character. “Virtues” are attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop this potential. They enable us to pursue the ideals we have adopted. Honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, fidelity, integrity, fairness, self-control, and prudence are all examples of virtues. We humans which I call the human condition have tendency to err from the straight and narrow. I call it strength of character and developing and maintaining the above ideals.
I like my blog posts to be relevant to todays circumstances especially in relationship to the coming of female age of equality. Hence my use of the dawning of Athena
One of my recent blog posts was about dictators who historically have been from the males species. Certain men those who lack an inner being or strength of character want to dominate others. These narcissistic are dangerous individuals who are bullies and lack strength of character who are weak and have low inner self esteem.
They want to obtain power for power itself. Not for the benefit of others but purely for their own self gratification. They make poor leaders because they are emperors without clothes. Definition; “The emperor has no clothes” is a metaphorical expression that refers to a situation where people are afraid to criticize or question something or someone.
The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen, in which the emperor is convinced by swindlers that they have made him a suit of clothes that is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. In reality, the emperor is naked, but nobody dares to point it out until a child finally speaks the truth. This story is often used to illustrate the importance of speaking up against falsehoods or illusions, even if it is uncomfortable to do so.
Today we have emperors who are charlatans and are vindictive with others with no strength of character or inner moral compass. They tend to be of the males of our human species. Personal note I believe that females are actually the stronger species why because statistically they out live us males by many years!
Since 2016 both in the UK with Brexit with Boris Johnson and with the election of Donald Trump. We have two men thrust into leadership based upon false hoods and lies. I feel both of these men were emperors without clothes. Powerful charismatic men with out moral strength of character who are narcissistic self aggrandising males. Who lie and cheat their way into powerful positions through sleight of hand and corruption.
Both men were rejected by the people why because of their lack of moral character and integrity. Now in authoritarian regimes certain men are attracted to power and try to hold onto power by corrupt means. They destroy democratic norms. By reducing normal checks and balances of free independent press and of an independent judiciary. Locking up or killing any challenging dissent. They perpetuate evil on any alternate points of views. The rule by fear and fear alone. They become totally paranoid having constant purges against any opposing political forces. They control the judiciary and every branch of government and the media.
However what has become for me as a man is the dawning of the personal power of women. Why now? There has always been powerful women but I’m not talking about power in leadership terms but in women of strength of character, bravery and resolve like the little boy who pointed out to the emperor he wasn’t wearing any clothes. What I find more common in the male politicians is the weakness in character to challenge the leader and who prepared to go along with the dictator, charlatan and liar through fear of retribution.
I can’t help noticing that women are coming to the fore both in the political spectrum but more so on an individual private basis. Their bravery is to tell truth to power I find this so refreshing and uplifting for me as a male! It is I believe the dawning of Athena.
Let’s look at some women who have been thrusted into the light and are standing up to a particularly nasty narcissists and bully the ex US President Donald J Trump. Who seems to take pleasure in denigrating females based upon their sex, intellect and physical looks.
One young woman only in her 20’s is a shining light of integrity and bravery is Cassidy Hutchinson. You might ask who is Cassidy Hutchinson?
She studied political science at university started as an intern for republicans US senator Ted Cruz. She went to the white house working for Mark Meadows Chief of staff for the President Donald J Trump.
After the January 6 2021 Capital building insurrection to stop the ceremonial finalising of the electoral vote for new incoming president Joe Biden. The house of political representatives voted to form an independent bicameral commission to investigate the attack, similar to the 9/11 Commission.
The majority of republicans members of the house refused to be involved in the insurrection commission. But two stepped forward to represent the republicans with the democrats. They was Liz Cheney and Adam kinzger. Both knew this would be the death knell to their political careers, however they both had the courage and integrity to join the committee. I’ll came back to Liz Cheney later.
Cassidy Hutchinson was asked to be interviewed by the committee. Originally her legal council was being financed by Donald J Trump. She was being pressurised by her lawyers about what to say and not what to say at the hearing. She wasn’t comfortable with this and decided to get her own legal advice. Remember she was only 27 at the time. Maybe she had spoken with her family and friends about how she felt?
However she came forward into a televised internationally watched political house insurrection committee and gave truthful evidence. Truth to power. In a United Kingdom court of law you put your hand on a bible and state to the judge that you will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god.
That’s what Cassidy Hutchinson did when she was asked a question by the house insurrection committee she answered those questions truthfully! Quite simple, she didn’t tell a half truth or try to prevaricate to tell an untruth. She simply told the truth! Sometimes the truth hurts especially for a liar. But Cassidy Hutchinson had already made the decision to tell the truth when she rejected Donald J Trumps legal advisors!
Let’s look at the next brave female Liz Cheney. Liz was a Senator for Wyoming. Liz is the eldest daughter of the former US Vice president Dick Cheney. By profession Liz is a lawyer or attorney in US parlance and Republicanism or Conservatism runs through the veins of the Cheney family.
She rose to be the holder of the third highest post in the Republican Party as the chair of House Republican conference. The House Republican Conference is the party caucus for Republicans in the United States House of Representatives. It hosts meetings and is the primary forum for communicating the party’s message to members. The Conference produces a daily publication of political analysis under the title Legislative Digest
Liz Cheney was a Republican through and through!
The House select committee was to investigate the January 6 attack on the United States Capital building.
This attack was orchestrated by the then standing United States President Donald J Trump. Why? Because he refused to accept that he lost the presidential vote by the people to the newly elected president Joe Biden.
The violent insurrection was the final act to get his MAGA ( Make America Great Again) supporters to stop the ceremonial vice Presidents (Mike Pence) role to certify the individual votes of US states. His role is to preside over a joint session of Congress and count the electoral votes certified by the individual states of United States of America.
Not to reject them or tamper with them as President Donald J Trump wanted. Hence the storming of the United States Capital building using violence and intimidation against the Capital police force who were there to protect the Senators and Congress men and women. It was to stop this vote occurring and prevent the new elected President Joe Biden taking over the presidential reign of power!
The committees job was to look at what had caused this insurrection and the time line of events that led to this storming and violence committed by President Donald J Trump.
Now at forming of the January 6 committee no Republicans wanted to sit on the committee with the opposing Democratic Party. Who stepped forward but two very brave republicans one female Liz Cheney and one male Adam Kinzinger. Remember they were the only two that volunteered. Knowingly realising that this would be the death knell of their respective political careers with the Republican Party and its voters! Which came to pass for both of them leaving the Republican Party and politics.
Liz Cheney knew in her heart that Donald J Trump was destroying her beloved Republican Party. She with Adam Kinzinger knew that the January committee wouldn’t be able to stand or have any credibility with out two Republican representatives. She was elected to the role of vice chair and she was superb. Liz Cheney being first and foremost a lawyer she knew how to conduct herself in a professional manner during the hearings..
The committees final report in summary stated:
For Trump, the committee concluded there is enough evidence to convict, and therefore recommend the Department of Justice to make the following criminal charges:
Obstruction of an official proceeding. The “proceeding” being the Jan. 6 meeting of Congress itself.
Conspiracy to defraud the United States. The committee argued this happened in multiple ways, including Trump’s lies about the 2020 election, then-Vice President Pence’s role in certification, among other issues.
Conspiracy to knowingly make a false statement. The committee said Trump broke this statute by participating in a plot to submit fake slates of electors.
Assisting, aiding or comforting an insurrection. The committee believes Trump incited the U.S. Capitol attack, but notes he was impeached on that charge already. The report summary specifically concludes there is enough evidence to convict, and, therefore, charge him with “assisting, aiding or comforting” the insurrection. The focus here is on his actions as the attack unfolded — and his lack of action in not stopping it.
I like to now look at another brave female a journalist called E Jean Carroll. Whose is E Jean Carroll? She was a writer and columnist for Elle magazine was famous evidently for her quirky eccentric style. She was longest running advice columnist for the Elle magazine.
She alleged that Donald J Trump had raped her. Carroll said that on her way out of the store she ran into Trump and he asked for help buying a gift for a woman. After she suggested a handbag or a hat, the two reputedly moved on to the lingerie section and joked about the other trying some on.
Carroll said they ended up in a dressing room together, the door of which was shut, and Trump forcefully kissed her, pulled down her tights and raped her before she was able to escape. She stated that the alleged incident lasted less than three minutes,during which time there was no sales attendant present in the department. Two journalists friends she confided with after the rape. Lisa Birnbach and Carol Martin New York magazine that Carroll had confided with them shortly after the alleged assault.
At party a number years later she spoke with lawyer George Conway he introduce her to another lawyer saying she had case against Trump for both rape and defamation. The lawyer who took up the case was Roberta Kaplan. Trump said the case were lies he didn’t know the woman and as president he had legal immunity against the case.
Now some may say she put herself into a compromising position? However remember her quirky eccentric way of being. That said Trump was known through previous encounters with women to be predatory. He even stated “being a celebrity I can grab women’s genitals”. I believe women have the right to be provocative or to flirt if they so desire. To dress in what ever they choose. However it doesn’t give a male the right to lunge at a woman or to touch a woman without her permission. It’s her body and no one else’s.
The lawyer Roberta Kaplan and her team pursued Trump the accused. E Jean Carroll was awarded $5 Million dollars against both the rape and defamation charges. A further legal case for continuing defamation was awarded against Trump for $83 million dollars. Significant financial damages. This is a landmark case for all women. That women can not be raped and defamed by men. I am sure most rape incidents don’t get reported. Why? Especially against wealthy powerful men, because of the defamation of the woman’s characters. Obviously the phycological trauma she has to go through during the legal proceedings. Costs involved if she were to lose the case.
There are other women I would like to mention during Trumps indictments during his Presidency. The Ukrainians ambassador Maria Yovanovitch and the Russian state department specialist Fiona Hill both had to stand up to Trumps corrupt Presidency.
Donald J Trump is Misogynistic by nature and operates through sexual harassment coercion, and psychological techniques aimed at controlling women. Strangely in all his legal cases he is coming up against women prosecutors. Yes I believe it’s the dawning of Athena!
Finally let’s not forget two ordinary everyday citizens election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss for legally counting the vote in the Georgia. They were both defamed by the Trumps legal advisor Rudy Giuliani Lawyer who vivified them for illegally tampering with the vote count! This defamation destroyed these two ladies credibility and standing again orchestrated by Trump!
Truth eventually I believe wins through and all these individuals showed tremendous courage and bravery against these unscrupulous men! Even the birds are shouting out well done Ruby and Shaye! The Dawning of Athena! 😊👍