More than two thousand years ago a band of Roman patriots killed a usurper. They are not typically described in such favorable terms, and the act's intentions didn't match its results. "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more," Shakespeare's Brutus explains. "Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him." Yet, Caesar's name became at once honored and the title of dictators--czar, shah, kaiser--and the empire permanently replaced the republic. The assassination of Julius Caesar more than 2050 years ago represents a conflict between two conservative values, freedom and skepticism of revolutionary change. Unfortunately for Rome, the patriots got revolution and lost freedom.

I don't understand this part:

"The assassination of Julius Caesar more than 2050 years ago represents a conflict between two conservative values, freedom and skepticism of revolutionary change."

Where is the conflict? The republicans were fighting to preserve freedom and to prevent the revolutionary change that Caesar was in the process of imposing.

That's a way of looking at it, Ben. But they didn't prevent the revolutionary change. They accelerated it. Noble motives aren't enough.

Perhaps the Roman constitution needed some spackle work in order to preserve deliberative and lawful government in the face of altered social circumstances. But that presumes one understands a constitution as an instrument and not as a work of art.

"That's a way of looking at it, Ben. But they didn't prevent the revolutionary change. They accelerated it. Noble motives aren't enough."

I think they were between a rock and a hard place. It was obvious Caesar was going to declare himself imperator before long. They had little choice but to fight, even though they lost.

P.S: It should also be remembered that their actions were not reckless. Pompeii's legions controlled North Africa, Greece, and the Iberian peninsula, Caesar's were all stuck inside Italy, with some in Gaul. The republicans ought to have won the war, and only a mix of Pompeii's reluctance and Caesar's extreme aggressiveness (attacking Pompeii in Greece even while he was outnumbered) won the day for the Caesarians.

Hey Dan, this is off topic but what is your thoughts on China? SHould U.S boycott olympics? Just wondering.