Labeled by Plato as one of the “Seven Sages of Greece,” a man who was both sophist and leader, “Pittacus of Mytilene” was born in 640 BC. During his life he led the men of his city against Athens, and, desiring to avoid bloodshed challenged the general of the opposing army to single combat, and won. For this, Pittacus was heralded as a champion and given supreme power over the city and the lands.

Of the writings of the famous sophist Heraclitus that survived from the ancient world, he wrote that when Pittacus had supreme power over the lands, he had a son, Tyrrhaeus, who was murdered. This murderer, “Alcaeus,” was brought before him, and Pittacus said, “Forgiveness is better than revenge,” and released him.

After ten years of rule, Pittacus helped create a constitution for the city and the lands and relinquished himself of all power.

Likewise, Lucius Cincinnatus was a statesman who was given supreme control over Rome and her armies. After the crisis was averted, he gave up all power and “retired" to work out the rest of his days on his farm. Years later, when Rome was again in crisis, he was sought out and made dictator over all of Rome. He saved them again, then immediately gave up all power and returned to his plough.

The US city of Cincinnati is named after the Roman Statesman “Lucius Cincinnatus,” of whom none other than the prime founding father of the United States of America and the first president, George Washington, greatly admired. Our first president’s contemporaries even likened Washington to Cincinnatus. John Adams himself forewarned of the long-term accumulation of power and cited Cincinnatus and his virtues in his writing: “A Defense of Constitutions.”

Thus, it is seen as culturally democratic and noble to give back power to the people, to refrain from long-term accumulation of power. By one of the wisest of the Greeks, by a Roman farmer, and by the founding fathers of the United States of America.

So why, in Nebraska (as per nebraskaexaminer.com), has a constitutional amendment been proposed by Senator Robert Dover and Senator Megan Hunt to lengthen term limits from eight to twelve years? How about in an NBC interview in which President Trump said to accusations of a third term: “A lot of people want me to do it. There are ways in which you could do it." The interviewer, Kristen Welker, asked if he was serious, and he said, “No, no, I’m not joking. I’m not joking.”

Representative Andy Ogles proposed an amendment to the Constitution in which President Trump would be allowed to serve a third term.

I pose that this is entirely opposite to the will of the founding fathers, and expressly opposite to the desire of George Washington. I suppose that Conservatives who have been proclaiming themselves as protectors and defenders of the constitution, adherents to the ideology of the founding fathers, and men who, like the founding fathers, believe that Greek Philosophy is the root of our western civilization and should be tended to and not forgotten are now on stage and either have to prove it, or sit down and be seen as liars and opportunists.

Their anger towards liberals, warranted or not, does not serve the common good. If they feel the need to amend the constitution so that they –President Trump– can retain power for another four years, they are in opposition to great men, farmers like Cincinnatus, and the common man. They, unlike Pittacus, who relinquished his power and gave it back to the people are more like Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who refused to give back power, instead using his granted dictatorial powers to stay in office and seize property and murder his enemies, or Julius Caesar who turned the Roman Republic into his plaything, and thus an Empire.

Has anyone else looked at the U.S. Senators and Presidents and wondered who let all of the old people out of the nursing home and gave them ill-fitted suits to wear? Why are our Presidents and senators so old and seemingly senile? And Representative Andy Ogles wants to keep an old, stressed 79-year-old man in office for longer? When President Biden left office at the age of 82, I certainly knew and spoke with many conservatives who would lambast Biden for being “too old," a sentiment I verily agreed with.

“The measure of a man is what he does with power." Pittacus of Mytilene proclaimed.

If we look at what Pittacus did with his power, it was to not take revenge, it was to embolden citizens with rights, and to give it back to the people of the city.

And if we look at Cincinnatus, it was to protect his city, and then to give it back to the people.

The Conservatives are in power in the House, the Senate, the Judiciary, and the Executive Branch, and with this power, are they here to defend the constitution and the people, or will they not?

I, like other American citizens, am watching and will vote and respond accordingly.

Austin Petak is an aspiring novelist and freelance journalist who loves seeking stories and the quiet passions of the soul. If you are interested in reaching out to him to cover a story, you may find him at austinpetak@gmail.com.

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