Dear Reader,
It seems to me that, in the whole of human history the Elite have not been held to the same standard as the people. The Elite have been given extreme leniency in all manners. With few notable exceptions. Exceptions that make the point.
Take the story of Coriolanus, in Plutarch. In short, He was a hero of Rome then tried to get the People’s Tribunes executed. The Plebians, upon hearing this, clamored for Coriolanus’s execution. The Patrician’s begged for mercy, after all this man is Patrician. Mercy was granted. BIG MISTAKE! Coriolanus went to the Volscian’s. The mortal enemy of Rome at the time. Raised a Volscian army, and invaded Roman territory. Captured a Latin town and MURDERED all the residents. Then marched on Rome itself! At the gates of Rome Coriolanus’s Volscian army rested. Inside Rome the people quaked with fear that the mercy that they had granted Coriolanus had not been meted out to the Latins who had done nothing to Coriolanus, why should the Romans expect better? The mother and wife of Coriolanus took his children and marched out of the gates of Rome and rite through the enemy lines, and met Coriolanus in his tent. ‘Great’ thought the scoundrel. My family is now safe, I can reduce Rome without possible regret. Upon meeting with him, his mother and wife entreated him to call off his attack on Rome. Coriolanus refused Rome would meet the same end as the Latins. Not to be deterred, his mother and wife announced that they were ROMANS and with Rome lay their destiny. Spun and marched right back into Rome, with his children. Coriolanus was so upset that he turned his army around and marched back to Volscian territory. The Volscian King greeted Coriolanus graciously. Coriolanus had brought back a great deal of spoils. Then later the King had Coriolanus murdered.
What can we learn from this story about whether it is wise to give the Elite too much mercy?
