Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Carthago delenda est . . . still

There is a famous Roman phrase, Carthago delenda est.  Carthage must be destroyed.  

From Wikipedia:

Ceterum (autem) censeo Carthaginem esse delendam ("Furthermore, I consider that Carthage must be destroyed"), often abbreviated to Carthago delenda est or delenda est Carthago ("Carthage must be destroyed"), is a Latin oratorical phrase pronounced by Cato the Elder, a politician of the Roman Republic. The phrase originates from debates held in the Roman Senate prior to the Third Punic War (149–146 BC) between Rome and Carthage. Cato is said to have used the phrase as the conclusion to all his speeches, to push for the war.

Ten years ago, in 2013, I posted about a resurrection of Cato's call in, Carthage must be destroyed

Ten years later, Cato is still in style.  Netanyahu, with regard to Hamas's incursion into Israel on October 7th has responded, "Hamas must be destroyed."

Last week the satirical Twitter account, The Mossad: Satirical, Yet Awesome, @TheMossadI picked up on Netanyahu's objective and tweeted it in poems:
Read the thread for versions in Haiku 

Hamas
Will be 
Destroyed.

and Limerick form

There once was a group called Hamas
They will be destroyed.

Oddly, I have seen no news account which reflects on the historical context for Netanyahu's declaration.

A pity.

Hamas delenda est 

has a nice ring to it.


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