The political situation in the US sometimes reminds me of the Trojan war from Greek mythology.
Like the Achaeans (the Greeks), some feel America has lost something beautiful and precious like Menelaus of Sparta lost Helen. Some feel it has been stolen by globalist like that Paris (a Trojan) stole Helen. So they are on a warpath to win this precious thing back.
However, when one looks at the Iliad by Homer or even the Aeneid by Virgil, it is apparent who really won the war for the Greeks. It was not the overbearing Agamemnon, the brash and fearless Achilles or even the courageous Ajax. No. At the end, it really wasn’t about the heroics on the battlefield, because try as they may, the Achaeans couldn’t breach the wall that surrounded and protected Troy.
The Head of Odysseus
It was the smarts, patience and cunning of Odysseus that helped them to breach the walls of Troy and deliver victory. It was his idea for the Trojan horse that helped them recapture Helen.
Brute strength and violence can get you so far. At the end of the day, patience and smarts rule.
I guess Odysseus describes himself best in these words from Book 8 of Homer’s Odyssey:
The gods don’t hand out all their gifts at once,
not build and brains and flowing speech to all.
One man may fail to impress us with his looks
but a god can crown his words with beauty, charm,
and men look on with delight when he speaks out.
Never faltering, filled with winning self-control,
he shines forth at assembly grounds and people gaze
at him like a god when he walks through the streets.
Another man may look like a deathless one on high
but there’s not a bit of grace to crown his words.
O but Olympus would bless this nation with an Odysseus!