Quite unfortunately, freedom for the Spartans, as they defined it, required the institutionalized enslavement, torture and murder of tens of thousands. The Spartans had a great deal more in common with the Nazis than with Americans.
We can still respect and honor their bravery, but for myself only in the sense that I can honor the same characteristics in the SS.
Not that their Greek allies or Persian enemies were exactly American in their ideals either.
Well put!!!
Well before comparing them with the Nazi's please factor in 2600 years of human history, will you. The ancient world was not the modern world, and applying 20th Century ideals to it is not going to result in understanding it better.
People are getting hung up on semantics. Our concept of 'freedom' didn't exist then. Ours didn't emerge until the 18th century - a mere 22 centuries after Sparta.
Instead of 'freedom' I think of it as 'self-determination' versus slavery. The Spartans were fighting for self-determination and independence. I can get behind that 100%.
Too many people view history though the lens of the 21st Century. They'd do better to put things into the context, norms, and values of the era. To the Spartans, they had the best deal going and weren't going to let anyone take it away from them.
And I'm glad the imperfect Greeks beat back the Persians Had they not we'd be living in a far worse world today. The 'moral of the story' in 300 is a good one.