It's hard to dislike Napoleon all that much since so many of the ideals he wanted Europe to adapt were and remain worthwhile.
If you believe that Napoleon actually adhered to them and didn't merely use the ideals to cloak his megalomania and desire to turn Europe into his personal fiefdom.
It must be remembered, however, that Napoleon's foremost ideal was the advancement of his own personal interests.
When Napoleon put his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne, Joseph Bonaparte, a rather idealistic fellow, took his job seriously and considered it his duty to do what was best for his Spanish subjects.
In turn, Napoleon sent Joseph a curt letter reminding him that, although he was indeed the King of Spain, his loyalties were first to Napoleon himself, then to France and then lastly to Spain and the Spanish people.
Which political, ideological or moral side do you take today in the battle for human survival?
The answer to this fundamental question seems to be hidden in the heart of every man. The question can be answered by explaining that well know emotion we all know as hate. It's been around since the beginning of the ages.
No one, no nation, peoples, political class or ideology have been able to contain it. Everyone claims their nation or party does not have it and everyone claims they are the victims of it. Everyone believes they have the perfect solution for it and yet it lives on.
Through the need for the survival of the species we all build up or defenses and war against the chosen enemies of today who we define as the perpetrators of this eternal hate.
Who is this enemy? Is it really just a person or group of persons? Of course we say, most certainly it must be that other person, country, or party, not us. It was the one who struck first. It was their fault. But who really is the one who struck first? Can we recall a real beginning point to this hate?
I say it will take until the end of time to try to stop it. Hate must be in the air we breath. It cannot possibly be part of me so it must be in you because I know it is there and I cannot place my hand on it.
Will you accept that someone must pay for the hate? Will it be you or me? It must be stopped. We all know it must be stopped.
I do not want to pay for hate. Will you please pay the price of it for me? No you say, I must be the one, my people and my children. Sorry, I am not that strong. Find someone else.
And so we will go forward searching for the true evil in each other, on and on and on, feeding the insatiable desire to defeat the real enemy. Mankind is destined forever to look from one place to the other for the one to blame today for yesterday.
Won't someone please volunteer to pay so we can just stop this insanity? Is there no one who is willing? Not even for the whole world?
Surely that person will be worshiped for saving us, but no, even if that person did pay for us we would not recognize it, all we have ever known and have been taught is hate. We know how to deal with it. Blame someone else.
How can we live without hate now? We all worship the familiarity of it and take comfort that we have correctly identified who or what the enemy is. We feed the need for freedom from todays enemy daily with wars and clashes of all kinds and will forever and ever until the end when we all pay hate it's due.
Choose you this day the "side" that will ensure your survival. There has never been another choice available but to choose.
ED