Non Auro Sed Ferro

I blog as Marcus Furius Camillus. This is a continuation of a blog begun on Wordpress, which I have moved to this platform out of curiosity.

This is a conservative political blog.

I write about political theory a public policy from a perspective lens I refer to as that of the Statesman; the health of the community and society is paramount and choices are made for the good of the state and the good of the people. That lens makes no normative assumptions regarding forms of governance, and will likely explore a range of political issues with what I hope will be a genuine and intellectually honest attitude.

When Brennus sacked Rome, the Romans complained about the size of the ransom. Brennus threw his sword on the scales, adding weight and costing the Romans more ransom gold. He told them Vae victis – woe to the defeated. At that moment, Marcus Furius Camillus, having raised an army in exile and returned to reclaim the city, threw his own sword on the other side of the scales, making up the weight. He replied Non auro, sed ferro, recuperanda est patria – not with gold, but with iron, shall the fatherland be reclaimed. While I hope to bring a measured and somewhat academic approach to this blog, I view civic duty as an important element to any citizen – though by no means do I view the embrace of civic duty as a panacea to all civic ills. I will discuss civic duty and many other concepts in terms of what it means to be a moral citizen; I have little love for apathy or antipathy in the matter of civic engagement. But it is with Marcus Furius’ grim-eyed understanding of the world’s realities and his consistent attitude of service through self-second leadership that I identify.

I will explore political events from the local to the global scale, bringing my background in literature and law to bear as I attempt to analyze the significance of events, trends, facts, and people who capture my interest.

My secret hope for this project is to refine my thought to the extent that I develop a system of political thought I can say I have earned, rather than borrowed. Should my musings remain scattered and aphoristic, that’s alright too. Please enjoy.