At the battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC, Alexander took on the might of the Persian Empire. The heavily outnumbered Greeks outmaneuvered a massive army led by the Emperor Darius and defeated it decisively. Reason and intelligence and courage won over superstition and power. Democracy and Greek thought were on the move again and the forces of tyranny were made to retreat. A hundred years before, in 480 BC, at Thermopylae, civilization was saved from tyranny by a few brave men standing firm against the Persians. Today, tyranny is on the the march again. China's Big Brother, Xi, with cameras and A.I. is preparing for a new Chinese dynasty with his people carefully under his control. With the help of American investment and technology, China has awoken from its long years of sleep. Russia's Putin is close behind. He is poisoning his way to power, crushing those who oppose him. In countries run by tyrants, anyone who objects is imprisoned, watched, bribed or silenced. Day by day here in the US our own peril increases. Those who wish to dictate to others what to do or think, are popping out of the political woodwork like cicadas awakened from years of slumber.

Our Western civilization, founded in Greece, is under threat. Democracy and free speech and the right to vote are under attack. America's founding ideals of freedom are now besieged both from outside and within. Some of our own politicians out of loyalty to the previous President are opposed to justice and the rule of law and walk in the hallways of power happy to accept election lies and rumors which spread chaos and undermine our poltical system. They wish to stifle opposition.

What sacrifices must we make to defend our hard won freedoms? Who will lead the struggle? America fought tyranny worldwide in WW2 and won. Do we have the strength and economic resolve to defend it again? Where are the good men who will make a stand against tyranny, ready to die on distant beaches, or a battlefield or a narrow pass because they believe in the ideal of democracy? Do we care enough in our American democracy? Democracy, "demos" in Greek means people, "kratos" means power. The power of people to decide their destiny free from the tyranny of dictators and kings. To those who have already sacrificed for that ideal, we give up grateful thanks and pledge to follow their path.