In Search of a Modern Day Hercules

In the mid-1800's the great Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a series of essays that were published into two volumes. From his essay on Character he first deals with its elusive nature: "...a reserved force which acts directly by presence, and without means. It is conceived of as a certain undemonstrable force, a Familiar or Genius, by whose counsels he cannot impart; which is company for him, so that such men are often solitary..." (Emerson,98). In other words, these men know what they are about.

And we know what they are about--just by looking at them. "..but Hercules did not wait for a contest; he conquered whether he stood, or walked, or sat, or whatever thing he did." (99) So where are these men today? Emasculated or at the very least silenced perhaps by politically correct thinking or more accurately, by the tyranny of political correct thought.

And finally: "The men who carry their points do not need to inquire of their constituents what they should say, but are themselves the country which they represent" (100)

To that I say: Maxine Waters, Anthony Weiner, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid...and sadly President Barack Obama.