The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Caution for the New Year

Posted on | January 1, 2010 | 11 Comments

by Smitty (h/t House of Eratosthenes)

Morgan points us to the Latin expression MURUM ARIES ATTIGIT, “The (battering) ram has touched the wall”.

Follow the HoE link to get to one of those bits of legal correspondence that occurs when the Big Guy apparently overplays the hand and the Little Guy comes on with all the subtlety of a freight train.

More generally, Americans need to realize that the Progressive ram has touched the Constitutional wall. Sure, there is plenty of room for opinions to differ, and we should not waste time bickering and arguing over whose stylistic point killed who. However, where matters of substance are concerned, we can’t give an inch, and need to hammer the inferior ideas of the Socialists at every turn.

Don’t kid yourself. The Left will happily concede point after point in order keep that battering ram on task. Time is on the side of decay. All they have to do is packetize the decline and insert it incrementally, via that ram.

It’s time for some Churchill:

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender…

MURUMNE ARIES ATTIGIT, to make the phrase a question. “Bring it on” should be our response.

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Comments

11 Responses to “Caution for the New Year”

  1. Dave C
    January 1st, 2010 @ 3:21 pm

    Hey.. I like the new digs.

  2. Dave C
    January 1st, 2010 @ 10:21 am

    Hey.. I like the new digs.

  3. Joe
    January 1st, 2010 @ 4:01 pm

    There was an episode of Rome called “The Ram Has Touched The Wall.” It involved Ceasar chasing Pompey across Southern Europe.

    The phrase had actual legal meaning:

    The title of the episode is a phrase used by Mark Antony advocating “no mercy” toward Pompey and the Optimates. The phrase is English translation of the Latin “Murum aries attigit” (see De Bello Gallico, Book II, Chapter XXXII). It refers to the policy of not allowing any mercy or surrender to the occupants of a fortification once the battering ram begins the assault on the gates. This policy was to act as a deterrent against resistance to those about to be besieged. It was an incentive for anyone who was not absolutely sure that they could withstand the assault to surrender immediately, rather than face the possibility of total destruction.

    So the answer has to be no surrender. Because somebody is going down.

  4. Joe
    January 1st, 2010 @ 11:01 am

    There was an episode of Rome called “The Ram Has Touched The Wall.” It involved Ceasar chasing Pompey across Southern Europe.

    The phrase had actual legal meaning:

    The title of the episode is a phrase used by Mark Antony advocating “no mercy” toward Pompey and the Optimates. The phrase is English translation of the Latin “Murum aries attigit” (see De Bello Gallico, Book II, Chapter XXXII). It refers to the policy of not allowing any mercy or surrender to the occupants of a fortification once the battering ram begins the assault on the gates. This policy was to act as a deterrent against resistance to those about to be besieged. It was an incentive for anyone who was not absolutely sure that they could withstand the assault to surrender immediately, rather than face the possibility of total destruction.

    So the answer has to be no surrender. Because somebody is going down.

  5. 2010 Dawns a New Year « Obi’s Sister
    January 1st, 2010 @ 9:08 pm

    […] says something wicked this way comes and Smitty has cautions for the new year. The enemy is testing us. Read them […]

  6. James B. Rhoads
    January 2nd, 2010 @ 3:56 am

    The Churhchill is really no longer appropriate. For years it annoyed me folks who end it where you have.

    . . . and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old.

    Before I was proud of that because the whole thing was a belief in the power and promise of the “New World”, but now . . . no ones coming.

    On the terms of never surrendering when no one is coming I think I’ll go with . . .

    “Citizens, the feelings inspired by events within these consecrated walls, of so recent date fills my bosom with emotions. This sacred spot, and those crumbling remains, the desecrated temple of Texian liberty will teach a lesson which freeman can never forget. And, while we mourn the unhappy fate of Travis, Crockett, Bowie, and their brave compatriots let it be the boast of Texians that though Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat, the Alamo had none. “

  7. James B. Rhoads
    January 1st, 2010 @ 10:56 pm

    The Churhchill is really no longer appropriate. For years it annoyed me folks who end it where you have.

    . . . and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old.

    Before I was proud of that because the whole thing was a belief in the power and promise of the “New World”, but now . . . no ones coming.

    On the terms of never surrendering when no one is coming I think I’ll go with . . .

    “Citizens, the feelings inspired by events within these consecrated walls, of so recent date fills my bosom with emotions. This sacred spot, and those crumbling remains, the desecrated temple of Texian liberty will teach a lesson which freeman can never forget. And, while we mourn the unhappy fate of Travis, Crockett, Bowie, and their brave compatriots let it be the boast of Texians that though Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat, the Alamo had none. “

  8. Bob Belvedere
    January 2nd, 2010 @ 10:35 pm

    Great comments / fitting quote. You’re starting off the new year firing effective broadsides!

    Quoted from and Linked to at:
    NO QUARTER
    —–
    It’s Time To ROC ‘N’ ROLL:
    Restore Our Constitution & Restore Our Lost Liberties

  9. Bob Belvedere
    January 2nd, 2010 @ 5:35 pm

    Great comments / fitting quote. You’re starting off the new year firing effective broadsides!

    Quoted from and Linked to at:
    NO QUARTER
    —–
    It’s Time To ROC ‘N’ ROLL:
    Restore Our Constitution & Restore Our Lost Liberties

  10. Ran / Si Vis Pacem
    January 3rd, 2010 @ 2:38 am

    Ditto Bob…
    Not in the least sanguine about 2010. There will be one Hell of a lot of work to do this year.

    Cheers, folks.

  11. Ran / Si Vis Pacem
    January 2nd, 2010 @ 9:38 pm

    Ditto Bob…
    Not in the least sanguine about 2010. There will be one Hell of a lot of work to do this year.

    Cheers, folks.