The eminent Roman historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus in a biography of his illustrious father-in-law Gnaeus Julius Agrippa famously wrote “Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium, atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.” Which translates in the Loeb Classical Library edition as “To plunder, butcher, steal, these things they misname empire: they make a desolation and they call it peace.” Lord Byron, in his poem the Bride of Abydos, rendered the Tacitus Latin as “Mark where his carnage and his conquests cease! He makes a solitude, and calls it — peace.” Per Tacitus’ no doubt second hand account , the words were originally spoken by the Caledonian chieftain Calgacus who was addressing his assembled warriors concerning Rome’s insatiable appetite for conquest and plunder. The chieftain’s sentiment can be contrasted to pax in terra “peace on earth” which was sometimes inscribed on Roman medals (phalera) awarded to soldiers returning from the imperial wars.
A 6-week series of African Americans in cinema. Beginning Friday January 24, 2025
St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 639 E. Long St. Columbus, 43215
The films will be screened at The Annex directly across the street from the church
FREE ADMISSION – FREE PARKING
Show time 6pm Doors open at 5:30
Each week will be a double feature. Two films starring, written by, produced by, and or directed by African Americans. Before the screening there will be a brief intro and vintage cartoons. Hot dogs, popcorn, pop and hot chocolate will be available for purchase.
All are welcome! However, in general these films are not for children under 14
1/24 - “The Birth of a Nation” (1915), “Black Klansman” (1966)
1/31 – “The Birth of a Nation” (2016), “Harriet” (2019)
2/7 – “The Emperor Jones” (1933), “Voodoo Macbeth” (2021)
2/14 – “BlackkKlansman” (2018), “Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021)
2/21 – “The Butler” (2013), “Green Book” (2018)
2/28 – “Black Panther” (2018), “Wakanda Forever’ (2022)
Trump intended his second inaugural address to be uplifting and unifying, though
it is riddled with questionable claims, downright lies, and is hardly unifying. (See a
transcript of the address at: https://nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/trump-
inaugural-speech.html.)
As of Jan. 20, his first day in office, he began implementing many of the policies to
which he referred in the address as well as in speeches during the presidential
campaign, and, in some cases, over many years. There are some issues that he
avoided discussing; for example, whether he will issue a federal ban on abortions.
By the end of his first days in office, he issued hundreds of “executive actions,”
many of which will be contested in courts (https://apnews.com/article/what-has-
trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0). Here
are some examples of Trump’s actions and anticipated actions and the effects.
They threaten to destroy the tenuous democracy that we know, and replace it with
After 471 days of relentless carnage, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded over 111,000. According to The Lancet, up to 186,000 deaths may ultimately be attributed to this war. 70% of all those murdered are women and children. Despite this staggering human cost, Gaza emerged victorious, defying a Zionist colonial project backed by decades of Western political and military support.
The whole world witnessed a genocide in real-time, as Gaza endured 2-ton bombs, cluster munitions, and systematic starvation. Yet, against all odds, Gaza triumphed, shattering the myth of Israel’s invincibility. The Gazan “David” stood tall against the “Goliath” of a settler-colonial state, marking a decisive moment in the struggle for Palestinian liberation.
Sunday, January 26, 12noon
Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse, 3055 Indianola Ave., Columbus
Experience the power of We Are Guardians, an award-winning documentary exploring the fight to protect the Brazilian Amazon. Follow Indigenous forest guardian Marçal Guajajara and leader Puyr Tembé as they risk their lives defending ancestral lands from deforestation, while illegal logger Valdir faces a moral and economic dilemma. Directed by Indigenous activist Edivan Guajajara alongside environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman, and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, this film is a compelling story of resilience amidst crisis.
We're pleased to announce that Jeffrey Wilson, president of Friends of Serpent Mound, will be a distinguished speaker for the Q&A following the screening this Sunday.
- by Greg Palast
- for the Hartmann Report
- January 24, 2025
