Pen-Elayne on the Web

Aristophanes Lives

Today is 03-03-03 and not only does that mean the coolest date we'll have until April 4 of next year but the kick-off of the Lysistrata Project, the first worldwide theatrical event for peace, wherein Aristophanes' anti-war comedy will be performed in loads of cities all over the planet. The project organizers describe the play, the story of a group of women from opposing states who unite to end the Peloponnesian War, thusly: After matronly stormtroopers take over the building where public funds are kept, the women rise to end the war by withholding sex from their mates -- Until, desperate for intimacy, the men finally agree to lay down their swords and see their way to achieving diplomatic peace. They hasten to add: Though we are not necessarily suggesting these tactics be used to end this war (but, wouldn't it be fun if the First Lady ...), Lysistrata provides a humorous entree into a healthy community dialogue: What CAN we do on a local level to stop "diplomacy by violence" in our world? Well, considering how war is often used as a sex substitute anyway, and of course that not every warrior is heterosexual (heh, not even in the Peloponnesian War), I'd probably suggest a showing of M*A*S*H instead, which kind of takes the opposite tack (that the absurdity of war is often best mitigated by more absurdity thrown back at it, including more intimate fraternization rather than less). Or the "Cool, Considerate Men" number from 1776, which was my personal viewing project yesterday (blame Peter David, link at sidebar, for the inspiration). But hey, it's all a matter of taste, I suppose. I've never seen the play, and admit to little real interest in it, but I think it's cool that something written over two millennia ago has that kind of staying power, and I'll probably read it tonight in solidarity. You can too; just click here. And Robin wants to add that you can get the lyrics to the Todd Rundgren song of the same name here (complete with guitar chords), and a MIDI file of the song itself here.