who today would be alex

[amn178]

please forgive the banality of this question but the responses that i recieved from my last question were so thorough i just wanted to pick the brains of you the learned...what contemporary figure, 20-21st century,...(leave napolean out of this)) would best capture the spirit/character/phsyche of alex. would he be military or is that too limiting a carreer in todays ultra (pseudo...in my opinion) civilized society, i.e. Eisenhower...or would he be more entrepenuour, i.e. bill gates...rich socialite turned politician i.e. gov. terminator...charasmatic madman with guts i.e. saddam hussien, hitler... my own answer might shock and may not be correct but my leading candidate would be Bono... and as the laughs subside realize that todays conquers must come under the guise of peace much more then before..he's, creative,victorious, potent, and inspires all nations...of course this reflects my opinion that alex was a warrior at heart but a soldier by necessity...thank you

[jay]

I think you're on to something here. I don't see him as the kind of military leader that we have today. He was so much more than that back then. I feel he would be an activist for the poor, the environment, or a political leader along the lines of JFK, or Nelson Mandela. I can also see something of Bono in him, as well as John Lennon; smart, controversial, thought-provoking, and never afraid to stand up for what he believes in.

[heinrich]

Our attitudes towards war have changed, so I guess that the parallel is hard to make. Yet, if you look at A. as a "heroic" commander, I would mention Rommel and Guderian, who also argued that the commander should be in the first line.On a strategical level, I would compare the Indian campaign to the current Iraq war, and compare Alexander to Rumsfeld: invade a country, believe they will come with flowers, and be surprised when this is not the case. "Blundering into disaster", as McNamara would have said. And McNamara would be my parallel for Alexander in Sogdia.Finally, as a person, I think the parallel between Alexander and Bush jr. is more or less correct: both wanted to continue what their fathers had started.HM

[jona]

You cut the ground from under my feet. Guderian and Rommel are the obvious parallels indeed. Of course this does not mean that I endorse the political system they supported.I add Stalin: there's the personality cult and the ideology of "brotherhood of man" (or communist countries).Jona

[xxx]

But of course, what makes you think Alexander ever thought he would be greeted with flowers?I note these comparisons are a uniquely 'European' perspective.

[kenny]

This could be funnyI liken Alexander to Elvis Presley.I accept Elvis totally weak as a man,, But influence, Charisma were the same Alexander had charm Alexander changed the world.Many people would just call Elvis a singer gut the guy must have been the most influencial figure of the 20th century.If ever the king is mentioned more often than not Elvis Presley comes to mind.I always believed if nature mixed Alexanders strong qualities with Elvis Presley a true ruler would be born Elvis charmed the world ask Marcus and the charts in the uk,,, He is smashing the Beetles record to bits.I think the only comparison Alexander has with Bush is that they ride horses.Bush talks a good fight 3000 miles away from the front line.
Kenny

[amyntoros]

I know I really shouldn't be posting this, but I'm feeling particularly mischevious this morning (anything to avoid typing a long transcription). Anyway, there is a Danish woman who says that Elvis *was* Alexander!http://www.isle-of-skye.org.uk/celtic-e ... a1b.htm"In 1991 a literally (stet) work about Alexander the Great was published in Denmark. It was claimed to have been channeled from Aron, which is the name of Alexander in the spiritual world, to the publisher and coauthor, Margrethe Clara Grace. The works three volumes describe the life of not only Alexander the Great, but even all the incarnations he have lived since, ending in our time as no less than the American pop-singer Elvis Presley. The work might be ahead of its time, as only few copies were sold in Denmark and so far it hasn't been translated into other languages." Ahem, only a few copies were sold because it "might be ahead of its time"?? I don't suppose the writer of this webpage has considered that it didn't sell because it's absolute rubbish? Nah, that couldn't be the real reason, now could it? And it's written in three volumes, no less. Some people obviously have a lot of time on their hands...Linda Ann

[Kit]

Well, I guess as Alexander wanted to leave an everlasting renown he would probably be some kind of celebrity!?I would have said Mozart, but that's outside the time frame. So instead I'll plump for Beethoven!Kit

[Kit]

Sorry, misread the time frame- thought it was last two centuries!!!O.K- If it's 20/21st Century, then I'd go with Oscar Wilde!Kit.

[heinrich]

A went to India and expected to be hailed as an incarnation of a god. Those were able to invent some sort of evidence about Dionysus or Heracles were rewarded; those who refused, were punished. See the chapter on "The Justification of Terror" in Bosworth's *Alexander in the East*.HM

[Yassar]

Friends,I'm very surprised that no one has selected Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. Surely, this is as near a fit as you can expect. They both had a rare charisma, an unexplainable chemistry with their comrades and populace and as you say (and I agree) were soldiers out of necessity. Additionally, they were very intelligent, but also daring. If Alexander were alive today, I feel that most certainly he would be championing the rights of the proliteriat. Two exceptional human beings.Yassar

[xxx]

Not the book or the scholar I would pick to figure out what was in Alexander's head. I have a copy somewhere in the house, but I recall I was not much impressed the first time I read it. If indeed this is what Bosworth said, it's an absurd premise. And I won't even get into comparing Bush or Rumsfeld to Alexander.

[ruthaki]

Yay! I was just going to type it in and there it was ERNESTO CHE GUEVERA! He 'live' still and always will just like Alexander! (And I think Alexander would love him too!)

[beausefaless]

Greetings to all,
This question seems to come up more now than then and everyone's answers always gives me a good (sarcastic) laugh, *HA*....
When Alexander was born on the face of this earth the mold was broken. No *one* individual comes close in comparison. His battle record speaks for itself. Lets take the Battle of Granicus for example: In my opinion he had more luck than tactics, I mean he rode into a shit-hole and came out smelling like a rose.(poor Greeks)
The question should be: What commander (from the gun powder age) can go back in time take command of a small ancient army that uses primitive weapons and goes through the known world like a hot knife going through warm butter? My answer, none of em!
Now let me make this point; Alexander knew without logistics, this includes *money* he would not have gotten very far. He had no problem with the coinage from the territories his army conquered but he also knew the foundation of any empire is the stability of its monetary system. This is where the mints came into focus and the addition (giving his generals the foresight of future coinage) of *his* coinage to blend into his empire. There's no doubt he learned the importance of the attic currency from Philip. (good old pops had it down to a arthropod's behind)
Allow me to use operation overlord as an example. Eisenhower took pride in using Alexanders' logistical system for D-day. Why were the allies successful against a much better equipped or maybe I should say advanced weaponry (armory) force within the German army, the answer was simple. Every time the Panzer tank destroyed an American Sherman tank seven would take its place in the field. When a Panzer broke down there was no replacement parts, gas or another spare tank to take its place, you can say the same for the other lack of logistics that plagued the German army at that period of the war.
Until a commander comes along with the skill of making the right decisions at the right time and all the luck that goes with these correct moves on the battle field, no one will even come close to what Alexander accomplished in his ten to twelve years of glory.
Regards, Andrew