John-Peter Trask

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

to live a good life, to be a good king. Gilgamesh resolves to do right by his people and help them to live good lives too. And through his tale of a awful king turned great, Gilgamesh does live forever. Trump is no Gilgamesh. He's not introspective, he doesn't learn, he doesn't change. (16/17 )

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

he's trying to atone for his sins (or at least do something that outshines them) by slaying a beast whose death will do nothing but, directly or indirectly, bring pain to his people. Like Gilgamesh, he is trying to live forever through stupid monuments like his ballroom and the Arc de Trump. (14/17)

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

Enkidu dies and Gilgamesh is beside himself with grief. He builds monuments to him, and tells his story constantly. But he realizes that one day those monuments will crumble and the stories will be forgotten. Then, he realizes that he too will die and be forgotten, and he can't abide this. (12/17)

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

and could never apply a lesson for literature to himself, he fails to realize that even if a truly positive, successful outcome to his war were possible, it would not negate the evil he has done, and it would not make the lives of the American people better. In fact, it will make them worse. (10/17)

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

In fact, it indirectly makes things worse. Iran is Trump's Humbaba. It's the giant monster he is desperate to slay, and not just to distract from the Epstein files. Overthrowing an oppressive Theocracy and bringing freedom to the people would be an objectively good thing. However... (8/17)

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

Once Gilgamesh realizes how terrible he's been he wants to fix his image. Instead of making the lives of the people better, he determines that if he does something awesome the people will forget all about his past evils. So, he and Enkidu head to the forest to kill the giant ogre Humbaba. (6/17)

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

The people pray to the gods to save them from Gilgamesh, and they create a wild-man, Enkidu, who is a physical match for Gilgamesh. Eventually, Enkidu arrives in Uruk, tells Gilgamesh that the people hate him, that his actions are despicable, and that he's going to teach him a lesson. (4/17)

Myths can tell us much about where we've come from. They can also be keys to understanding the present. Their universal themes are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. One unspoken reason behind Trump's disastrous war on Iran can be found in a myth of a neighboring region: Gilgamesh. (1/17)

You might wonder, "what relevance could a 4000 year old story have to do with Trump and his Iranian war?" Regarding the war, not much. However, Trump has some psychological similarities to Gilgamesh, and many of his recent actions mirror the existential crisis that Gilgamesh contends with. (2/17)

Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025 Honorable Mentions Frankenstein: Beautiful and well performed, but very disappointing. If Del Toro loves the book so much why SO MANY pointless changes? Companion: Great concept. It gave me cognitive dissonance as I rooted for the AI bot to kill the humans. #horror2025

Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025 Before the best I want to give you my 3 worst. To be fair I didn’t watch every horror release in 2025. I intentionally avoided stuff I knew would be bad, like Strangers 2, the Popeye and Micky crap, and The Ritual, so there were probably worse horror movies. #horror2025

Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025 2nd Worst I Know What You Did Last Summer The worst legacyquel yet. Every character was an unlikable asshole, the dialog was filled with nonsensical “witty” comments being said to no one but the audience, and they did the legacy characters dirty. #horror2025

Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025 Before the best I want to give you my 3 worst. To be fair I didn’t watch every horror release in 2025. I intentionally avoided stuff I knew would be bad, like Strangers 2, the Popeye and Micky crap, and The Ritual, so there were probably worse horror movies. #horror2025