AFTER reading an article by Mar-Vic Cagurangan in the February 20, 2007 edition of Marianas Variety, titled “Senators: No blank check for the governor,” I was struck by a familiar quote attributed to Speaker Mark Forbes.
After listening to Governor Felix Camacho’s State of the Island Address, Forbes was twice heard saying: “We Will Unleash the Dogs of War.”
Oh boy, that sounds serious, and cool! The quote sounds off-key, though, like it’s missing something. So I ask, where did it come from, and why does it sound so familiar?
The answer is found with Shakespeare, one of the most quotable writers of all time. “Henry the V” contains the famous Upon St. Crispens Day Speech, which is the quintessential symbol of brotherhood. “A Horse! A Horse! My kingdom for a horse!” That one is from Richard III, and has become the very definition of irony.
Shakespeare is also the most misinterpreted and misquoted writers. In “Romeo and Juliet” when Juliet asks: “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” A common misinterpretation would be that she is asking where he was, instead of why is he a Capulet “To Thine Own Self Be True.”
From Hamlet, the Danish Prince has often been given credit, although if anyone has seen the famous movie Clueless, a modern day retelling of Jane Austin’s Emma, knows that it was Polonius. The misquote “Unleash the Dogs of War” was rendered mainstream by Ted Coppel. When the 2003 Iraq war began, Mr. Coppel, who was with the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division, which was heading toward the border and getting ready to strike, made an uncharacteristic mistake. Right before it began he said “Cry havoc! And unleash the dogs of war!” He said that it was from Shakespeare’s Henry V.
With millions of Americans watching, I guess the mistake could be perceived as a cautionary tale, highlighting the problem that television is a poor educational reference.
Like many common Shakespeare misquotes, it has become common to use it, which is a shame because the meaning is sometimes lost. “Unleash the dogs of war” is horrible, considering what it was. And it isn’t even from Henry V like Mr. Coppel thought. It is from Julius Caesar. “Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War!” It is an order an officer would give signaling the onset of the battle. “Unleash” is far inferior to “Let Slip.”
“Let slip the dogs of war!” Wow! I bet Mel Gibson’s version of William Wallace in “Braveheart” would shrivel and retreat if he felt that coming from the English.
Speaker Forbes, I am certainly glad you are in the fighting spirit. This island certainly needs more of that fiery spirit if it is going to become, once again, the glorious island nation we all know is within it. But, Mr. Forbes, the next time, have the urge to quote someone or something, stop, take a deep breath, and use Google.

JASON PALMERTREE
Tumon