TOLONO - Unity's Keegan Germano lays out Monticello's Maddox Utley in a play in the first quarter during their IHSA second-round playoff game on November 8, 2025. The Rockets defeated the Sages at Hicks Field in an exciting matchup between two Illini Prairie teams 21-20. Advancing to the quarterfinals, Unity went on the road to face Williams and cruised to victory in the first half, setting up a semifinal showdown with St. Joseph-Ogden. Germano's defensive effort all season has been the cornerstone to the Rockets' 11-1 season.
More Unity Athletics Articles
TAGS: Unity Rockets defeat Monticello, IHSA Second-Round Football game, Illini Prairie Conference rivals Monticello and Unity, Monticello football, Unity Rockets football team.
As November settles in with crisp air and golden leaves, we look back on stories that shaped our community — from Veterans Day tributes and Thanksgiving traditions to local sports triumphs, civic milestones, and voices that stirred debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 26 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana over the years.
La’yonna Harper led the Tigers with 14 points against Rantoul last Thursday. SJO wins opener at home over ALAH by 30.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJO's Katie Eriksen in last season's shootout game against Salt Fork. She scored 20 points against ALAH in the Spartans' first game of the 2025-26 season.
Girls Basketball
Erikcson drains 20 in season opener Katie Ericksen led the St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team to a 63-33 win over Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond with a career-best 20-point night. The senior drained six 3-pointers in the team’s first home game of the season. Timera Blackburn-Kelley also reached double figures with 14 points, and Hayden Dahl came off the bench to hit three 3-pointers and finish with nine last Thursday.
Rantoul 48 - Urbana 39
The Urbana girls basketball team fell to 0-2 after a road loss to Rantoul last Thursday. La’yonna Harper led the Tigers with 14 points, and Lizzy Lange finished with six. Kaya Hill went 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. The Eagles had two players in double figures, as Josie Roseman and Erykah Baltimore powered Rantoul’s offense with 13 points each in the nonconference game last Thursday.
More basketball stories
TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball 2025 season opener, Katie Ericksen career high points game, Urbana girls basketball Rantoul nonconference loss, Illinois high school basketball scores 2025
The recent government shutdown revealed a deeper issue beyond the nine lawmakers who voted to reopen it. Fifty Republican Senators refused to discuss healthcare solutions at all.
byDr. Julie A. Kent Guest Commentary
In the aftermath of the recent government shutdown, much of the public debate has centered on the nine lawmakers—eight Democrats and one Independent—who broke ranks and voted to end the stalemate. Their decision has drawn both criticism and defense. But focusing solely on those nine misses the larger, more troubling reality: the fifty Republican Senators who refused to engage in any serious discussion about healthcare.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was not perfect. It did not solve every problem in our healthcare system, and its subsidies and tax rebates were far from flawless mechanisms of payment. Yet the ACA undeniably expanded access to affordable care for millions of Americans. It encouraged preventive care for those who otherwise would have gone without. It made healthcare a possibility, not a luxury.
We cannot afford representatives who put party loyalty above the needs of the country.
And still, fifty Republican Senators could not bring themselves to even sit at the table to explore alternatives. They did not debate, they did not negotiate, they did not propose solutions. They simply refused. That refusal is not just political maneuvering—it is a betrayal of ordinary Americans who depend on healthcare to live, work, and thrive.
Had the nine Senators who “caved” held firm, the government would likely still be shut down. SNAP recipients would be relying on food banks. Federal employees would still be struggling to work without pay. Perhaps, eventually, the mounting human cost would have forced Republicans to acknowledge the value of healthcare. But the real condemnation belongs to those who let the shutdown drag on without addressing the root issue.
Some of these Senators will face reelection in 2026. Others will retire, leaving their seats open. Regardless, the lesson is clear: we cannot afford representatives who put party loyalty above the needs of the country. We need Senators who will speak out for their constituents, who will negotiate in good faith, who will wrestle with hard problems rather than avoid them.
Healthcare is not a partisan talking point, it is a human right.
The Senators who refused to act are holding back women, neglecting children, ignoring veterans, and indulging in self-aggrandizement at the expense of taxpayers. They coerced federal employees into working without pay rather than confronting the healthcare crisis. That is not leadership, it is abdication.
If these Senators will not wrestle with the real problems facing our nation, then voters must replace them with people who will. Midterm elections are not just another political cycle; they are an opportunity to demand accountability. Healthcare is not a partisan talking point, it is a human right. And those who refuse to recognize that truth should no longer hold the power to decide our future. Here are the Senators up for re-election in 2026 that let the American people down:
Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Susan Collins, Maine
John Cornyn, Texas
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
Steve Daines, Montana
Joni Ernst, Iowa
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee
Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming
Roger Marshall, Kansas
Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
Pete Ricketts, Nebraska
Jim Risch, Idaho
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Dr. Julie Kent has spent over 20 years supporting simulation for US Army training. She earned a PhD from UCF and supports the Anthropology Speaker Series on campus. Dr. Kent has been championing options for healthcare since the 1970s. She lives with her husband in Baldwin Park.
TAGS: senate refusal to debate healthcare during shutdown, impact of government shutdown on healthcare access, 2026 senate elections healthcare accountability, analysis of republican senators’ healthcare inaction, consequences of stalled healthcare negotiations in congress, voter response to congressional inaction on healthcare policy
The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park was founded in 1935. The beauty of Central Park during this holiday season, it’s worth pausing to appreciate a civic dream that continues to resonate in the arts community.
byRick Baldwin Guest Commentary
As the holiday season arrives in Winter Park, thousands gather in Central Park for Christmas in the Park, one of our city's most cherished traditions. The illuminated Tiffany windows from The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art glow against the night sky as the Bach
Festival Society Choir fills the air with timeless carols. It’s a scene that feels uniquely ours, a blend of beauty, music, and community that truly captures the spirit of Winter Park.
But beyond the festive cheer, this annual celebration tells a deeper story. The convergence of art and music in Winter Park’s Central Park is no coincidence. It’s the realization of a cultural vision that took root nearly a century ago, when the city’s founders and Rollins College leaders
dreamed of building a community defined by education, music, and the arts.
In March 1936, during the festival’s first full year, President Holt hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for a Bach concert at Rollins.
That vision came to life through the leadership of remarkable individuals like former Rollins presidents Hamilton Holt and Hugh McKean. Holt, a journalist and reformer, believed that a liberal education was incomplete without appreciation for the arts. McKean, a Rollins College professor of art who later became president of the institution, shared that belief and helped translate it into action. His influence extended even further when he eventually became director of The Morse Gallery of Art, further solidifying the town’s cultural triangle of academia, music, and visual art.
The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, founded in 1935, remains one of the most enduring expressions of that early vision. As one of the oldest continuously operating Bach festivals in the country, it has long been intertwined with Rollins College and the Winter Park community. From its earliest performances in Knowles Memorial Chapel, the festival has served as a bridge between professional artistry and community engagement, bringing world-class music to local audiences while giving Rollins students the chance to learn directly from experienced musicians.
Its prestige was recognized early on. In March 1936, during the festival’s first full year, President Holt hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for a Bach concert at Rollins. The visit drew national attention and symbolized the growing cultural stature
of both the college and the city.
They are the embodiment of a civic dream that continues to resonate through every note sung
Just a few years later, in 1942, Rollins College benefactor and wife of Hugh McKean, Jeannette Genius McKean, founded The Morse Gallery of Art on campus, naming it in honor of her grandfather, Charles Hosmer Morse. Under her and her husband’s guidance, the gallery flourished, eventually moving to Park Avenue and evolving into The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art we know today. The museum’s world-renowned collection of works by
Louis Comfort Tiffany stands as a testament to the same belief Holt and McKean held: that art should be accessible, inspiring and integral to community life.
Each year, when those Tiffany windows are prominently displayed in Central Park during Christmas in the Park, we see more than decorative beauty. We see a living connection between three institutions – Rollins College, the Bach Festival Society and The Morse Museum – that together helped define our city’s identity.
As we stare in awe at the beauty of Central Park during this holiday season, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the enduring partnership that has made Winter Park a cultural haven for nearly 100 years. They are the embodiment of a civic dream that continues to resonate through every
note sung, every window illuminated and every generation that gathers to celebrate in our beloved Winter Park.
Rick Baldwin is the recently retired Chief Executive Officer of Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society, operating from 19 locations in Central Florida. He grew up in Winter Park and graduated from Winter Park High School in 1965. He currently serves as Vice President of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Board of Trustees, among other board positions.
TAGS:Winter Park Christmas in the park history, Rollins College Bach Festival connection, Charles Hosmer Morse Museum Tiffany Windows tradition, winter park holiday cultural heritage, history of arts and music in Winter Park Florida, Hamilton Holt and Hugh Mckean Winter Park legacy
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — local sports state championship runs, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 25 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
BLOOMINGTON – The 2025 Intercity Boys Basketball Tournament tipped off Monday night at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, delivering a mix of blowout dominance and down-to-the-wire intensity. The double-header featured cross-town rivals facing off in the annual Thanksgiving week tradition, with the Normal Community Ironmen and University High Pioneers securing victories to open the tournament.
In the evening’s first matchup, the Normal Community Ironmen made a resounding statement with a 67-39 victory over the Normal West Wildcats. The Ironmen controlled the tempo from the opening tip, utilizing a stifling defense to disrupt the Wildcats' offensive rhythm.
Normal Community’s balanced attack proved too much for West to handle. The Ironmen offense executed with efficiency, steadily building a lead that ballooned to 28 points by the final buzzer. The victory extended Normal Community’s recent dominance in the rivalry, marking another consecutive win over their district counterparts.
For Normal West, the lopsided loss highlighted early-season struggles on both ends of the floor as they look to regroup for the remainder of the tournament.
The nightcap offered a stark contrast in competitive balance, as the University High Pioneers defeated the Bloomington Purple Raiders 52-47. Unlike the earlier blowout, this game remained a tight affair throughout, with neither team able to pull away significantly until the closing minutes.
Defensive intensity defined the matchup, with points coming at a premium. The Pioneers managed to execute critical possessions down the stretch to secure the five-point win. Bloomington stayed within striking distance but could not bridge the gap in the final moments. The result moved U-High to 1-0 in tournament play, while the Purple Raiders dropped a hard-fought decision to open their campaign.
Alan Look Photography and Best Look Magazine continue to provide the best look in sports action photography for Bloomington-Normal. For those looking to relive the intensity of Monday night’s games, memorable moments from the tournament are preserved by the premier lens of the region. Capturing the soul of the heartland since 1999, their coverage ensures that every buzzer-beater and defensive stand is documented with professional precision.
Created through the Inflation Reduction Act, IRS Direct File was used in 25 states last tax season but will not return in 2026. Critics of the cancellation also note major tax preparation companies have opposed such programs for years.
Photo: Nataliya Vaitkevich/PEXELS
by Zamone Perez Public News Service WASHINGTON, DC - The Trump administration has announced it will cancel the IRS Direct File program for the 2026 tax filing season, a move which will result in many Americans spending more time and money to file their taxes.
Last tax season, 25 states opted into Direct File after it was created by President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act in 2024. While Virginia did not enroll in the program the past two years, financial policy advocates find tax filers in the Commonwealth would have saved $500 million annually if the state did participate.
Adam Ruben, vice president of the Economic Security Project, said Direct File was valuable because tax filing software is often challenging for those who don't speak English, and cost-prohibitive for those with low income.
"The average taxpayer spends $160 and nine hours filling out their tax return," Ruben pointed out. "That’s just prohibitive for a lot of low-income families. Part of the value of Direct File would be to make tax filing simple and free, so that people don’t have to have money in their pocket in order to go out and claim those tax credits that they earn."
Trump administration officials have defended the move, claiming better free options exist for low-income filers, and private companies can do a better job for those who can pay.
One survey found nearly 75% of people who used Direct File would recommend the service to others over other tax filing options. Ruben rejected the argument Direct File costs too much to implement, highlighting how the system cut down on customer service costs and saves tax filers money.
"You’ll hear the opponents of Direct File complain about what it cost to build," Ruben observed. "But somehow, you never hear them talk about all the money that it saves for either taxpayers or for the federal government."
Direct File was also unpopular with large tax filing companies, which one analysis found spent nearly $40 million since 2006 to lobby against similar programs.
This story was produced with original reporting from Josh Israel for The Virginia Independent.
More Articles on Government
TAGS: IRS Direct File cancellation 2026, taxpayer cost savings analysis, Economic Security Project tax policy, low-income tax filing barriers, Direct File user satisfaction data
Normal - St. Joseph-Ogden's Ashley Runck snatches a loose ball away from Breese Central's Lauren Budde during their Class 1A state quarterfinal game at Redbird Arena on January 23, 2007. In the final year of the girls' two-class system, the Spartans fell to the eventual state champion Cougars 56-39 in the state quarterfinals. It was deepest post season run for SJO since the start of the girls' basketball program in 1973. Runck led the Spartans (29-4) in the loss with 12 points. Twelve years later, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls' basketball program returned to Redbird, finishing third in Class 2A.
Past Photos of the Day
TAGS: Photo of the Day, St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team, SJO girls' basketball at state, Breese Central Cougars,IHSA basketball state finals
The Toyota of Danville Classic returns to St. Joseph-Ogden next week where basketball fans can enjoy the mix of high-energy basketball, strategy, and fast breaks.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Ryker Lockhart fights to snag a rebound with McNamara's Callaghan O'Connor under the rim during the Toyota of Danville Classic championship match in 2024. The Fightin' Irish defeated the 2023 champion Spartans in a fierce battle 57-48. O'Conner finished with seven points, while Lockhart led SJO with 12 points. The two juniors and their teams are projected to square off again in the title game on December 6.
ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden High School will welcome some of the region’s top teams next week for the annual Toyota of Danville Classic, an early-season basketball tournament that promises five days of fast-paced action and intense competition. Known as The Leader Classic for nearly three decades before being renamed in 2018, this year’s tournament runs Tuesday, Dec. 2, through Saturday, Dec. 6.
Last year’s champion, Bishop McNamara, who edged St. Joseph-Ogden 57-48 in the title game, returns along with all seven teams from the previous field. Pool A features Cissna Park, Charleston, PBL, and Bishop McNamara, while Pool B includes Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, Oakwood, host St. Joseph-Ogden, and Watseka.
Fans can look forward to 16 games over the course of the tournament, highlighted by the 35-second shot clock and the usual mix of high-energy play and early-season matchups. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students per night, covering all three games scheduled each evening. Tournament play opens Tuesday at 5 p.m., kicking off what promises to be another memorable edition of the Classic.
2025 Toyota of Danville Classic Schedule
Pool A:
Cissna Park
Charleston
PBL
Kankakee Bishop McNamara
Pool B:
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond
Oakwood
St. Joseph-Ogden
Watseka
Tuesday, 12/2/25:
5:00 PM: Kankakee Bishop McNamara vs. Charleston
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. PBL
Wednesday, 12/3/25:
5:00 PM: Watseka vs. Oakwood
6:30 PM: PBL vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
8:00 PM: Charleston vs. Cissna Park
Thursday, 12/4/25:
5:00 PM: Oakwood vs. ALAH
6:30 PM: Watseka vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Charleston vs. PBL
Friday, 12/5/25:
5:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. Watseka
8:00 PM: Oakwood vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
Saturday, 12/6/25:
1:00 PM: 7th Place Game
2:30 PM: 5th Place Game
4:00 PM: 3rd Place Game
5:30 PM: 1st Place Game
More SJO Sports Articles
TAGS: Toyota of Danville Classic 2025, St. Joseph-Ogden basketball tournament schedule, Bishop McNamara high school basketball, IHSA early-season basketball games, high school basketball 35-second shot clock, St. Joseph-Ogden basketball tickets, Charleston vs Cissna Park game, Oakwood vs ALAH matchup, Watseka vs St. Joseph-Ogden, PBL vs Bishop McNamara
Small decorating changes can make your home feel more cheerful during the holidays. Cozy lighting, blankets and seasonal media invite relaxation. Personal projects and heirloom pieces bring emotional warmth. Scents, textures and outdoor decorations round out the festive experience.
StatePoint Media - As the holidays creep closer and the to-do lists grow longer, many women find themselves craving something simple—a space that feels comforting, festive and entirely their own. With just a handful of affordable, creative tweaks, you can transform your home into a place that sparks joy the moment you walk through the door.
Tip #2: Pile on personal touches. Science says that decorating with handcrafted pieces can evoke a sense of both accomplishment and connection. Display beloved childhood holiday crafts and family heirlooms, like ornaments or glassware. Then, carve out time to make your own unique focal point. With a little imagination and duct tape, you can DIY your own Instagram-worthy decor. Consider cutting red and green Color Duck Tape into letter shapes to personalize a festive banner for your fireplace, then use duct tape to make holiday-themed frames to display family photos from over the years.
Tip #3: Refresh your hosting hotspot. For family and friends who are visiting over the holidays, cement your kitchen as a go-to gathering space with a quick makeover. Cheer up countertops with a display of holiday mugs, hang festive towels and spruce up cabinet shelves and other surfaces with removeable, patterned shelf liner like EasyLiner Removeable Adhesive Shelf Liner. For a non-committal DIY that lasts only as long as you want it to, use the weathered wood pattern on a backsplash or kitchen island to add charming texture.
Photo: Ara/Unsplash
Tip #4: Engage the senses. Select seasonal scents to infuse into your surroundings. For a DIY alternative to candles, boil water with aromatic ingredients, like cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange slices and vanilla, in a simmer pot for a nostalgic scent, or place bags of dried pinecones in bathroom and coat closets. And of course – baking cookies will create a fantastic aroma in your home, too.
Tip #5: Bring the spirit outside. As you make your holiday updates, don't forget about the exterior. Try adding simple touches to high-traffic areas, like placing decorative trees or poinsettias on the porch, hanging a wreath on the front door, tying garlands to beams or hanging lights on the patio or garage.
One family discovers Thanksgiving far beyond the holiday table. Together, they reveal how gratitude can unfold long before Thursday arrives.
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Glenn Mollette
We can and should celebrate Thanksgiving every day. Jesus told the story about the man cleansed of leprosy who returned to give thanks. He pointed out there were nine who experienced the same healing of their physical problem, but did not return to give thanks.
The Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving. They gave thanks for the rain, their harvest, health and the kindness of the local native Americans. They also gave thanks to God for their new life in America.
We know the difference between a thankful person and someone who complains all the time about anything and everything. It’s more fun to be around a grateful person than someone who can find something bad to say about anything and everything that is good.
There is a painting I love that displays a man with a bowed head, hands clasped and before him what appears to be a bowl of soup. In the painting he is giving thanks.
Our children and grandchildren all have a lot to learn in life and so do all of us adults. Two words that seem to be absent from many vocabularies are “thank you.”
We should say “thank you,” a lot. Say thank you to God and to all those who do even the smallest things for us and around us. It doesn’t hurt to say thank you two or three times.
Where did you learn to say thank you? Did your parents teach you? Did you learn it in school? Did you learn it from hearing someone else say it often? Or, have you yet to learn the importance of those two special and sacred words.
Thank you goes a long way. Saying thank you builds bridges, tears down walls and overcomes a lot of sin, evil and bad feelings. Thank people for being your friends, for their kindnesses, for their service, their faithfulness, their patriotism and all the big and small things from A to Z.
Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to say “thank you.” Give thanks to God, our public servants, your family, co-workers and more today and as often as possible.
I’ve already had several days of Thanksgiving. Last week we sat in my sister’s family room and spent time talking to one of our own who survived an aortic aneurism. We talked about the miracle of the many people who were involved in saving his life. We gave thanks and have many times.
We spent time eating chili soup and sloppy joe sandwiches and casually hanging out as family. They were precious hours of Thanksgiving. My wife and I spent an hour or so another day with my sister, her husband and son eating some early turkey, dressing mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. You don’t have to wait until Thursday to have turkey and family fellowship. One evening we sat with my brother and his son and family just talking around the table while they were having hamburgers. It was a nice time of fellowship. On another day we got to volunteer with others to distribute Thanksgiving food to over 800 people and again we experienced a blessed time of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving can be any day, with any meal and a variety people. Whatever the day, meal or occasion, see the blessing of the moment and give thanks.
About the author ~
Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.
More Editorial Viewpoints
The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — local sports state championship runs, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 24 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
Ambition, then, is the fire that can both create and consume. It becomes dangerous when it blinds the heart and mind.
byKamlesh Tripathi Guest Commentary
To quote Mark Antony in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar:
“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it”.
Ambition is highly incendiary. It can show the path to greatness or burn everything in its heat. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar’s ambition is both political and personal. He is neither a clear villain nor an innocent victim. His rise to power threatens to jeopardise the balance of the Roman Republic.
To Brutus and the conspirators, Caesar’s growing influence signals a danger to Rome’s liberty and its soul. They believe that if Caesar’s ambition is left unchecked, it would transform a free republic into a monarchy. But according to Shakespeare, Caesar’s ambition is as much perceived as proven. He refuses the crown three times. He speaks for the people and wins their loyalty. His “fault,” perhaps, lies not in the greed for power but in his pride. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more,” says Brutus. Ambition must be punished before it turns into tyranny. But Shakespeare refuses to make the judgment easy. Caesar’s ambition is not that of a usurper. He is neither the villain nor the saint of the play.
In Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, the central character, Victor Frankenstein’s ambition is intellectual in nature, rather than political. Obsessed with creating life, he defies natural laws and unleashes a monster he cannot control. His thirst for scientific glory brings about the destruction of everyone he loves including himself. His ambition to play God ends with his own ruin.
In the Indian mythology, there are several characters whose fate resembles that of Caesar’s. Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka, was a scholar, warrior, and devotee of Lord Shiva. Yet, his depraved ambition to be unconquerable and possess Sita led to his downfall. As a result, his strength metamorphosed into self-destruction.
Finally, it wasn’t only Rama’s arrows that destroyed him, but his own unchecked ambition. The same holds good for Duryodhana in the Mahabharata. His craving to rule Hastinapura resembles Caesar’s political hunger. He could not bear to see the Pandavas prosper. His refusal to grant even five villages, as suggested by Krishna, led to the catastrophic Kurukshetra war. Like Caesar, Duryodhana believed power to be his birthright.
Karna’s story offers a fine parallel to Caesar’s personal ambition. Born into secrecy and raised in anonymity, Karna’s entire life is driven by a longing for recognition and respect. His ambition is noble. He wishes to prove his worth against Arjuna and rise above the stigma of his birth. Similarly, Caesar’s early life is marked by political struggle and a fierce determination to climb the ranks of Roman power. Yet both men get entangled in loyalties that blur moral boundaries.
Karna’s devotion to Duryodhana, like Caesar’s trust in Antony and others, leads him to defend causes that conflict with dharma. Ambition without a noble cause, Shakespeare and Vyasa both suggest, can make even noble men pawns in larger tragedies.
Hiranyakashipu’s ambition to rule the three worlds and attain immortality resembles Caesar’s own belief that he was beyond human intervention, as he proudly declares himself “as constant as the Northern Star.” Caesar’s rise disrupts the harmony of the Roman Republic. Their arrogance invites downfall—one at the hands of Narasimha, the other at the daggers of Brutus & co.
Mythology offers a counterpoint in the case of King Mahabali. Mahabali desired to rule heaven, earth, and the underworld. But when faced with Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar, he chose humility over defiance, surrendering his kingdom and ego. Unlike Ravana or Duryodhana, Mahabali’s humility redeemed him, earning divine grace and immortality in memory.
Here lies a profound contrast with Caesar: where Mahabali bows, Caesar refuses to yield. Shakespeare’s Caesar, standing tall against the soothsayer’s warning, “Beware the Ides of March”, becomes the very image of a man too proud to listen, too ambitious to step back.
Ambition, then, is the fire that can both create and consume. It is political when it seeks power, personal when it seeks recognition, and tragic when it forgets restraint. From Caesar to Ravana, from Duryodhana to Macbeth, the pattern endures; the greater the climb, the greater the fall.
As Shakespeare and the epics remind us, ambition is not inherently evil. It becomes dangerous when it blinds the heart and mind. To be ambitious is human. To be over-ambitious is to challenge the divine. The lesson of Caesar and his mythological counterparts is eternal. Ambition must be guided by wisdom, or it becomes a double-edged sword. One that wins glory in one stroke and brings ruin in the next.
From Caesar’s Rome to Ravana’s Lanka, from Duryodhana’s Hastinapura to Macbeth’s Scotland, the story remains unchanged. Ambition is both the sculptor and the destroyer of greatness.
Kamlesh Tripathi is someone who values a life grounded in satisfaction and simple joys. Originally shaped in part by connections to the United States, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, he carries a blend of cultural influences that guide his perspective. He often recalls his mother’s rice and lentils as a favorite comfort dish. Among the stories that inspire him, he holds a particular fondness for the on-screen presence of Amitabh Bachchan.
TAGS: Ambition can be a path to greatness, Transforming a free republic into a monarchy, Indian mythology, Ambition is not evil, Tobe ambitious is human
Taking on one of personal care's least-talked-about problems
(PRNewswire) Chicago -- There are products for sweaty armpits, sweaty feet and sweaty faces. But when sweat shows up somewhere a little less comfortable to talk about, the options get limited fast.
Chicago-based Cheek Sheets is looking to change that.
Cheek Sheets today announced the launch of its namesake absorbent sheets, an ultra-thin, dry and discreet personal-care product designed to help absorb sweat and manage unwanted moisture between the cheeks before it becomes uncomfortable, embarrassing or funky.
Discover the headlines published on each of these days from our news and sports coverage from Champaign‑Urbana and the wider community. From local news and sports to community events, politics, and opinion pieces, The Sentinel archives capture the stories that shaped life in Champaign County year after year.
As November settles in with crisp air and golden leaves, we look back on stories that shaped our community — from Veterans Day tributes and Thanksgiving traditions to local sports triumphs, civic milestones, and voices that stirred debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 26 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana over the years.
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — local sports state championship runs, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 25 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — local sports state championship runs, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 24 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.