In the 4th Century BC, Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, wrote a letter to the Spartans as part of his campaign to bring the Greek city-states under Macedonian rule. Philip wrote “You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city…” Wow! And coming from Philip, you’d think people would take seriously all the ugliness threatened by the rising Macedonian power. Yet the Spartans, laconic as always, replied with a single word, “…If…” Talk about your ancient drop the mike moment! You can almost hear the way-too-serious Spartans giggling as they handed it off to a messenger.