The Ostracization of Themistocles

I was watching a three part series on australia network on the greek civilization.
the concluding part is on monday.
The Greeks ,just as they had organized themselves into a democracy after the earliest revolution in history,were under the scanner of the Persians,who were the imperial power to their east.
Themistocles who had risen to power from common circumstances realised that the persians would pose a threat after they had been beaten back in an earlier war,was responsible for the planning that saved the athenians from a major assault of the Persians in 480 BC.
The same man who was solely responsible for the survival of the Athenians was later ostracized by Greek democracy and died in exile in the same Persia that he had helped defeat.
This illustrates the perils of democracy for the politician who dedicates his life to the country.
The country after availing of the services,forgets the same in a fickle behaviour under changed circumstances.
The people are forever prone to entertain conspiracy theories about their leaders,even those who have unflinchingly served them.
The career politician of today is also faced with the chamaeleon like behaviour of the media which has to do anything and everything to survive.
People who wish to manipulate the direction of the state use this facet of the people in subtly introducing planted stories and angles which cause the voter to be led astray.
Just doing the good work might not be enough to retain victory in the polls and take the country forward on the right path.
The story of Themistocles is an instance from the earliest versions of democracy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themistocles

The process of ostracism,though seems extremely important and could be interpreted as a sacrifice for the country,which Themistocles probably also had to do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracise

the Greeks have created and experimented with democracy and have a stronger claim to greatness than any other culture.