TO: Rashputin
RE: Explaining the Roman Experience
You’ll have to explain what the Roman Republic was. — Rashputin
That’ll be a trip. Doing what the vaunted American public education system—K-12 and higher—failed to accomplish.
I’d first recommend that they read Livy’s accounts of early Roman history.
Then look at Caesar’s account of his conquest of Gaul. Followed by watching the movies, Spartacus, Fall of the Roman Empire and Gladiator. Wouldn’t hurt to watch Quo Vadis.
Then read Marcus Aurelius and Tacitus.
For the REALLY daring, Gibbon’s account of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Then, The Giant Book of Roman History to sort of tie it all together, beginning to end.
The point here for US is that we are at a similar cross-roads in our national growth. Akin to the time when the Roman Republic was faced with the challenges of being the most powerful nation on the face of the Earth, while being opposed by another powerful nation, Carthage.
The political situation in Rome deteriorated to where people no longer discussed amongst themselves what was the best course of action to take in order to resolve a crisis or lead the nation. Instead their politics broke down to the sort of ad hom name calling and vitriol that we have seen here from people like vivo, Pundit Joe, Pat J, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum. And therein lies the same path that Rome fell into and never recovered from.
The law became whatever whoever had the Praetorian Guard and the Legions would dictate. The written law was a farce and a joke and only used to murder those who opposed whomever was in power. Never to hold those in power to account for their actions or inactions.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to relive it.]
