Something to Ponder
One of the most recognizable landmarks of yesterdayOne of the most widely read books of all time is “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."
Written in 1788 by Edward Gibbon, it sets forth five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died. These were:
1) The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.
2) Higher and higher taxes; the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.
(3 The mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, more immoral.
(4 The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within – the decay of individual responsibility.
(5 The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people.
The oft-heard warning that history repeats itself” has an ominous meaning in the light of the above.
Please tell me which of these 5 causes of Rome's fall is missing from today's American culture and society?
Written in 1788 by Edward Gibbon, it sets forth five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died. These were:
1) The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.
2) Higher and higher taxes; the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.
(3 The mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, more immoral.
(4 The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within – the decay of individual responsibility.
(5 The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people.
The oft-heard warning that history repeats itself” has an ominous meaning in the light of the above.
Please tell me which of these 5 causes of Rome's fall is missing from today's American culture and society?
posted by web_loafer at 9:29 AM ::
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9 comments:
well there more factors than just that, but you have a great point.
Please tell me which of these 5 causes of Rome's fall is missing from today's American culture and society?
There aren't any.
I think everything in this world deteriorates, whether it's a shiny new car that turns to rust, or a nation, or a religion, we all grow old and die. Rome, and America, no difference.
All five are happening here in the US. We're going the way of Roman, and quickly.
I too say all five are happening here in the US and we're going down hill fast.
Great post WL...
AubreyJ.........
I said the same thing over 5 years ago and no one believed me. Originally the Romans had their own religion, but slowly converted to Christianity. The Roman Empire collapsed after Christianity spread, was it the fact people did not take Christianity seriously or was it becaused the abandoned their own traditional beliefs. This always had me pondering which of the above is true. At least four out of five contributed to the collapse of the Roman Empire. Also as Manny mentioned, nothing lasts forever.
Nothing stays the same for ever. Mind you, that Italy has evolved from Roman Empire.
Gibbon's book, while a must read for anybody, is often a bit too simplistic. The Roman empire lasted for centuries longer than any modern nation-state has even approached, and it was more of an evolving into another type of civilization than a complete collapse and disapearance into history like, say, ancient Egypt. I personally hold the view that the empire, like all empires, was doomed to failure because of their raubwirtschaft economy rather than the infusion of Christianity as a state religion.
Jay, you gotta help me out here,
My dictionary doesn't have the word raubwirtschaft in it.
Good to hear from you again.
I hope you and your bud's are better winners, than loser's. It has been a miserable 6 years living in America with the media out of power. Hopefully your taxes won't rise so much that you have to join the senior citizens in eating dogfood. Yes, we'll have universal government health care. You think the wait to see a doctor is too much now....wait until the government takes over.
But, not to worry, you and I are approaching retirement.
I am looking forward to the next two years of Demoscats in power in the house, and a 50/50 in the Senate, with Mr. Cheney's vote the important one.
I will be happier than a hog at a slop factory if this happens.
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