"There was once a dream that was Rome, you could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. It was so fragile and I fear that it will not survive the winter."
spoke the aging Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator. And he was right...it didn't.
For some reason this is echoing in my brain today.
Rome was never what you would describe as a "progressive" society. It was a brutal society in which plebians were little better than dirt. It was a brutal society in which compassion was viewed as a vice.
The "Republic" was there to protect the landed nobles. It merely gave lip service to the plebs to keep them compliant.
I think modern Republicans would be very much at home in ancient Rome. The values are about the same.
critique of Roman civil rights. I think, perhaps I was sensing something a bit deeper. Something about the fragile nature of our dreams and how we are not the first country to seek to "rise above" and yet fall below due to corruption and struggle from within.
And it appears to be that Modern Republicans are very much at home in present day America...so perhaps the parallel is apt.
but like I stated in the OP...it's just something echoing around...I'm sure it's open to many interpretations...in this case I just find it poignant in several ways.
Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators
Important Notices: By participating on this discussion
board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules
page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the
opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent
the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.