Americans and Romans, Europeans and Greeks

[Muesli]

Isn't there a parralel?

A powerful, moralistic, somewhat hypocritical society of people who act. It's power based on a invincible military and huge economy and still on the rise.

and

A squabbling, decadent, group of nations, filled with people who sit and think, instead of working. Reminiscent of a "glorious" past of colonialism and military power.



What will happen if history repeats itself?

Europe will decline into one of the globe's poorest regions.

The USA will turn into a dictatorship first and will then be overrun by some tribal culture 400 years later.

We're doomed :-)

[papau]

1. the Greek's have never been in the dire condition you imply

"sit and think, instead of working" implies one can not do both - and again - the Greeks (as wel as many many other folks)seemed to show this was not true

[Muesli]

2. wrong word used.

I meant "acting" as in stop debating and start doing.


The Greek mainland however did see a period of relatively strong decline after the Peloponesian war.

Europe's relative decline is also due to wars between almost equally strong opponents.

[joeybee12]

3. I don't think Europe is declining--it's on the rise. We're declining

Thanks to our ignorance and arrogance.

If Dumbo is re-defeated in 2004 and again assumes office, we are doomed!

[Patriot_Spear]

4. No parralel... but there are some interesting observations.

Particularly when you consider the late empire's reliance on native troops while the leadership avoided military service- sound like anyone we know?

[Muesli]

5. More came to mind

Caesar convinced the senate and the people that the threat of an attack by the Gauls was absolute and a "preemtive strike" was necessery.

The Romans had their own problems with fundamentalists, at that time it was the christians. There even are some historians who think it is true that the great fire in Nero's reign was a christian terrorist act. I admit it sounds far-fetched, but the fear was real for the Romans.


-edit- spelling

[joeybee12]

6. Proof that history repeats itself

[Nevernose]

7. Is "convinced" the right word?

If I remember my Plutarch (which would be an absolute miracle), the senate specifiaclly told Caesar NOT to invade the Gauls, and then he did anyway, which is why they summoned him to Rome w/o his army to face charges.

[joeybee12]

8. I think you're right about Caesar being summoned for his actions

I think his actions led to his assasination, because he did this, and the senators were starting to fear him.

Not sure if I'm getting the chronology right, but I seem to recall this chain of events.

[Muesli]

9. I'm not sure anymore

You could be right. But I think that they summoned him back without his army out of fear of his popularity with his troops, afraid (justly so) he would try to gain absolute power.

hmmmm... How popular is Bush with the military?

PS. Of course I meant to spell parallel correctly

[joeybee12]

10. I don't think he's very popular with them these days

Hooray!