I find it difficult not to write about politics in these times. Our government is changing and I fear our grandchildren may never understand or relate to the America we knew as children. There is a Roman parallel to 9/11. In 68 or 67 BC, the Roman port at Ostia was sacked.
IN the autumn of 68 B.C. the world’s only military superpower was dealt a profound psychological blow by a daring terrorist attack on its very heart. Rome’s port at Ostia was set on fire, the consular war fleet destroyed, and two prominent senators, together with their bodyguards and staff, kidnapped.
…
For in the panicky aftermath of the attack, the Roman people made decisions that set them on the path to the destruction of their Constitution, their democracy and their liberty. One cannot help wondering if history is repeating itself.
[Source]
My most recent reference to 1984 comes with the death of habeas corpus. Now the question: Are you awake?
More Ostia with great pictures. I want to visit!
While history does tend to repeat itself in some ways, we have to remember that that was 2000 years ago. I’d like to think that human society has matured a little bit in that span of time. At least Western society, that is.
I agree and hope that we have changed over 2000 years. However, history does show us certain patterns like dynasties having 200 years of prosperity and 200 years of decline (does the US fit a dynastic model? If so, are we in our 200 years of decline). And was it Marx that said Democracy will transition toward Communism and Communism will transition toward Democracy. Are we in that transition?