Observations©
by Donald S. Conkey
Today, as America struggles to return to those principles of freedom that made it a beacon of hope to the world, I see disturbing similarities between today’s America and ancient Rome that causes me to ask: “Is America being Romanized?” Why would I even ponder just a question? Because all students of history, especially of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire realizes that a once powerful nation of free people turned to an Emperor, became an immoral people, rejected the laws of nature that Cicero said Rome, like America, was founded upon, and then self destructed, ending up on the trash heap of history. And I don’t want to see that happen to America!
And as America struggles to find a leader to lead it out of its financial quagmire another question arises: will America be able to overcome its disturbing political divide, corruption in government, worship of false gods, growing immorality and return to the principles of freedom established by America’s Founders or will it turn, as Rome did, to an Emperor?
The similarities are far too many to enumerate here. What is important in understanding these similarities is that in the beginning the people in both nations had developed a love of freedom, eventually discarding their monarchies and then creating a republican form of government designed to protect the individual rights of their citizens both from one another and from all external enemies – and their leaders came from amongst the people.
But as that centralized government grew in size, beyond the influence of the individual citizen, the leaders began killing off any opponent that stood in their way. Julius Caesar was the first of many emperors that led the Romans through their Golden Years to their self-destruction centuries later following Rome’s moral disintegration. Rome’s Golden Years, a period of 41 years, was reached under Emperor Augustus Caesar between 27 B.C. and 14 A.D. Incidentally the title Augustus, given to Octavian by the Roman Senate, meant ‘the revered one.’ America’s Golden Years, beginning with Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980, is now nearing its end if you measure it by Roman history.
Another question: what are the similarities between ancient Rome and modern America’s during their Golden Years period? I see at least two glaring similarities between ancient Rome and modern America’s Golden Years. The first: ancient Rome had its coliseums, America has its stadiums. Rome had their gladiators; America has sports teams and players. Teams play to win, at all cost. Rome’s gladiators evolved into a fight to the finish; the death of one combatant determined the winner. America’s games have not reached that point yet – but one can only wonder if they are far behind given its fanatical sports fan base and the stiff competition for ratings by the TV net works.
Winning gladiators in ancient Rome were as worshiped by their Roman fans as are the sports teams and sports heroes here in America today, in all sports, be they profession or college sports teams or individual heroes.
A second similarity: the growing disdain showed by sports fans and sports journalists for any sports hero who displays his/her religious passion publicly. The Roman emperors went to the extreme: they threw Christian believers to the lions, literally. It hasn’t reached this state in America yet but any sports hero who declares his/her belief openly opens himself or herself up to the mocking of the sports world. The latest victim of sports demonizing is Denver’s Tim Tebow. He has been demonized by many of his fellow players and sport’s journalists in general. ‘Tebowing’ is a new word used by disbelievers and sports journalists to demonize and mock anyone who dares standup to be counted for his or her personal religious beliefs, especially if that belief is in Christ.
As this column is being written America’s football mania season is in full swing. The football playoffs are underway and the Super Bowl will become once again the most watched TV show in America on Super Bowl Sunday – with commercials costing millions for 30 second spots; and with fans worshiping their favorite teams and heroes as if they were gods. Such fanaticism led to the demise of the once powerful Roman Empire. Could it also destroy America? We all hope not – but one has to wonder if America is now being Romanized – and if they are, how long will it take before America follows in Rome’s footsteps, self-destructs and ends up on the ash heap of lost civilizations!