America vs. Rome (moral, hell, moral, Roman, holidays)

[CDRaider]

This debate is one that people have been having for quite a long time now...

How much like the Roman Empire is like America? Will our fates be the same? What are the reasons you think we are alike/different?

[michel]

Originally Posted by CDRaider

This debate is one that people have been having for quite a long time now...

How much like the Roman Empire is like America? Will our fates be the same? What are the reasons you think we are alike/different?

Yes,the fates will be the same. It is inevitable.

Society is hell bent on consumerism; everyone is made to believe (though media and advertising) that he/she is "not normal" without the lastest electronic games, gadgetry, holidays, drinks, parties etc............

Once people attain that level (and I know that a lot won't - because of their circumstances and finances), they want more ........something 'new' maybe drugs, maybe sexual 'threesomes'; basically, the more you are satisfied, the more you leave a 'hole' open for new excitements that you have developped a hunger for.

Paralells ? In Rome, watching the slaves fight in the colesseum. In America (and in the U.K) Reality T.V.....becoming more and more intrusive all the time, to feed the 'need' for something better. We are satisfied now with what is 'glorified voyeurism' with reality T.V. When coupes have been filmed having sex, what will the next 'need for more stimulation' be ?

[RevOxley_501]

Originally Posted by michel

Yes,the fates will be the same. It is inevitable.

Society is hell bent on consumerism; everyone is made to believe (though media and advertising) that he/she is "not normal" without the lastest electronic games, gadgetry, holidays, drinks, parties etc............

Once people attain that level (and I know that a lot won't - because of their circumstances and finances), they want more ........something 'new' maybe drugs, maybe sexual 'threesomes'; basically, the more you are satisfied, the more you leave a 'hole' open for new excitements that you have developped a hunger for.

Paralells ? In Rome, watching the slaves fight in the colesseum. In America (and in the U.K) Reality T.V.....becoming more and more intrusive all the time, to feed the 'need' for something better. We are satisfied now with what is 'glorified voyeurism' with reality T.V. When coupes have been filmed having sex, what will the next 'need for more stimulation' be ?

excellent post---all my opinions are right there^^^^^^^^^^

[!Fluffy!]

Originally Posted by CDRaider

This debate is one that people have been having for quite a long time now...

How much like the Roman Empire is like America? Will our fates be the same? What are the reasons you think we are alike/different?

The Roman Empire lasted a lot longer than we will. I believe America is disintegrating from within just like they did though. There is too little unity and too much insanity. It appears as though people here have demonized, polarized and marginalized each other too much to ever hope for the cohesion necessary to survive a serious threat from the outside.

Heck, many don't even see the need for a secure border, including our own President. That fact right there is enough to make me cynical about our future.

[Djamila]

I think their fate will be the same, of course - but I think they're also quite different.

[CDRaider]

Originally Posted by Moon Woman

The Roman Empire lasted a lot longer than we will. I believe America is disintegrating from within just like they did though. There is too little unity and too much insanity. It appears as though people here have demonized, polarized and marginalized each other too much to ever hope for the cohesion necessary to survive a serious threat from the outside.

Heck, many don't even see the need for a secure border, including our own President. That fact right there is enough to make me cynical about our future.

i very readily agree with the fact it will happen sooner but not because America is any less moral or what have you then Rome, i just think that the pace of life is quicker. communication is quickers, globalization happens quicker so i think that the parrell still holds true but true porportionality instead of exactally.

[CDRaider]

Originally Posted by Djamila

I think their fate will be the same, of course - but I think they're also quite different.

how so?

[Djamila]

Originally Posted by CDRaider

how so?

It was a different era. When the Romans entered a country, conquered their armies, and these sorts of things - the medieval people viewed this as a sign that God favored them, and converted, and largely accepted Roman culture and way of life. It was the same with the Islamic expansion. These days, no one still thinks that way. People are resistent to certain American influences, people still think their ways are better and are only willing to compromise on certain things.

Rome also controlled so much more. They say all roads lead to Rome for a reason, it's the Eternal City. No one says or thinks such things about Washington DC.

The Americans have new, modern ways of influence - much more through culture, movies, music, etc... than through military or occupation like the Romans practically exclusively used. The Romans also seemed more aware of the world, and more apt to appreciate things in regions outside their own.

The Romans named the Una river in Bosnia, the "only one", because it was so beautiful. At the settlements of Imunisipia and Kotorac (modern-day Sarajevo) the Romans were not allowed to use their bugles so as not to disturb the beauty of the place. When the Romans conquered Solu (modern-day Tuzla), they surrounded the city, and refused to fire a single weapon at it because they considered it so pretty. They just cut it off from supplies until the people starved to death and surrendered. LOL

It's just different, really. largely because of the era.

[CDRaider]

Originally Posted by Djamila

Rome also controlled so much more. They say all roads lead to Rome for a reason, it's the Eternal City. No one says or thinks such things about Washington DC.

Yes, but all roads lead to New York!!! lol, the unofficial capital of the USA!

Actually did you know that a vast majority of people NYC is the captial and the sad part of that is those aren't all people from different countries.