Posted on 03/13/2006 5:29:56 PM PST by neverdem
This reads like one of Pat O'Rourke's travelogues through one or the other circles of Hell without the barbed wit - one can imagine how Mr O'Rourke would describe the new library building in the article.
Apologies for offering-up the metaphorical cocktail. If you should find yourself with a hangover in the morning, I'll be glad to offer some aspirin.
Rome became a slave to the management of its own empire. It also continually imported trouble from abroad. Roman emperors became increasingly tyrannical over time in their efforts to stifle dissent, and keep the order. It is the problems here, brought on by multi-culturalism and the dilution of our values, that will bring us down if we fail, not trouble in other places.
This is why only nations endure, while empires inevitably fail.
China.
"The Mongolians might be inclined to disagree."
China never officially 'ceased-to-be' as a nation. Mongolia simply installed one of their own as a Dynastic leader. It was still ruled from Beijing, and probably exerted more influence on Mongolia than vice-versa. Yuan era China was both peaceful and prosperous. It was the China that Marco Polo knew, in fact.
An African of my acquaintance often pointed out that in his society there there was no distinction made between "political opponent" and "enemy".
nope. China was established as a unified nation in the first century and endured more or less as such for about 1000 years before being conquered in its entirety by the Mongols. Subsequent to the breakup of the mongol empire, China fractured into smaller kingdoms and fractious states ruled by warlords. China did not re-emerge as a unified nation until after WWII.
Cameroon has achieved the socialist/Stalinist ideal that the Democrats and their fellow totalitarians strive their mightiest to impose on us.
Not necessarily doubting your conclusions, but seems at odds with the reading I've done. Also depends upon one's definition of a nation, I s'pose. Time to do some more reading. No doubt this will still be a valid topic in a few months.
I have yet to read the entire article but I am intrigued by DeSoto's questions, the ones you stated. Could it be that possibly the reason we succedded is because of Christian values. I do not mean to say because we follow Christ and God, we are smiled upon. I mean to say the basic teachings of Christ such as love, trust, forgiveness, and mercy enabled us to expand while others who did not practice these attributes become stagnent. Just my opinion.
What nation isn't a slave to the people it rules?
It also continually imported trouble from abroad.
Certainly it was beset from without, but the provincial troubles seldom made it to the City. Roman governors were plenipotentiary in their administration of their districts, and made good use of that power.
Roman emperors became increasingly tyrannical over time in their efforts to stifle dissent, and keep the order.
Not really. Rome had its share of tyrants, but that was more attributable to decadence and superfluity than to domestic friction.
It is the problems here, brought on by multi-culturalism and the dilution of our values, that will bring us down if we fail, not trouble in other places.
I agree that we need to spend some energy reuniting this country too.
This is why only nations endure, while empires inevitably fail.
Nations fail as well, and empires today stand a pretty good chance of succeeding. In fact, it's arguable that an individual nation today has almost no chance of success in the long term. That's why we're seeing all these economic alliances (NAFTA, the EU) that constitute de facto empires, if not military and cultural, certainly economic.
The use of the term "developing country" is idiotic.
Most places on earth so described are not developing, they are regressing towards barbarism at an alarming rate.
Well, yes, but it can't be done.
The lives of Africans were immeasurably better under the Union Jack. If anyone ever writes a before and after book, you will start crying after page 10 and be unable to finish.
However, running the world, and policing it, requires the transformation of society beginning with primary school. The English did as good a job of this as anyone could ever hope for - but within 3 generations they were sick of it.
The short-term price is doable, the long-term price is too high, and if it was too high for the Brits, it's too high for anyone else.
And the competition for the title is vicious.
They will eventually turn to the West in an orgy of rape, murder, and destruction because like all low-IQ tribes, they are not able to reason abstractly. (Anyone who remembers the dumb kids in high school remembers that they never came after you looking for tutoring).
Hence, the only emotions they can feel with the West in their faces are shame and rage.
IF we do not conquer and colonize the world, we had better get the hell out.
Under the Iron Jack, there would be no long-term price. The goal is not to police the world, at least not indefinitely. It is to expose the world to the utility of Western values, to incorporate those values into failing societies, and to release those societies to their own rulership once that is completed.
It is an endeavor more evangelistic than imperial.
Good point.
The great Christian missionaries needed the regiments within 20 years.
It's amazing we have lasted as long as we have, with unarmed kids and businessmen - but now, we have to fight to keep it all, and we (mostly) don't have the stomach for it.
"Hence, the only emotions they can feel with the West in their faces are shame and rage."
I personally prefer we not supply them with the means to wage effective warfare (political, economic, or military). The shame and rage will always be there (even if we do modernize their countries for them). We obviously need to maintain bases overseas. Without might, all the shame and rage in the world amount to no real threat against us. This nation-building/empire game we're playing is dangerous.
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