Looking back to earlier centuries as Rome declined:The big country houses go on having their luncheon and tennis parties, the little professors in the universities go on giving their lectures and writing their books; games are increasingly popular and the theatres are always full. Ausonius has seen the Germans overrun Gaul once, but he never speaks of a danger that may recur. Sidonius lives in a world already half barbarian, yet in the year before the Western Empire falls he is still dreaming of the consulship for his son. Why did they not realize the magnitude of the disaster that was befalling them?
…
…It was the affairs of the moment that occupied them; for them it was the danger of the moment that must be averted and they did not recognize that each compromise and each defeat was a link in the chain dragging them over the abyss. [emphasis mine]
—Eileen Power. Medieval People. (New York: Barnes & Noble, 1924, page 14)
This is part of our Thursday Constitution Blogging series.
--the BB
2 comments:
We are Rome.
I was thinking today that our decline is inevitable, and, at this point, there's very little that we can do to reverse the downward movement. Most certainly, it won't be the politicians who will pull us up.
And yet, we must have hope in the face of hopelessness and continue to do good to our fellow creatures and, as best we can, care for the once good earth that is our gift from God.
Paul, you have a beautiful blog.
Thank you, Mimi, that is very sweet of you.
Well, yes, we seem to be. The late Republic on its way to becoming a bloated, degenerate Empire based on the toil of slaves, military might, and engineering.
Whatever the true diagnosis or prognosis may be, our task is to love, to care, to serve, to keep the spark alive. We may feel like Irish monks at the edge of the world, clinging to knowledge and living by faith.
What we must not do is give in to the darkness or worship Caesar.
Blessings on you, dear friend. I am meeting others through the link of your blog.
I am usually more optimistic by nature. Born on the feast of Dame Julian (all shall be well) and all that. But the Bush years have damaged my optimism, probably beyond all repair. I can see the NSA salivate as I type this but without a second American Revolution and violent overthrow of a tryannous government, I don't see how we shall get our Constitution back. I don't think we have even two years left to salvage it.
[OK, government spies. I am a pacifist. I did not just call for violence nor am I likely ever to pursue it; I only despaired. Now chill. Go worry about Halliburton and Blackwater and Fox Noise--some serious threat to the state.]
Très gros soupir.
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