I don't know enough about the history of the Roman Empire, but I hear enough comparisons between the imperial Romans and modern Americans -- self-centered, consumers, reckless and arrogant -- to think maybe we've come full circle. I made two observations in the last couple days that say something about our society. I'm not sure exactly what these observations mean aside from the literal ridiculousness of each.
First, I read about a company that will turn your handwriting into a computer font for a small fee. You write on the form, the company scans it and cashes your check. On one hand this is cool because if you like your handwriting, here's a simple and consistent way to replicate it forever. Of course, you could just write it. This, by the way, caused an argument with my friend the CIB, who said a person could use it for invitations and stuff, and it would be more personal than, say, Helvetica. I countered it was the exact opposite of personal. In fact, it's not only impersonal, it's kind of an insult that someone would spend time making a machine-generated product look like one's own handwriting. The CIB relented with a sigh, but I think there are larger implications. Read on.
Next, we have the symbolic trinket craze. Sure, the Jesus fish and peace stickers have been around for a while. Now we have Live Strong bracelets and magnetic yellow ribbons. Ask most people what the Love Strong bracelet means, and I bet they would have a hard time really explaining it. And few of today's drivers with magnets could probably tell you the origin of the yellow ribbon and its symbolism ("Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree..."). Learn more here. People seem far more interested in slapping a magnet on the back of their Expedition than in actually doing something to change the world. And if a person should decline to place one of these on his or her vehicle, then the person's patriotism is questioned.
And don't get me started on e-cards for birthdays; text messages for communicating; mail-merged letters from "my friends" at the bank/phone company/video store, etc.; personalized suggestions from Amazon.com or Netflix; and scores of other ways where our society has a false sense of personalization or some stand-in to do the dirty work.
So what does it say about a society where millions are willing to create false personalization or use symbols to stand in for real substantive actions? I think it says we have reached a new low in Narcissism, one that does not bode well for us as a culture or society.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
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9 comments:
Don't forget the military similarites between the late Roman Empire and the USA. Rome got to the point where they would either use their awesome military power or lose. Ironically, they lost it anyway. America seems to be at the same point. We are preemptively invading countries because they might attack us.
I would also loosely link Rome's dependence on slave labor (a contributing factor in their self-centered and disintegrating society) to America's dependence on local low wage earners and foreign labor. As we all know from the increasing number of sweat shops and forced labor factories in the news, America wants its cheap, Wal-Mart ready goods. An increasing dependence on these labor forces can only lead to a financial crisis in addition to a reliance on foreign economies. Some say Rome's desire to live off of their lowest citizens weakened it from the inside out. Plus, when Rome did not force an ideological change in its conquered citizens, it faired much better.
I think there are further parallels including the concept of "bread and circuses" -- the distractions the Romans provided to the lower classes when there wasn't enough work. We have the internet, video games, and TV for those who make a decent wage. Low wage workers stay distracted by simply trying to make ends meet. Both scenarios provide little time for social activism or interpersonal contact.
And about the font-signature thing...it's still a cool idea.
CIB
I think the "bread and circuses" analogy could even be taken a bit further to include the deliberate manipulation of news stories to inflame the plebeians. Who can concentrate on the larger issues when Fox News is pounding the war drum? The poor, already strapped with fears of losing everything financially gain the additional fear of being attacked by faceless but "different" terrorists who don't value the "culture of life" that we do here in America.
Oh, by the way, where can I get that signature font thing? : )
The romans were also conquering land (and a lot of it). That's something we're not doing...taking away territory and calling it our town. Also we have more allies than the romans did. Not to mention they were conquered by a much more conservative (such as ourselves) society?
If anything, Europe is to be compared more to the roman empire with their massive governments and socialist policies. Not to mention the high crime and perversion. Not all of Europe is that way though.
And what is with you people? Such negativity...comparing us with Romans? I'll tell you the downfall of this country, way too much criticism from people like you guys.
We just set up our own dictators in the place of the ones who didn't like us. Then when those don't like us, we replace them too. We don't actually have to occupy them (except for our bases of "protection" around the world). I should know. I actually lived on some.
By the way, criticism only keeps people in check and makes them improve. People afraid of criticism are the ones who need it most. We live in an age of decreasing personal liberties (once a popular Republican topic--you should like it), woman's and minority rights, and an increasingly theological slant in government. People should be critical of the current leadership, of any leadership (but especially the current).
Criticism is the key to a true democracy. Without a forum for free and open expression, no society can stand. From Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry to Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gloria Steinem, the United States has a long history of producing those patriotic citizens who feel that is their duty to criticize the very country which has given them the right to do so. And we don't even throw them to the lions.
Also, you may want to examine the crime rates of the United States vs. that of most of the European countries. I find it completely ironic that the so-called socialist societies you so decry have fared much better in these arenas.
I don't believe that the United States is a terrible place or that our current society is on par with the hedonistic Romans, but I do acknowledge that our society has similar problems. Our plebeians are constantly distracted from real issues by elevated terror alerts which keep them frightened (and therefore much more willing to give up their civil liberties and their voices), government sponsored news stories, and Rob and Amber's wedding. While our bread and circuses don't involve actual bloodshed or loss of life, the outcome is the same: we take our eyes off our leaders and let them do whatever they want. It is up to us, those of us who truly believe that the United States can be a better place, to speak up when we see something wrong with our society.
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