The rise and fall of ancient Rome has been on American minds from the beginning of our republic.Today we focus less on the Roman Republic than on the empire that took its place. Depending on who’s doing the talking, the history of Rome serves as either a triumphal call to action or a dire warning of imminent collapse. In Are We Rome? the esteemed editor and author Cullen Murphy reveals a wide array of similarities between the two empires: the blinkered, insular culture of our capitals; the debilitating effect of bribery in public life; the paradoxical issue of borders; and the weakening of the body politic through various forms of privatization. Murphy persuasively argues that we most resemble Rome in the burgeoning corruption of our government and in our arrogant ignorance of the world outside -- two things that must be changed if we are to avoid Rome’s fate.
If they can be awakened, this is a book to do it. Murphy grandly illustrates the parallels between Rome and the US while leaving room for differences and opportunities to not repeat history.
I found it most intriguing that Murphy highlights Rome did not fall in some epochal collapse, but was literally stretched apart through that time's own version of globalization and the responsibilities of the geopolitical leader.
We do have something the Romans did not. Within our grasp are the tools of interconnectedness that heretofore did not exist. We have the opportunity to assess progress and failure more rapidly than ever before and the populace carries a level of knowledge, if engaged, that is unprecedented. The strength of the individual en masse within any system has never been more apparent. In that regard, we have been ripping at the insular layers of our governance and are flushing out the corruption and misguidance.
The question is whether or not it is soon enough...
writes,
The author compares and contrasts Rome and America. Intriguing similarities are identified and discuss in considerable detail but profound differences are not overlooked. But these differences do not in any clear cut fashion overwhelm the similarities. No solid conclusion is reached as to whether we are Rome.
writes,
I find the subject matter fascinating, and have for many years. I am not optimistic about America's future. All great civilizations die out sooner or later for various reasons. There are always plenty of people sounding the alarms, but there never seems to be any way of stopping the downward spiral. I see no reason why America will be immune to this.
However, I am halfway through this book and find it tough going. It was interesting at first but now I seem to be forcing myself to read it, and skipping paragraphs. Usually when this happens I end up never finishing the book. I guess I was looking for more hard, fast comparisons between the two civilizations.
