Periodically, I get to thinking about how very vulnerable we are as a nation. Not our foundation, mind you, our foundation of democracy and justice is steel-strong. It's our structure, the flimsy materials, the shoddy posturing that worries me. I cringe every time someone gives off the "F Europe" vibe (pardon my french...SEE right there, that pardon itself equates curse words to the french themselves. And I really have a hard time believing a nation that brought us Amelie, warm crusty bread and so much lovely wine is all bad.) We are a great nation. A noble nation. But MAN are we economically, socially and politically vulnerable these days.
When I want to get myself even more freaked out, I think of the Romans. The holy Roman Empire and the power therein makes the scope of America's dominance seem both short-lived and measly in comparison. For years, decades, CENTURIES the HRE was the most feared and revered global force. You LOOKED at a Roman the wrong way, and you knew that you weren't messing with him alone, but with the entirety of the largest military that the world has ever known. But here's the thing. Rome got a bit high on its haunches; hubris surpassed diligence, pride over reason. As long as the empire provided bread and circus, its populous remained distracted, unquestioning and non-progressive. The unyielding faith of the Roman people of their permanent dominance led to their inevitable collapse- the people just weren't paying attention.
This past weekend, I attended The Donkey Show. This cross-dressing, glitter-filled extravaganza loosely follows Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. The barely dressed cast with gyrating hips and lustful eyes provided an escape from reality for those of us in the audience. Part dance party, part edge-pushing theater, the Donkey Show was reminiscent of Studio 54, without the intermittent cocaine infusions from the air vents. About 1/2 way through the experience, I started thinking about Rome (NERD ALERT, duly noted) and how this level of extravagance is just what worries me about our distractability. My compatriots and I indulged for a designated 2 hours of our lives, but so many of those around us live this way - consumed and content by and with distraction.
But then again, if there was a chance to be always well-fed and entertained, I guess I'd take it too. But I do think my ideal equation would be Pinot Grigio and Circus. God bless those French grapes.
