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Indeed, this justification for war, the rituals involved the frenzy that the Senate would proclaim in Rome never ceased to fail. Marcus Aurelius in his campaigns against the barbarians quoted in his journals: “Our war, our war, is but simply a duty of all Romans, for we are the protectorate of the world.” This fallacy of a peaceful state seemed to go to the wits and brains of the Romans, as this accepted practice is retailed again and again- all the way back to 650 BC and the time of Livy, and perhaps instituted by the fourth King of Rome: Ancus Marcius (WWW, Fordham). Taking a step back to realize the awe of this quasi-policy tradition that was as much a part of the fabric of Rome as it’s Games, it is not difficult to see the United States with it’s own blood-dipped spear.
America has been around for Two hundred and twenty-seven years and has fought eleven wars. According to Ira Leonard of Alternet, “America’s path has always been an aggressive one. We have, for some reason, a tendency towards violence. Indeed, in the twentieth century alone, there were more homicides than deaths in service of all wars combined” (WWW, Alternet).
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Michael Newton-McLaughlin
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Simon Moss | Apr 26th, 2003
Mike, fantastic.
Great to see some historical perspective on recent history. Although, I must say I'm not entirely sure about the US's will for global domination. Considering the backgrounds and beliefs of the neocons, I'm inclined to think that their crusade is a moralist one, justified by the words of Fukuyama and Huntington. I doubt their imperial mission is just for the sake of pure power, i think they really believe that what they are doing is "right;" much as the Romans' did. And therein lies the greatest challenge - convincing the world that motives, no matter how sincere, can be disastrous, as true "belief" allows 'just cause' to be a given. Rather than being proven objectively, "just cause" is justified as it fits the belligerent's take on "truth."
Absolute truth is rubbish. In politics and society, perspective is everything.
Mossy
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