Well technically its early morning. I was doing some baking and a bat flew into the kitchen hovered around and left before I could get a blunt object with which to bash its brains in. Yes, this is where I live and this is my life. (Still no sign of the bat.) So, like Estragon and Vladimir, I am waiting on some guest that will never show up or like Elliot Templeton waiting for that final invitation. So, to while away the time I listened to Mike Duncan's podcast entitled, "The History of Rome." I'll give you three guesses and an hint: I'm an history major.
Duncan's podcast has gotten better over time. The early shows sound quality stands out as poor when one listens to it compared to the more recent episodes, and there are a few episodes in the middle with an almost intolerable buzzing; but nevermind all that, it has truly been fascinating listening to them. I honestly don't know what I am going to do pretty soon because I am almost completely caught up with the series. (Yeah, I know, most people try and catch up with Lost and The Officed and I am trying to catch up with a one man production of the history of Rome.)
Duncan is flippant and you can tell he really loves what he's talking about. This, along with a handful of other things I have read and a couple classes, have made me realize just what an history major I actually am. I began reading an history of New York City and hope to delve in depth into all my books on history. It is great when someone reawakens a great enjoyment in us.
However, it is sad how very little we know of the past. The late eighteenth century early nineteenth century Americans had a far better grasp on Ancient History than we do today. They respected it and learned from it; and thus were better for it. A great deal of why we fail as a society today is our inability to learn from history. The dangers of not knowing history are obvious to all, not just the paranoid lunatic fringe. Yet very few of us really learn anything outside of a few small tidbits that back up some of our desirous claims.
From the history of Rome we can learn how nepotism and cronyism destroy a society. We learn that optimates and plebeians fight their power battles and reduce a culture to its worst character if left unchecked. We learn how we would be wise to not give our power to special interests, or the masses, or business men, or emperors; but rather that we should try to form a more perfect union. Perhaps the most important thing to take away is the knowledge that things could be and have been much worse. We should be thankful to live in the time and country that we do now.
It is far too late and I am tired of waiting for the bat to appear. I am going to go to bed and dream of:
the beauty of fair Greece,
And the grandeur of old Rome.
Have a great night.
Mr. Duncan's site is: http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/
I encourage everyone to look it up.
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