What Would the Roman Empire Do? [View All]

[mondo joe]

At this time of year I am reminded of the amazing irony that the Bush administration and its base are so profoundly obsessed with WHAT WOULD JESUS DO in word, but in action ask only one thing, WHAT WOULD THE ROMAN EMPIRE DO. Y'know, the same Roman Empire that executed Jesus.

There are plenty of parallels between the Bush Empire and the Roman Empire, from their propaganda to the centrality of technology, the hardcore imperialism to softcore imperialism.

But in light of the WW Roman Empire/Jesus DO dichotomy the parallel that most strikes me right now is their approach to religion. Like the Romans, Bushco is willing to allow you to practice your own religion, provided you also pay tribute to the State Religion - in our case, Christianity, and its tribute is the codification of Christianity into law and public practice.

The thing that gets me - other than the dishonesty - is the hubris. Not the hubris that we could create a second Roman Empire of the US. But the hubris that we could do so and yet escape the same fall.