Posted on 03/06/2023 4:28:22 AM PST by MtnClimber
The few sowed the wind, and the many reaped their whirlwind.
American society is facing three existential crises not unlike those that overcame the late Roman, and a millennium later, terminal Byzantine, empires.
Premodern Barbarism
We are suffering an epidemic of premodern barbarism. The signs unfortunately appear everywhere. Over half a million homeless people crowd our big-city downtowns.
Most know the result of such Medieval street living is unhealthy, violent, and lethal for all concerned. Yet no one knows—or even seems to worry about—how to stop it.
So public defecation, urination, fornication, and injection continue unabated. Progressive urban pedestrians pass by holding their noses, averting their gazes, and accelerating the pace of their walking. The greenest generation in history allows its sidewalks to become pre-civilizational sewers. In a very brief time, we all but have destroyed the downtowns of our major cities—which will increasingly become vacant in a manner like the 6th-century A.D. Roman forum.
All accept that defunding the police, no-cash bail, Soros-funded district attorneys, and radical changes in jurisprudence have destroyed deterrence. The only dividend is the unleashing of a criminal class to smash-and-grab, carjack, steal, burglarize, execute, and assault—with de facto immunity. Instead we are sometimes lectured that looting is not a crime, but lengthy incarceration is criminally immoral.
We have redefined felonies as misdemeanors warranting no punishment. Misdemeanors are now infractions that are not criminal. Infractions we treat as lifestyle choices. Normality, not criminality, is deemed criminal. We all know this will not work, but still wonder why it continues.
Many among the middle classes of our cities who can flee or move, do so—like 5th-century equestrians who left Rome for rural fortified farms before the onslaught of the Ostrogoths and Visigoths. For most of our lives we were lectured that the old southern states—Florida, Tennessee,
(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...
Is this how the Roman empire fell?
VDH ping
We are on a similar path. VDH is no fool.
Our cultural decay is on display for all to see.
No great works of art, music, cinema, architecture, etc.
A return to debauchery and carnal worship
A man puts on black face is condemned and criminalized
A man puts on a dress is hailed as courageous
The spokesperson for International Women’s Month is a man
Children who are normally confused about gender are given surgery before consultation
Fascism is in full swing: Gov’t/Media/Corporate alliances, suppression of Free Speech, assaults on political dissent, etc.
Pretty much.
There was a climate induced famine, numerous plagues and these sort of problems which resulted in the invasion of Rome by "barbarians" about 300 AD. At that point the many advantages of Christianity were seen and Rome converted to Christianity. Rome was on the upswing, with most "barbarian" invaders becoming, essentially Roman and Christian, when Islam rose and conquered most of North Africa, including Egypt.
Islam destroyed classic civilization, with a huge depopulation around the Mediterranean sea, as the rule of law and property was replaced with destructive Islam, piracy, and slavery, from about AD-600 to AD 700. Byzantine Rome held the area around Turkey, gradually being weakened by constant Islamic raiders who could destroy easier than Christianity could build. By about 1450, the Eastern Roman Empire was destroyed by Islam.
These cities stopped serving their residents and as such have no future other than declining stages of decay.
And the beat goes on.
I disagree. American cities before the mid sixties were great places to be
“”sidewalks to become pre-civilizational sewers””
A few people in Sacramento just cleaned up some major pre-civilizational areas through a unique, and very civilized method. Underneath the highway overpasses, very large, multiple (you could almost call them structures) tents were allowed to grow and grow. The sidewalks under some of the overpasses are very wide. Even still, every inch of the sidewalk was taken up with tents, tarps, lean-to’s, pallets, junk, and garbage. Since they were, mostly, out of the rain, they did not diminish, not even during major storms. They could not stand up against a far larger, special interest group that has its own Federal Legislation. People in wheelchairs, manual and powered, could not navigate from one side of town to the other. They were forced to enter into the street to try and get through, and sometimes even that was so blocked they would have needed to enter into the auto lanes. They used the massive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and sued to get back their access to food, medicine, care, etc. The Homeless Industrial Complex (HIC) does not stand a chance against the ADA. What was amazing to witness was the rapidity of the removal. They used the dead of night to sweep all the dwellings away, and must have used power washers also, because the next day, nary a needle, aluminum can, or grocery cart could be found. It was as if they and their plethora of sssstuuuuff had never existed. This was not just one underpass. For at least 8 blocks the cleansing occurred. Yes, some of them no doubt relocated nearby, but it did not seem as if they just moved enmass a block or two. They were nowhere to be found. A quick prayer for them, and a huuuuge thank you to whoever assisted and thought to use the most civilized ADA to clean up the blight on civilization.
He is amazingly insightful. I just wish it could be dumbed down to where the average person might actually be able to read and appreciate. But maybe that’s a large part of our current problem…
It makes my heart ache to see someone like Hanson be this discouraged (and rightfully so)
I have watched him speak many times, and there is no doubt in my mind what kind of person he is. I don’t think the guy has a mean or snotty bone in his body.
He is a quiet, reasonable, smart person who understands the context of things in history, and loves and appreciates this country. He is an undoubtedly low key guy, who would be happy in a degree of tinkering obscurity, writing excellent books on his ranch, but has concluded he has to speak up.
Because he is a Patriot.
I sure wish he was able to tinker in his intellectual workshops of his mind, but that isn’t what our current situation has in store for him.
These cities peak census year was 1950. Detroit, for example, has a population that's 1/3 of its peak population in 1950.
We spend enough on education to expect that!
Slayer said it very clearly in their 1994 song called Dittohead
lyrics:
This f***ing country’s lost its grip, subconscious hold begins to slip
The scales of justice tend to tip
The legal system has no spine, it’s corroding from inside
Slap your hand, you’ll do no time
Reality on vacation, all across a blinded nation
Mentality under sedation
Anyone can be set free on a technicality
Explain the law again to me
Here in 1994, things are different than before
Violence is what we adore
Invitation to the game, guns and blades and media fame
Every day more of the same
Murder, mayhem, anarchy, now are all done legally
Mastermind, your killing spree
Unafraid of punishment with a passive government
There’s nothing for you to regret
Nothing to regret
Unimposing policy
No enforcing ministry
Gaping with judicial flaws
Watch a fading nation crawl
Clashing with the public frame
I’m the one that’s place in fame
Legislature sets the stage
Social slaves caught in my rage
Administrative anarchy, there’s nothing you can do to me
The world around you drifting to a continental tomb, you see
Violence is my passion, it will never be contained
Living with aggression and its everlasting reign
Having lived in the Bay Area 20 years, that is amazing for Sacramento. Good story and example of what should be done for those who pay the taxes.
“Children who are normally confused about gender are given surgery before consultation”
Yeah, but look on the bright side. Castratis are back, so some operas that we haven’t heard in centuries might be able to be performed again.
“Children who are normally confused about gender”
Normally confused???? While growing up, did you ever meet a kid who did not know what his sex was? If you did, just who did you hang out with?
No, no, no, a thousand times no; children, traditionally and historically, have NEVER, EVER, been confused about gender.
You have drunk the kool aid.
Amen. Unfortunately, that’s a lot bigger ask.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.