There’s a sort who always like to attach themselves to those who wield arbitrary power. Russia was full of them, and some people are surprised to see the likes of Stalin still celebrated there, despite the death and destruction that followed in his wake. But people often overlook the same tendency here.
One of the more amusing aspects of modern life is to watch people behave like Romans without being aware of it.
The Romans engaged in a form of state-worship; they regarded their caesars as deities, according them god-like prerogatives, and built temples to them.
Today we can sit back and enjoy a hymn to the state, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, as we gaze upon the marble image in the Lincoln Temple, I mean Memorial, and reflect upon the unfettered power he exercised as he laid waste to about half of the country. But of course it was done for a high moral purpose so in our national religion he occupies a position about equal to Christ.
Rather like the “Lost Cause Losers” odd affection for the incompetent pretender to the false position of so called confederate president.
Yes, those Romans. They were so stupid. Compared to the clever confederates who also liked slavery.