I’m not sure about Babylon, but the western Roman Empire stopped defending itself and left the dirty work of the military mostly to barbarian mercenaries. The Romans were no longer willing to risk their lives to defend Rome. Are we reaching that point? Why should I risk my life to defend land ruled over by a government I am coming despise more each day? Why should I risk my life to defend a land that harbors people that could care a whit about my liberty or even my right to defend myself?
That’s a good question. Upthread there’s another story about an Air Force officer forced to remove a Bible from his desk. A Bible in plain view is regarded an actionable offense, but open faggotry is a-ok?
America is embracing evil at such a rapid clip. Why would I even fight to defend such a country at this point? Is this even a country worth risking my life to preserve anymore? Amazing that things have gotten to this level where I now entertain such questions. But they have.
A civilization or state cannot last without those willing to die for it.
You can always find people willing to kill for you, but those willing to die are a lot tougher. As in USSR c. 1990. Lots of careerist thugs. Zero true believers. The commies used to have many true believers, but they were all gone (at least in USSR) by its end.
Which is something we should think about re: Islamism. For all its (many) faults, Islam and Islamism does seen the inspire people to be willing to die for it.
How long can a society whose members are not willing to die for it contend with a society whose members are willing to die?