Replies

Well which era are we talking about?

The bottom line is that Rome was not a massive believe in representative government being born after Greece's fall. In fact, the whole idea of a Repbulic was born out of the failure of Greek democracy.

Most of Islam is still at the early stages of that fight. The concept of representative government is bewildering to them and as alien as the Aristotelian works they protected for centuries.

As for Gaul, I understand the struggles of Vercingetorix and how Gaul was ultimately subdued, then allowed equal status mainly to counter the rise of the Huns and Vandals.

Regardless of this history, we are not dealing with similar circumstances. We are an inherently free society built on the idea of cooperation and assimilation. Consider the Roman experience with Christianity.

Rome fell because it was unable to assimilate new ideas and stopped expansion because of the overgrowth of bureaucracy (among other things). If they had sauntered out to follow Alexander the Greats steps, been open to other cultures, they could have established the silk route as a viable Roman trade route, subduing Persia and Southern Asia in a way nobody has been able to do.

In fact, the problems we're dealing with right now are really an outgrowth of Rome's mismanagement and bloating. The problems are without and within.

We're offering a better standard of living in Baghdad. Over time, that will win us the Midddle East. If you've ever seen 'Life of Brian' you'll know what I'm talking about.

"If you've ever seen 'Life of Brian' you'll know what I'm talking about.

Reg: Yeah, all right Stan, don't delay with the point. And what have they ever given us in return?

Revolutionary I: The aqueduct?

Reg: What?

Revolutionary I: The aqueduct.

Reg: Oh. Yeah, yeah, they did give us that, ah, that's true, yeah.

Revolutionary II: And the sanitation.

Loretta: Oh, yeah, the sanitation, Reg. Remember what the city used to be like.

Reg: Yeah, all right, I'll grant you the aqueduct and sanitation, the two things the Romans have done.

Matthias: And the roads.

Reg: Oh, yeah, obviously the roads. I mean the roads go without saying, don't they? But apart from the sanitation, the aqueduct, and the roads...

Revolutionary III: Irrigation.

Revolutionary I: Medicine.

Revolutionary IV: Education.

Reg: Yeah, yeah, all right, fair enough.

Revolutionary V: And the wine.

All revolutionaries except Reg: Oh, yeah! Right!

Rogers: Yeah! Yeah, that's something we'd really miss Reg, if the Romans left. Huh.

Revolutionary VI: Public baths.

Loretta: And it's safe to walk in the streets at night now, Reg.

Rogers: Yeah, they certainly know how to keep order. Let's face it; they're the only ones who could in a place like this.

All revolutionaries except Reg: Hahaha...all right...

Reg: All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?

Revolutionary I: Brought peace?

Reg: Oh, peace! Shut up!