Next comes the Christians to the lions huh???
Racing chariots and religious persecution are two completely different things.
Read the article!
Chariot racing has nothing to do with with public executions of innocents for their religious beliefs.
While everybody can agree that there were many aspects of ancient Roman society that were very brutal, nobody can deny that ancient Rome has had a tremendous influence upon Western Civilization and American culture.
Just take a look at Washington, D.C. The architecture of so many of the government buildings pay homage to ancient Roman and Greek societies.
You don’t throw out the good with the bad.
Actually having condemned criminals fight in gladiator events would be a good vulgar entertainment for the mob.
Of course the ideal would be to reintroduce Roman concepts for fighting (and clemency) to the millitary.