One of
the many movies I’ve picked up lately for my Big screen viewing is “Gladiator”
with Russell Crowe.
But I
had to stop it after the movie established the plot lines, just to comment on
the similarities to the situation today with the American Empire.
Rome was
a unicameral system at times, and a dictatorship at other times. Commodus had just returned to Rome as the new
Caesar; Marcus Aurelias, his father, was dead [OK, Commodus choked him to death].
His father wanted control returned to
the Senate, a publicly elected body.
Commodus,
an evil person in the end, which we shall see, responds to Senator Wise, who
reminds him of the paperwork and decision-making that go on in the Senate, a
body of the people.
“I don’t
think any of “the people” eat nearly as well as you do, Senator; nor do any
have mistresses as beautiful as those of your friend, Senator Hedonist.” [Drain
the swamp]
Commodus
exits, in a tantrum, as his sister [McConnell] consoles the Senators, with
assurances that she can control his sociopathic tendencies: narcissism [through wanting to
be greatest in all things] [she will periodically give him toys (even herself)
to placate his lusts]; fear
[though training for combat, with servants, yet still fearful of true combat
unless he cheats], [or unless challenged by a white knight, who threatens his ego]; being
loved by followers, public approbation, which can never be achieved by narcissists,
due to their continuing requirement of further and further tests of loyalty.
The
movie ends in tragedy: whether you call it Greek or Roman tragedy is
philosophical.
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