The Romanization of America
Charleston Post & Courier
April 1998 Jack Ryan
The Romanization of America
Essay/ By Jack Ryan
(c) 1998, For Educational and Discussion Purposes Only
The three centuries between the great age of Marcus Aurelius and the sacking of Rome in the 5th century AD is often referred to as the Rise and Fall of Rome. The problem is, the people did not know it was falling until it was too late. Rome did not fall because of the inherently slovenly or debauched nature of her once great people. Rome fell for many reasons, but more than any other, she fell because she ceased to be primarily Roman. The Roman spirit simply bled to death.
In the beginning, to be a Roman citizen was a highly prized honor. Men lived, fought and died for the honor to be a citizen of Rome. In the beginning, citizenship was required to hold most civic posts, however menial. The ranks of Rome's powerful legions were filled by men of Rome. Putting aside, training, leadership, tactics and technology, the armies of Rome excelled because of the stake each and every man had in winning or losing.
But as Rome's borders expanded, she could no longer depend solely on Roman citizen's to help defend her borders. Rome began allowing the very people she had earlier vanquished, to join her armies to defend the frontiers. Other Italian cities were eventually offered citizenship. Foreigners and even slaves were allowed to fill government and civic posts. As the frontiers expanded further, men of Rome were more inclined to pay freedman or even slaves to take up their posts. And after scandals, civil war and the general malaise of the Roman people toward their own governance, the prestige of Rome quickly fell. As the prestige of Rome declined, the value of citizenship declined with it.
Rome--plain and simply--died from within.
Draw these analogies to the present day. American citizenship is more prized by those staring at us from across the water and deserts, than the very people who inhabit this land, by the very people who were born here. Today, you may become a citizen merely by taking an inane test--memorize the pledge of allegiance, name the US capitol, etc...
Every liberal group in existence has gone out of their ways to strip away our unique American-ness. Now we are Native this or African that, or some other hyphenated monstrosity. Our borders have been thrown open to the barbarians--and I'm not talking about the good, descent and honest immigrants who see America for the land of golden opportunity She is. I am talking about people who see America as only a sow's udder, people who could give a wit who Thomas Jefferson, John Adams or Thomas Paine were.
The Roman writer, Vegetius, once wrote: "He who desires peace should prepare for war." It is advice that Ronald Reagan took on with relish, and eventually destroyed the Soviet Union. It is advice that Mr. Clinton has failed to heed. He has chopped our once great armies and navy back to near irrelevance. Another warning sign, especially when we consider the missile and military technology we are now selling to China--and God who knows who else.
The danger that Rome eventually succumbed to, is the danger we face today. Slowly--through almost 40 years of liberal prodding--the spirit of America is being eroded. It has become politically incorrect to consider ourselves solely American.
I am not an Irish-American, even though my grandfather was an Irish immigrate.
I am a South Carolinian.
An American.
Uniquely and forever.
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