When I was in school as a youth, perhaps
the subject I hated the most was history.
I felt that there was nothing so useless
as the names of wars and the endless dates
one had to memorize to pass the tests.
Perhaps it was merely the way history was
taught back then, because I find it fascinating
today, particularly that of the Roman Empire.

There are so many parallels that can be
drawn between their civilization and ours.
Particularly their collapse and fall and the
one that awaits for us which even now
slouches it's way to Bethlehem waiting to
be born.

Civilizations rarely fail from stresses from
the outside, they succumb to internal rot.
There are many factors that played a role
in the collapse, some great, some small;
but three that stand out the most are the
facts that at the end they were over extended
militarily on several fronts, public morality was
declining and fiscal irresponsibility at all levels
was rife. Sound familiar?

Perhaps we should all get fitted out for one
last great toga party because I sense the
end a comin' round the bend..