Make Room For The Roman Empire
When she asked me this question, I had no idea that I was a part of a cultural phenomenon. When my wife Maddie walked into my office and without context asked, "How often do you think about the Roman Empire?" I had no idea that this simple question was uniting both men and women across the country.
"A couple times a day," was my honest answer.
She was dumbfounded and doubled over laughing.
"Really? Life for real? You don't just know that that is what you are expected to say?" She said between laughs thinking I was hip enough to know about this trend online.
For those of you that haven't had this experience yet, let me explain.
A trend on Tiktok (and now Instagram) is to ask a man, "How often do you think about the Roman Empire?" (See example below)
And almost without fail, the man answers with a frequency that is much higher than what the person asking the question thinks it will be.
In hindsight, "a couple times a day" might actually be underrepresenting it for me.
Without knowing it, I was predisposed to thinking about this way more than I realized. Let me break that down for you:
- I was raised in a Bible church that gave me the chance to hold the prestigious title of "Bible Quizzing Champion of Texas" three out of my four years in high school. I went to nationals twice. 27 of the 66 books of the Bible were written under the Roman Empire's rule of the world. There are more than a few references to Caesar in the books of the Bible I studied in high school.
- As a history nerd, I have fallen down the very deep hole that Neil Howe's "The Fourth Turning" (1997) and "The Fourth Turning Is Here" (2023) have created. These are two of the most incredible books I've ever read when it comes to understanding the future through studying the past. The Roman Empire has so much to say about the future. (see below)
- When I walk my dog Hudson up 5th Avenue, I walk North on the East side of the street so I can always have the EMPIRE State building in my view.
How often do you think about the Roman Empire?
I bet it will be a lot more once you read the rest of this post.
Quote That Feels Too True
History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. - Mark Twain
The Explanation Of Why
"The Roman Empire said that everybody was equal. Everybody had a chance, but it wasn't really true - the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. The rich were worried constantly about people rioting.
"They knew that the common man could take over at any time. So they would bring them into the coliseums and they would give them whatever they needed to fill their bellies and block their minds for what they were angry about.
"They would watch plays, they would watch fights with the gladiators, sometimes for months on end.
"And that's where we're at right now. And I think about it all the time.
"So many people are preoccupied with their favorite football team, your favorite actor, or singer, and they just don't even think about what's being taken away from them.
"As long as their bellies are full, and they're happy with what's going on. They just let it continue..."
Then SNL Confirmed All Of These Hunches With Jason Momoa
So to everyone out there who thinks about the Roman Empire - I see you. To everyone who will now unexpectedly start thinking about the Roman Empire in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner, welcome to the club.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all - I am grateful every week to have the chance to share some thoughts and hear yours in return.
Andy
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