Consequences

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Is America Reaping What it has Sown - Part III

by David Tolson 

June 28, 2010 

In the epic film Gladiator, there is a moment of deep contemplation by Marcus Aurelius where he rhetorically asks Maximus, “How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be known as the philosopher? The warrior? The tyrant? Or will there be a more golden sounding to my name? Will I be the Emperor who gave Rome back her freedom?” In a moment of unguarded speech, after conquering the Germanians, Caesar was concerned about his legacy. Maximus tries to insulate him from his anxiety attack by offering, “Sire, you brought the light of the gods to barbarian darkness. You have brought civilization to the farthest…” And then Caesar interrupts him and declares, “I have brought the sword…nothing more! Rome is far away and we shouldn’t be here." 

Marcus Aurelius asked the question that eventually all great leaders contemplate, but in a moment of unvarnished truth, he answers his own by replying, “…we shouldn’t be here." 

How will history judge the United States? Will it depict America as the benevolent crusader that it portrays itself, or will history be more candid and juxtapose its generosity and goodwill with its dark side? One cannot write a history about the United States without telling the story of its philanthropy; however, the story that shines brighter than its willingness to come to the aid of those who are less fortunate, is American aggression. This country was birthed in revolution and along the way annihilated nearly 200,000 innocent Japanese with the dropping of two atomic weapons; the only country to have done so. - David Tolson 6.28.10  

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