parallels in Roman-American society

As a sequel to the previous post about the societal ills of America, the satirical Juvenal's Satire III discusses many of Rome's societal issues, many of which parallel America's issues with alarming accuracy.

• degeneration of the family unit in America -- "Here Numa held his nightly assignations with his mistress;"

There are other examples in the text, but the glorification of the abandonment of traditional family values give evidence for the cultural degeneration of the family in Rome, when fidelity in marriage is no longer valued above having a mistress or succumbing to the generic human drives above one's duty to family.

• consumerism/commercialism in America -- "In Rome, every one dresses smartly, above his means, and sometimes something more than what is enough is taken out of another man's pocket. This failing is universal here: we all live in a state of pretentious poverty."

Juvenal says it so well. We have the cultural tendency to live beyond our means, following a shift in our culture in the 1980s when we believed there would be no tomorrow (due to the cold war and Y2K superstitions) and, following that, the emerging desire to outspend neighbors. The emphasis is on show rather than simplicity and enjoyment of what one has.

• class separation in America -- "And besides, not to flatter ourselves, what value is there in a poor man's serving here in Rome...? Here in Rome the son of free-born parents has to give the wall to some rich man's slave;"

In America, we use the phrase "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer" and this sentiment is adequately captured in Juvenal's statement here. The son of a free man has less opportunity than even the slaves of the rich, so rich is the upper class.

• economic/political unrest -- "Who but the wealthy get sleep in Rome? There lies the root of the disorder."

Juvenal's entire satirical rant indicates a political dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in Rome, and his opinions were likely shared by many. The idea of separation between rich and poor, with the power being in the hands of the rich, is often a precursor to war and anarchy (think the French Revolution when the people revolted). Despite what politicians would have us believe, the middle class is disappearing, and with it the economic and political balance. Our politicians in Washington don't seem to hold the slightest interest in their constituents (think the government shutdown when all politicians continued to receive pay).

• desensitization to violence, immorality through media and cultural standards -- "There's death in every open window as you pass along at night; you may well be deemed a fool, improvident of sudden accident, if you go out to dinner without having made your will."

As society degrades, there is often an accompanying increase in violence and with it, a decreased awareness for the severity of the violence. Those who are desensitized to violence are less likely to hesitate from participating in violence, and the society begins to spiral towards chaos and often war.

What are the five most challenging social problems facing the United States today?

What are the five most challenging social problems facing the United States today?

There are hundreds of millions of people living in the United States, and I have no doubt that each would give a different answer if asked this question, relative to their own age, location and other demographics. However, in my opinion, and in no particular order, the five largest social problems facing American society are --

• desensitization to violence, immorality through media and cultural standards
• degeneration of the family unit
• economic unrest resulting in social and political unrest
• class separation (rich getting richer, poor getting poorer)
• consumerism and commercialism becoming the focus of our culture

the golden age of civilization

What makes a Golden Age? What aspects of Roman society under Augustus would constitute a Golden Age? What time period of American history would constitute its Golden Age?

A "Golden Age" is nearly always named retroactively, for a period of time which, looking back, represents the perceived peak in the culture. In Roman society, the golden age was represented by expansion, unification and civilization. The Romans prided themselves on their art and architecture, and the comparative peace that came with Augustus, compared to the previous unrest and civil bloodbath.

Looking back through American history, there are many periods that could be construed as "golden." And of course, the United States of America have only existed for two hundred years, hardly enough time to set aside ages. However, if I were to pick a period of time to be America's golden age, I would without question choose the 1980's.

The '80s represented a shift in American culture, out of the cold war and into an era where individuals could focus on their own lives and be more independent. There was a dramatic increase in variety everywhere; music, clothing, technology. There was an economic boom and a cultural blast to accompany it. In the 30 years since the 80s, Americans have made huge technological leaps from house lines to car phones to tiny ear-pieces and a worldwide signal range. The 1980s were a time of change, but, like the Roman Golden Age, full of unification and looking to the future with a new hope.