Saturday, November 16, 2024

How Trump’s America Lacks the Respect of One Ancient Empire

How Trump’s America, how his MaGA (those fooled into following him and his sad orientation) Lacks the Respect of One Ancient Empire:
America, Falling Short of Ancient Rome.

For those who continue to disparage fellow Americans with terms juvenile Trump- like terms such as, "DemocRats", or "RepubliCants" (or worse) over political or lifestyle differences, consider why a more respectful approach is useful and even desired. 


I fell into this myself during the initial POTUS45 years (but I'm not falling for it in the POTUS47 years, no matter how bizarre and embarrassing it will be), as I’ve come to realize how divisive and counterproductive it is. I will not aid Donald Trump in his dividing America for his power and pleasures. 
However, we were being seriously abused during POTUS45 administration and we were greatly disrespected by the holder of our highest office. A man who grifts Americans at every opportunity and has done so for much of his life.
Trump, and those like him, often choose to malign those who disagree with them in the most juvenile of ways, much to the delight of MaGA followers. This kind of rhetoric merely deepens our divides and does us no good. 
Yes, we should always refer to our POTUS as Mr. Whomeever or Pres. Whomever. However Donald Trump has already had one term where he abused and disrespected OUR White House, the Oval Office, and the Office of President. I'm not sure he really does deserve respect anymore with his 34 felony convictions and enough of America deluded into thinking anything about him is a good idea. That being said...
Now more than ever, we really do need to come together, despite our differences, and build a stronger, united country. Regardless how much power in divisions gives Donald Trump ever more power.

Roman society had a complex relationship with respect, honor, and decorum, especially among the upper classes. While public discourse was often heated and could be quite blunt, Romans valued dignitas (personal dignity) and auctoritas (personal authority), especially in public settings. Disparaging fellow citizens with crude or immature language would have reflected poorly on the speaker, rather than on those being insulted. 



For example:
Social Disapproval: 
In Roman society, acting without respect for others' dignity could diminish one’s social standing and respectability. A person engaging in petty insults or crude behavior would likely face social disapproval, especially from peers and people of higher status. Romans prided themselves on their ability to argue logically and forcefully, so insults were generally seen as a loss of self-control and dignity.
Public Shame: 
In some cases, public shaming was used to correct behaviors deemed unbecoming. If a citizen publicly insulted another without just cause or if they acted out of line with Roman values, they could be openly criticized in assemblies or by fellow citizens. Roman senators, for instance, were known to verbally reprimand others for behavior that reflected poorly on Roman ideals.
Political and Legal Repercussions: 
Romans also had laws against actions deemed harmful to public harmony, such as seditio (incitement of discord). In extreme cases, if a person’s behavior caused public disorder or was seen as damaging to the state's stability, they could face legal consequences, even exile.
The Roman emphasis on civility in public debate underscores that, although they were no strangers to strong rhetoric, they saw petty insults as unworthy of serious citizens, especially leaders. While insults and invective were part of Roman oratory, the quality of argumentation often distinguished the respectable from the crass, as Romans held their public figures to high standards of composure and respect.

Compiled with the aid of ChatGPT

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