Empires destroy, and only bring wilderness

"To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace."

~ Publius Cornelius Tacitus

After the destruction - Image by Polish Artist Zdzislaw Beksinski 

We glorify murder, plunder, rape and destruction, anguish,  and bestow on these monsters, the title of 'The Great', 'Magnificent' or 'Conqueror' or in some other stupidly honorific way. 

No conqueror or plunderer ever slept peacefully for a night unless they overpowered their senses with drink or some other intoxicants. They trusted no one. They always feared most their near and dear ones, for many lusted after their crown or throne willing to poison them or stab them as they slept. 

But they must give themselves reason to believe that they have done something great. They have spread the glory of their religion, their community, their people, etc. 

What glory can their be in destruction?

Our history books are mostly about such people. There seems to be something amiss with our system of values, if these are the people we teach our children to emulate.

Great and enduring civilisations are built by great and noble minds, who get their thoughts and values from parents, teachers and what they read and watch. The student of today is the citizen of tomorrow. 

The question is are we clear what sort of society do we want to build for them and do we know how? Whatever the answer is, what are we doing about it?

_____________

Article Written and Posted: May 2017  by Gurvinder Singh 
Quote by: Publius Cornelius Tacitus


Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works, the 'Annals' and the 'Histories' examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, (from AD 14 - AD 70)