US-Rome theory

That the US is the richest and most powerful nation on earth is not news. No country today can brag of having a better economy, a stronger army, a clearer vision of how to remain powerful, and a more overwhelming mass following. Be it in music, dressing, theaters, language, architecture, leadership- the US leads all others follow. Even those countries who do not follow the might of the USA make it their national policy to oppose it. In other words, their national policy is to react to the USA.

With the advent of the internet,ideas and news spread across the globe like the proverbial bush-fire. The source of all these is none other than the USA. Youtube, google, twitter, facebook, yahoo, CNN. How could life be without those American inventios of the past decade?

It seems to me thart the strength of the US is not an invention. all through the history of mankind, nations have risen up, conquered others and formed hegemonies, kingdoms or empires. Egypt, Mesopotamia, Hittites, Babylon, Carthage, the Zulu, the Inca, the Maya and Greece all rose at some point and ruled supreme over the souls of men and beasts alike.

But the rise of Rome as a super power deserves a special paragraph in my blog, as it was a novel event in the history of civilization. From a small city-state on the banks of the Tiber in 300 BC; Rome grew to cover most of the known world 300 years later. And the empire lasted de jure for 500 years, de facto for 1000 years. By some standards, we feel the effects of that empire till today, 2000 years later.

So it is with the US today. No matter which part of the iron curtain you were, you could not ignore the US. And today, no matter how red you are, the US impinges onto your nerves.

The greatest threat for the growth of the Roman Empire was from outside her borders, though some internal tempests did rock her bowels. Carthage, the Cimbri, Gauls, the Germans- all proved to be formidable enemies.

Events In This Theatre

The period between mid- May and early June has been very tumultuous. I practically had a revolution in every aspect of my life; well, except financial. During the forced break, friends made sure that I saw another part of my very well choreographed lifestyle.
All the events as they unfolded: aga khan, yaya centre, eldoret, ethiops and of course, at baba dogo….
But now am back to school, it remains to see how many of those momentous changes will remain in place.
None the less, I realize that I have become a critical thinker, seeing a bigger picture of each case than I ever used to. Like the meaning of the word “sustainability” in a project that is aimed at lasting a few years.
Also, my dream of learning the “laws governing the creation, distribution and ownership of wealth” has risen to a new level. I realized this in my discussion with graduates of Law school, Political Science and Economics. Actually, the words quoted above were the exact ones I used to explain to Marguerite when she asked me my life plan.
I began reading the Wealth of the Nations, by Adam Smith (1776). This is a great writ, by7 any measure.
That division of labour is crucial to industrialization.
That we apply not to our needs, but to their self-love, when we ask for help from others.
Then he says “…..an African king, the absolute masters of the lives and liberties of ten thousand naked savages”. How am I supposed to respond to this?

Yesterday, I went to collect Elena and Erwin from some hotel in town. The guards wouldn’t let me in; no, in fact they didn’t talk to me till I really engaged them. And then only in non-committal answers. As I stood at the door wondering and seething in anger, the two came out wondering why I did not enter the hotel. They saw me at the door, argue with the guards, and turn back in frustration.

Is Kenya not the whore of Africa? Do we blame Europeans for calling us naked savages then?

Adam Smith’s insult stinks worse in view of our own behavior towards our own people in our own country.