essay

[kwilliams]

In Cullen Murphy’s 2007 book U Are We Rome?, Murphy states that
Rome, as a powerful force in history, is important in understanding
America today, and as a result, will help America avoid Rome’s doom.
Many of Murphy’s core reasons can be found in his Six Parallels, which
state that in understanding today’s culture, Rome and America share
the same views of society and the same inflated views of themselves:
that both societies have the same problems with their respective
militaries; that both countries are becoming corrupt through
“privatization,” that the outside world is viewed in a negative light,
and that both nations have the same issues with borders and complexity
because of their interaction with other nations. While Murphy’s
argument is persuasive, it ignores the complexity and interaction
among many nations and societies, wrongly assuming that Rome holds all
the keys to bettering America. Although there are many similarities
between Rome and America, these similarities are not enough to
constitute a reason to foretell America’s doom in relation to Rome’s.
Murphy’s argument is flawed because its concentration on the failings
of Rome as America’s sole hope for empowerment and survival. Murphy’s
first point, that Rome “encompasses the whole of the human condition,
every motivation, every behavior, every virtue, every vice, every
outcome, every moral” (Murphy, 2007) presents an overwhelming bias in
favor of Rome, assuming that his audience would believe Rome is the
most important nation. However, many authors could say the same for
many other nations. Many could argue that England shares many American
values; in fact, England birthed America. Many could also say that any
other influential nation could have had an affect on America. The flaw
ion Murphy’s argument lies in the fact that his audience must take for
granted that Rome is all important, a chance that is too risky to
leave to assumption. Another flaw lies in a lack of developed reasons
for his opinion of non importance to America’s future. For example, on
page 19, Murphy states that America’s “privatization” is ruining
America, just as it ruined Rome, because “all
manner of activities” such as collecting taxes and protecting
society, are being done by government instead of the people. However,
Murphy does not realize that a nation like America democratically
chose its nations leaders to run their country. As Murphy has said
himself, America is a complex country, therefore it needs to be ran by
leaders qualified for the job. The average everyday citizen does not
know how the tax system works, and cannot completely decide how to
control taxes. Granted, it may seem as though America’s leaders do use
privatization as Murphy claims; however, Murphy ignores the simple
truth that all U.S. citizens are able to vote on bills put forth by
America’s well prepared leaders, while only Rome’s powerful elite men
were able to vote. Another point Murphy makes concerning America’s
views of the outside world is not entirely true. Murphy claims that
like Rome, America is self-centered but well meaning, ultimately
ignorant of the world around them. America has been involved in many
wars, but as a powerful nation, America must be wary and has too many
worries to constantly watch over other nations. Many other well-
developed countries have the same problem as well, such as Japan.

I believe that in order to ensure that doom does not fall upon
America, we should consider America from what it has been and what it
has become. America is a melting pot of ideas and experiences, and
each contributes to what makes America what it is. Unlike Rome, the
nation is not run by a few wealthy elites, but by the nation as a
whole with select individuals to help keep everything under control.
The society that will help America figure out America is America;
using another nation to better America is like using Germany’s
Holocaust to say that other nations will do the same thing. Rome may
be like America, but it is NOT America. Rome’s problems may be similar
to America’s, but are not America’s. John Basil Utley, in his 2000
article “Rome is not America,” states that America’s politics and way
of life is significant enough in difference to not be able to be
compared to that of Rome’s. If America can be compared to Rome, it
can just be as easily be compared to England, Japan, whatever a
creative author can come up with.

[kwilliams]

In Cullen Murphy’s 2007 book U Are We Rome?, Murphy states that

Rome, as a powerful force in history, is important in understanding

America today, and as a result, will help America avoid Rome’s doom.

Many of Murphy’s core reasons can be found in his Six Parallels,
which

state that in understanding today’s culture, Rome and America share

the same views of society and the same inflated views of themselves:

that both societies have the same problems with their respective

militaries; that both countries are becoming corrupt through

“privatization,” that the outside world is viewed in a negative
light,

and that both nations have the same issues with borders and
complexity

because of their interaction with other nations. While Murphy’s

argument is persuasive, it ignores the complexity and interaction

among many nations and societies, wrongly assuming that Rome holds
all

the keys to bettering America. Although there are many similarities

between Rome and America, these similarities are not enough to

constitute a reason to foretell America’s doom in relation to Rome’s;
rather, America itself must be evaluated in order to

ensure it’s fate is not similar to Rome’s.

Murphy’s argument is flawed because its concentration on the
failings

of Rome as America’s sole hope for empowerment and survival. Murphy’s

first point, that Rome “encompasses the whole of the human condition,

every motivation, every behavior, every virtue, every vice, every

outcome, every moral” (Murphy, 2007) presents an overwhelming bias in

favor of Rome, assuming that his audience would believe Rome is the

most important nation. However, many authors could say the same for

many other nations. Many could argue that England shares many
American

values; in fact, England birthed America. Many could also say that
any

other influential nation could have had an affect on America. The
flaw

in Murphy’s argument lies in the fact that his audience must take for

granted that Rome is all important, a chance that is too risky to

leave to assumption. Another flaw lies in a lack of developed reasons

for his opinion of non importance to America’s future. For example,
on

page 19, Murphy states that America’s “privatization” is ruining

America, just as it ruined Rome, because “all

manner of activities” (Murphy, 2007) such as collecting taxes and

protecting

society, are being done by government instead of the people. However,

Murphy does not realize that a nation like America democratically

chose its nations leaders to run their country. As Murphy has said

himself, America is a complex country; therefore it needs to be run

by

leaders qualified for the job. The average everyday citizen does not

know how the tax system works, and cannot completely decide how to

control taxes. Granted, it may seem as though America’s leaders do
use

privatization as Murphy claims; however, Murphy ignores the simple

truth that all U.S. citizens are able to vote on bills put forth by

America’s well prepared leaders, while only Rome’s powerful elite men

were able to vote. Another point Murphy makes concerning America’s

views of the outside world is not entirely true. Murphy claims that

like Rome, America has “an exaggerated sense of its importance in the
eyes of others” (Murphy, 2007) well meaning,

ultimately

ignorant of the world around them. America has been involved in many

wars, but as a powerful nation, America must be wary and has too many

worries to constantly watch over other nations. Many other well-

developed countries have the same problem as well, such as Japan.

I believe that in order to ensure that doom does not fall
upon

America; we should consider America from what it has been and what it