I was unable to find good similarities and passages for all the issues I discussed in my previous blog, but found plenty to discuss with the following two!
Major debt and financial crisis, Roman style
"But now the holy fount and grove and shrine are let out to Jews, who possess a basket and a truss of hay for all their furnishings. For as every tree nowadays has to pay toll to the people, the Muses have been ejected, and the wood has to go a-begging."
"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."
I love the way he describes it as 'pretentious poverty,' I feel like that is so similar to what is happening in our society today. People go into obscene amounts of debt to buy the newest cars and the biggest houses possible, but then they can't afford anything else. Or they find other ways to go into more debt to buy those other things, when in reality they own nothing. All of their belongings are basically on loan to them until someone calls in their debt, at which point they realize just how little they have.
Under Funded Schools
I felt like it was appropriate that when bewailing the evils of the Roman society, the only mention of education and schooling was dismissive; "And now that I am speaking of the Greeks, pass over the schools, and hear of a crime of a larger philosophical cloak." It's as though the Romans too felt that schools were not important enough to be bothered about. There were more obvious issues that were easier to complain about than the education system, so whenever it was brought up people quickly changed the subject to something that was easier to get mad about without feeling bad themselves.
I loved the statement on "pretentious poverty". Many people were (and still are) unwilling to forego appearances to live a fiscally sounds life. Keeping up with the Joneses is definitely a problem. Everyone wants to be the special family whose kids have the nicest stuff, the best house and a nice car. However, it isn't worth it and many find out how little they actually own.
ReplyDeleteI also really loved that phrase "pretentious poverty". I think that most people do understand how little they have but that keeping up with everyone else is a higher priority to them. I think that might be why they continue getting farther and farther in debt. Almost an, I'm already going down, might as well do it in style" mentality and then when they do have a chance of losing, they blame it on something else. It is definitely a sad trap to see people fall into.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you interpreted the second quote. The education struggle was a "soft spot" for the Romans; so much so, that not even Juvenal would satirize it! I think the American approach has been very different. For example, in Utah, the State Department of Education has really been pushing for Common Core. There's been a lot of debate back and forth and public discussion about the issue. I hope that by being willing to face the problem, that shows that we'll solve it rather than fail like Rome did.
ReplyDeleteThe phrase "pretentious poverty" is one I noticed as well. There is not a huge problem with poverty in the terms of starvation and housing, but it seems there definitely is a problem with people living beyond there means and not actually owning anything. Instead many choose to use loans. These loans build up and they end up actually owning nothing. It is interesting to see what Juvenal defines as poverty and what our nation defines as poverty as well. Our nation is well off and is able to do a good job at making sure many people are at least fed and housed. Our situation is much like Rome's.
ReplyDeleteThe pretentious poverty quote was something that stuck otu to me as I read Juvenal's works. It is something that is a huge problem in the United States. People think that they have to have the newest, and best and want it now rather than saving up for something. Why Save when you can charge? That way of thinking is a huge problem in this country, and too I am amazed that more people don't realize how little they actually own. Great choice on that quote!
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about the education system in Rome and in the US today. I definitely think that in the education system, the focus is more on tests and benchmarks rather than actually educating the people being taught. I do not know if there is an easy fix or if that is the end of the problem, but I definitely agree that we need to fix our education system before we fall like Rome. We also need to keep up with the rest of the world with our education system if we want to continue being a superpower.
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