Can Greatness and Comfort Co-exist? - We've Been Here Before
Reconsidering "Make America Great Again" Historically
Anyone who knows me will probably tell you that they eventually get irritated over how much I rave about historian Tom Holland and his epic books… particularly his book, “Dominion”, and now his latest book, “PAX”.
And with one of his latest discussions, that enthusiasm has definitely been maintained:
I really appreciate that they discuss Rome’s attempts to “Make Rome Great Again”… what a comparison to our time. I highly recommend to the reader that they take the time to watch this video, and to see that the times we are in, although definitely not a carbon copy of Rome’s day, definitely has resonances.
You see, once you get a greater historical sense of how patterns repeat, unmitigated enthusiasm can become a little more tempered.
Case in Point: “God Made Trump”
Apparently Trump himself posted this video.
Yikes.
Now don’t get me wrong. There’s lots about Trump that I like personally. Compared to the average woke and corrupt politicians that dominate the field, he is definitely a breath of fresh air in many regards. I don’t mean to minimize that.
And no doubt he has his many accomplishments in his first term… although the scope of this article is not to cover the pros and cons, and nor do I consider myself an expert in accounting for these (however much trepidation over Trump I may have, particularly after “warp speed”).
But this latest video that he posted, although not entirely dishonest, carries a messianic tone that is, to say the least, problematic.
But I digress, that’s not my focus.
Let’s assume, just for the sake of argument, that Trump did do everything right and that he was the best thing that has happened to politics ever.
That wouldn’t really change my thesis here, and my concerns would be the same.
We should discuss something more fundamental… that is, the idea of greatness in general, and what it takes to attain to greatness, historically speaking. And also what are the things that get in the way of that greatness.
What do you consider greatness to be, dear reader? What must one do, or what must one be in order to be “great”?
What does it take to be glorious?
“Why are we fighting again?”
In answering this question, it seems appropriate to go to the movie Gladiator, where the exhausted and elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelias asks Maximus:
“Tell me again, Maximus, why are we here?”
To which Maximus responds:
“For the glory of the Empire, Sire.”
Essentially, in this scene, the Emperor, who is no doubt facing his end soon, is revisiting the fundamental questions of life, and of his legacy, and of the question of greatness and glory to begin with, and is expressing his fears of what will happen with the very great Rome that Maximus idolizes so much, and yet, as a soldier, is unfamiliar with her politics.
But it is precisely this unawareness of the corruption in the empire, that makes the Emperor want Maximus as the heir to his throne (rather than his son, who is thoroughly corrupt).
But there is another reason in this movie (although Maximus didn’t exist in real life, the principle is the same) why the Emperor favors Maximus, and it is something that he has demonstrated clearly over and over again:
As Rome’s greatest general, he has shown…
“Skin in the Game.”
The opening scene of Gladiator shows Maximus fighting the barbarian hordes alongside his fellow soldiers, risking his life in battle in exactly the same way that they are doing. He doesn’t shy away from battle (unlike Commodus).
And this is major reason why he “commands the loyalty of the army” (as the Emperor says); he is willing to share the same risk.
And in sharing this risk, he is considered “great”. That is, he has honor and glory.
And this was the whole point of the book “Skin in the Game” by Nassim Taleb, which was:
“If you have the rewards, you must also get some of the risks, not let others pay the price of your mistakes.”
And I think that this is something that many ancient cultures understood instinctively (and I think we do too, underneath it all); that greatness and glory and honor does not come without sacrifice yourself.
And that brings me back to the fundamental question in the title of this article.
In North America (and the west in general), are we, as a people, too comfortable?
If it is true that greatness and glory only comes with personal risk, would it be safe to assume that excessive comfort is actually an enemy of this very glory and greatness that we claim to want?
For a moment, forget about Trump… and forget about western armies like the US army, which are among the greatest in their strength and capability that has existed, (but which also seems to be on the decline).
What about the citizens?
What about us?
Have we become too weak as a people? Are we too comfortable?
In outsourcing all our wars and conflicts to a military that fights those wars in places that we cannot see, and thus cannot appreciate as much, while we ourselves are all at the mall, or on the couch?
While no doubt soldiers have “skin in the game” (and probably even enjoy that to a certain degree), what about us as a people?
Do we ourselves have enough “skin in the game”?
And if, as a people, we don’t experience enough danger, and aren’t compelled to take matters into our own hands to make ourselves stronger and more resilient, is true greatness even possible?
Whatever you think about Trump, maybe we ourselves all need a little more “skin in the game”. Maybe then true greatness may be closer at hand…
Speaking of “Skin in the Game”, did you know that the Old Testament is full of “skin in the game”, and that Jehovah often warns his people of being taken over by their enemies if they don’t get their act together as a people?
Please join me on my substack series “The Vital Villain” where we go on a rich journey through the society and cultural background of the Bible: