Dear Editor:
Thank you for the kind letter, Mr. Weiler.
Dear Editor:
Thank you for the kind letter, Mr. Weiler. It was a generous compliment to say that I have two brain cells when all discerning readers of The Dispatch must know that I have only one, the right. I used to have four, but I could never restrain myself from taking them out and playing with them; this misbehavior inevitably led to a tragic end. Dropped one brain cell into a plate of hominy grits, to which, as you know, they bear an uncanny resemblance. Still got ’em in the freezer in case medical science advances to the point where it can tell them apart. One fell by mischance whilst I was passing in front of the Gilroy Unified School District office, bounced into the gutter and withered with unnatural rapidity before my astonished eyes.
The last I mistook for bait on a fishing trip. Caught a nice catfish, though, so it wasn’t a dead loss.
The Romans did not, quite, destroy themselves. What they did do was to drift away from the moral foundations of their prosperity. Their sense of civic devotion to the Republic waned until politics became focused only on securing advantages for whatever faction happened to be in power. They became a dictatorship when, with all sense of cooperation and common welfare lost, the state could be ruled only by intimidation and violence. Dictators whittled away at the economic and military strength of the empire to undermine their competition until the nation fell, easy prey to the forces of barbarism that always look with avarice on the fruits of lawful endeavor. Any resemblance in the foregoing to here and now is quite intentional.
I told the story about the contribution of the Roman Senate for three reasons. First, because it’s a cool story. Second, to contrast the Roman Senate to our legislatures. If one tried to picture any of our ruling elites sacrificing everything they have for the welfare of the state, it could make one laugh; it could make one weep. Third, I wanted to provide a historical example of civic virtue to advance my current theme that one looks in vain amongst liberals for any trace of loyalty to this nation, respect for the common welfare, or consideration for the rights and freedoms of their countrymen. I expected that the story would pass through liberal understanding leaving only a mystified “Eh?”, as it apparently did in your case. I want to express my sincere appreciation, Mr. Weiler, for your invaluable aid and assistance in driving my point solidly home.
Stuart Allen, Gilroy
Submitted Sunday, May 9 to ed****@****ic.com
