| November 6, 2003 Rome, Italy circa 70AD vs. Washington D.C. circa 2003AD --Sometimes during the work day I’ll take a break and go on the roof of my building at 950 H St. Washington, D.C., and just chill out. Today was one of those days a couple thoughts hit me. Maybe it’s because I recently saw a Modern Marvels special on The History Channel about the Roman Coliseum I don’t know, but I realized today that Washington D.C. in the year of our Lord 2003 ain’t much different than Rome, Italy around 70AD. Sure 2000 years of technology has changed how some things appear, but when you really think about it, not much has changed at all. The first thing that struck me was similarity between the MCI Center and the Roman Coliseum. From my building’s roof I have a pretty good view of the MCI Center. Yeah it’s got satelittes and bright lights, but its serves the exact same purpose at the Coliseum did. It’s just a place where to the masses gather to be entertained. The Romans had gladiatorial matches and we Americans have hockey games. Not much difference. And then just looking around the city I noticed the same things going on that would’ve gone on in ancient Rome; people just scurrying about to and fro. Instead of chariots and horses now, we use cars and bicycles. You have your social classes just like back then. Bums and naredowells here and politicians and upright citizens there. Sure we’ve figured out how to build taller buildings and how to fill them with hot and cold air and electricity, but they serve the same purposes as they did in ancient Rome. The Senate over there, some churches here. Instead of aqueducts we got pipes bringing in and out water. It’s like if I brought an ancient Roman to look out over the city, they would of course be surprised by the technological advancements but I think they’d be like “This city operates just like my city.” Just some thoughts about civilization and how man has changed on the outside but hasn’t changed at all on the inside over the years. |