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In Search of Pax Americana.

© Vincent E. Martin

It is an unfortunate and sad circumstance of human existence that we as a species do not like one another. That we find great joy in the taking of human life and the conquest of our fellow human communities and civilizations. That in our midst lurks evil and misguided religious and righteous zeal, which finds glory in the death, destruction, and misery of our fellow human beings. That human greed and callus disregard for even the most basic tenants of principled civilized behavior overshadow in very large measure the natural rights of humans all over the globe. That man excels at warfare and barbarism and seems to take extreme delight in each, much to the determent of the planet as a whole. Man seems to be perpetually and ceaselessly at war with himself, raining down death, destruction, and misery wherever he steps.

However man is capable of limited periods peaceful co-existence. From approximately 27 B.C to 180 A.D. the Roman Empire enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity know as Pax Romana, or the Roman Peace. Her enemies vanquished (except for the frontiers of the Empire), her Civil Wars quelled, the vast Roman Empire (including all lands around the Mediterranean Sea and most of Northwest Europe), knew almost 200 years without civil shrift or vexing warfare; her lands were secure from with in and without.

Now is the wake of what is now being call Black Tuesday, America in her righteous anger over the senseless slaughter of thousands and the wanton destruction of the World Trade Center complex, seeks to bring about Pax Americana, the American Peace through the destruction of the newest face of evil, terrorism. President Bush stated on Sunday that, "tomorrow, when you get back to work, work hard like you always have. But we've been warned. We've been warned there are evil people in this world. We've been warned so vividly," Bush said. "And we'll be alert. Your government is alert. The governors and mayors are alert that evil folks still lurk out there. As I said yesterday, people have declared war on America and they have made a terrible mistake. My administration has a job to do and we're going to do it. We will rid the world of the evil-doers."

Profound words? No. A far-reaching and insurmountable task? Absolutely! Even with the help of a well financed and well-structured and committed alliance, the United States cannot hope to vanquish evil in the world; it is a near impossible task. The Romans were only able to sustain peace for 200 years, before the inherent nature of man blossomed once again like an enormous Venus fly-trap turning the tide of progression bringing warfare once again to the Roman landscape like a pestilence. This new rise of evil within and without Rome led to the eventual fall of the Empire in the 4th century A.D.

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