ON ABOUT SOMETHING?

You know Marcus Aurelius of course, Roman Emperor, philosopher and all. If you are as ignorant about him as I am, and gullible, well have a look at Wikipedia.

Now the question: What is he on about?

Hour by hour resolve firmly, like a Roman and a man, to do what comes to hand with correct and natural dignity, and with humanity, independence, and justice. Allow your mind freedom from all other considerations. This you can do, if you will approach each action as though it were your last, dissmissing the wayward thought, the emotional recoil from the commands of reason, the desire to create an impression, the admiration of self, the discontent with your lot.
— Marcus Aurelius

(via Metta Center)

Could a Roman Emperor – and indeed any once living person – have anything at all to say to us today, faced as we are with this moment of decision between global change or catastrophe? Are we not in the arrogance of our own self conceit quite prepared to wreck the show, not just for ourselves but for all who otherwise might have lived, and lived with reason and so lived better, on this planet? Of course, I would have to concede that imperialism, in its recurrent versions, for some peoples has pretty much left what they have of the show pretty much wrecked – as we can see across Africa, the Middle East and Asia,and looking further South America and in many cases the indigenous people closer to home. We get swept along with the historical parade we stepped into on birth and keep marching.

Footnote: I have concluded that I am too gullible to watch television and it violent-laden and infused culture. I am sticking to internet, where just occasionally I get inducements from Nigeria and other places via email.

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