by Anton Martin Smith antonmartinsmith@gmail.com
1.
An national economy should have a ratio of ‘Barbarism to Civility’ –
Yes the “B.T.C” should be quoted in the same revered terms that “G.D.P” is.
A high ‘B.T.C ratio’ should be of great embarrassment to a nation.
In fact – far more so than a ‘Low G.D.P’ is.
For we can all agree that it is better to be poor but gracious,
Than a marauding, unthinking brute.
One day I hope to sit down at a cafe with newspaper in hand,
With the big front page headline booming:
“Barbarianism To Civility Ratio Crashes 27.7% : Spontaneous celebrations fill the streets everywhere!”
& when we open the next day’s paper perhaps we may see this updated report:
“Unfortunately due to the previous days ongoing unbridled celebrations that then turned into a melee –
There was caused a near instantaneous boom in the Barbarism to Civility ratio,
Resulting in a sudden reversal of fortunes,
Thus wiping out yesterdays very happy losses.”
2.
Shakespeare in Titus wrote the line
“Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous”.
But yet he knew & we all know how barbarous the Romans were.
And since we are merely a scattered smoking remnant of the Roman Empire
Do we not today still deceive ourselves in exactly the same way?
We are indeed a well shaken cocktail of Barbarism & Civility.
3.
But let us step towards the silver linings, away from our clouded & foggy minds.
Let’s give a Roman ‘Ave’ to the advent of the ‘Barbarism to Civility Ratio’, printed daily.
Sure I know it wont work, but as a late era Roman I have a love of empty platitudes,
Bold face lies, & abject pigheadedness,
& getting blindly drunk on highly-dubious-philosophic-alcoholic-elixirs.
It is the merely the Late-Era Roman way.
Anton Martin Smith Writer 