Civilizations n x 10^t

From time to time, I use my Blackberry to jot various topics I wanted to blog about; however, since I don't get Internet on a regular basis there can be periods where these Blackberry Drafts don't make it in sequence and this is one of them - during our trip through the cultural antiquities, touch-ups and tourist revenue-producing activities we enaged in during the first leg of our Italian journey.

Pizza in Pisa

On a one hour train ride from Florence to Pisa so figured I would brog while I had the chance.

One thing that had struck me in our past travels is what human kind can accomplish. The architecture, infrastructure and sheer magnitude of feats by the romans are truly awe inspiring even today. Rewind thousands of yrs and these structures and even concepts - the republic form of govt, sanitation, unified language, laws, etc - were all a means to make life better for its citizens. To me, it highlights mankind's persuit to achieve something greater for their country/kinsmen than themselves.

Of course, most great phallics of the world (temples, monuments, obelisks and even the vatican and this is obviously my unfettered honesty) were built by the drive for or rather display of power: influence, wealth and fame. In contrary to the prior, these structures or civil investments were the manifestation of individuals / small groupsand drive for power by those whom power employed created great works of art and other national treasures.

Either for power or for glory (shared or individual) I'm increasingly in awe with the power of the human spirit. To make the newest, biggest and the best you need people willing to give it their best - often compromisng health, family and perspective.

I think its worth to do and be a part of something greater than you are. So much of traditional life post ww2 has been first stability and now competition to grab all you can (financially anyway): Money consumes most people in the world we live in and it is most often the chooser of the path we engage for most of our lives. I wonder if it was the same for the romans in antiquity. I wonder what I'd be doing right now if I went back to the future (besides driving a mclauren) knowing fully the question I posed for myself in the present for the past.

Perhaps the path to be a general? Nah too much discipline and blind loyalty. Senator? Too much compromise on justifying means to a neverending end. Farmer? Perhaps a pride and focus on a life's commitment to crop yeilds and the such only to be the pawns of generals, senators and the power hungry folk! I think for me it might have been a path of a religious route. A means to influence others, spread the word of and to devote oneself to the pursuit of what is the Truth while managing these goals within the real-wrold constraints / practicalities of tradition, influence and wealth et al. I believe spirit is a noble pursuit and the joined journey of discovering it and learning to lean others is a fulfilling life indeed! At least for now - and it will be intersting how it changes.

What would you be? It's a telling question in the sense that you must reflect on who/what you are today in context with knowing what you did "back then" is how you would be remembered in context with what was really important in history. Is it okay to just live a "happy life" rich in family, hobbies and other loves with little to know struggles? Or is it more important to leave your kinsmen, your state and your progeny with some benefit to man kind or the mark of your name on a mountain? I would be curious where you think you would be in those times!