Comments: Decline
"less great art, fewer great thinkers, a sparser crop of warriors"
Bad history, worse sociology. Sort of Nietzsche without the learning, or the madness.
Yes, things are in a bad way. But, the arts in western civilization died at the end of the World War of 1914--1945 (notice all really big wars last 30 years), the Holocaust, the Gulags, the Wars destroyed poetry, fiction, music, art, religion, and philosophy. Heck, even the physical sciences are still living on their pre-War intellectual Capital. There may have been some green shoots among the rubble (e.g. jazz/blues) but they have been killed by the lack of sustenance in the ground where they attempted to root.
As for Warriors, I will take ours over others from everywhen. Even without modern weapons, I believe they are superior in training, character, and knowledge to those of ancient times. This should surprise no one. Barbarian warriors are always superior to ones from civilized places, and ours is a barbarian time.
Posted by Fat Man at June 11, 2012 11:40 AM