-Caveat Lector- When I was in High School, (class of 31) we were required to study Edward Gibbon's "THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE". It set forth five basic reasons that greaat civilizations withered and died. They were: 1. The undermining of the dignity and sancity of the home, which is the basis of human society. 2. Higher and higher taxes; the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace. 3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, more immoral. 4. The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within- the decay of individual responsibility. 5. The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people. He pointed out that the average age of the world'd great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations progressed through this sequence: >From Bondage to Spiritual Faith >From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage >From Courage to Liberty >From Liberty to Abundance >From Abundance to Selfishness >From Selfishness to Complacency >From Complacency to Apathy >From Apathy to Dependence >From Dependence to Bondage The U.S. is now over 200 years old. Where are we on this scale? Think about it. Robert. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
