At first glance, the two cases seem to have a lot in common. Yet in thinking it through further, I am forced to admit that our times are marked by so many unprecedented trends and events that making predictions seems foolhardy.īoth Rome and America were founded by kings-or, in our case, under the auspices of a king.īut before going into those di fferences, let’s first consider the one historical parallel that all sides of this debate draw on for precedent: the rise, peak, decline, and fall of Rome. When I have thought about this, I have been in some part inclined to the opinion that present arrangements are unstable and may be approaching their end. Some insist that the regime will fall of its own incompetence, others that its end will require an external push-which some are certain will come, and others are equally sure will not. Others assert that the present regime is stable and not only can but will last for decades or even centuries. Some believe that the end-the collapse of present ruling arrangements-is imminent, if not tomorrow or next week, then soon, within a year or five. Their certainty is entirely independent of what they think they know.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people more or less “on my side,” or who see things basically as I do, are extremely confident that they know what is going to happen next. Do we have one? Is a piece of paper showing the way forward-whether predictive or hopeful-even possible? T he theme is “Western civilization at the crossroads.” Far be it from me to doubt that the West is on the precipice of something enormous.

Horus heresy epub tpb