Rome > Family
Rome before family. If you attempt to become king, you are put to death. That is the idea of Romans, of true Romans. The history of Rome is split up into two major parts, Republic and Empire. The idea of a Senate came into play when a king abused his power. With the Senate, every person feels powerful. There is a story of a man named Lucius Brutus who kills his two sons, Titus and Tiberius, because they attempt to become king (500 BC). This is a prime example of Rome before family.
As I was being told this story, I thought about how politics was not as difficult during the Romans times as it is now. It was either Rome before anything or death. The Romans had a civic responsibility that I have come to believe America has lost. Currently, Donald Trump is President and has his son-in-law holding a prominent position in America as Senior Advisor to the President. The Romans would never do that. Civic responsibility is key to a successful democracy. With all that the ideas of government America has borrowed from Rome, it's a shame that the current administration didn't inherit the feeling to uphold the tradition of keeping country before family.
Rome is a city in which law and order comes before family, and principles are stronger than family. So much so that the American Revolution goes back to Rome because they did not want kings. As I walked and explored the city of Rome, there were signs everywhere of how important the people of Rome and the Republic are to the Senate and it's sad to say that I cannot say the same for America. I would think, "man, how cool would it be to be ROMAN and to say that I am ROMAN!" It is comfortable to know that a government would never steer even a little bit from their civic responsibility. It is here in Rome that I reflected on how amazing and powerful America's government is, but how it would never compare to Rome's and I questioned myself, where would we be if America assumed the same civic responsibility that the Roman Republic felt hundreds of years ago?
The Senate and People of Rome
Roman Forum (photo credit: Melissa Canaan)
Vatican, Am I Really a Catholic?
In Rome, my location was to explore the Vatican, in which I very much did. On one of the Sundays, I attended mass in St. Peter's Basilica as well as attended the event held on Wednesdays where one can see Pope Francis in person.
I was raised to believe that my religion is Catholicism, I have my Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation done, just waiting on Matrimony in which one gets married in a church. After having had learned the history of Catholicism, I reflect on the idea that although I wear a latin cross around my neck, I am in no way a Catholic. Catholics back then were much more serious than the mainstream Catholics you see now; I myself have realized that I am a mainstream Catholic. I do not follow the rules of the Bible, nor do I attend Sunday mass and I believe that goes for many other proclaimed "Catholics" in America. I started to think about how we have become so weak in religion. Church is filled on Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve, but not nearly as full any other day of the year. Catholics now a days pick and choose what they are comfortable with satisfying or upholding in that religion. I too partake in that same idea of picking and choosing and have come to ask myself, "Am I Catholic enough to claim this religion?"
Inside St. Peter's Basilica
The golden ticket to see the Pope