a description of the amazing and exciting adventures i have here in baltimore--- and other lies.

 
While reading the latest issue of Granta (2003 Winter) I was struck by the fear civilized folk have of the barbar. And I was carried away to muse on the avdent of the end of both the Roman and Mochican Empires(who were contemporaries). We have very little information on why the Mochican lapsed into obscurity. We know that the Aztecs were undone by the Spanish, but these fine Mochicans were undone many centuries before the unfortunate arrival of Los Blancos. What spurred this on was the thought of both Cambodian and Mochican tempels taken back by the jungle. These were all great knowledgeful civilizations. They plotted stars, had esoteric philosophies, presumably had some insight to the deeper workings of the the world, if not the human mind, and, probably, in the upper classes, thought themselves superior to the less-rich of their own ethnic group and certainly to those of any status who were not.

And what did any of them think, when the hoarde came bearing down? We know that the Romans compromised; giving away their daughters so that their grandchildren would continue to dominate the land, and dictate the terms. Did the Mochicans make this same Faustian bargain? Or did they just fade away, knowing that end means done; no "back-cuts", no "take-backs", no "do-evers" allowed. And what of us? will we degenerate so well? What will they speculate about us?
What will they speculate? That we were kind men? That we were wise? That we had plans?

Or, will we, too, become that unknown civilization, leaving others to guess and wonder, "Whatever happened?" Never knowing that we asked ourselves the same question.
posted by gregorio at 4:58 PM