No, this isn’t the beginning of a bad joke…
During this morning’s radio appearance of Rep. John Culberson with Edd, Pat and Sean, Culberson mentioned a coin he gives fellow members of Congress. It is a Roman Emperor Valens coin.
The story goes like this:
Emperor Valens became the Eastern leader of the Roman Empire around 364 A.D. In 376 A.D., Goths (Eastern Germanic Tribes) were being displaced by invasions of the Huns. With no place to go, they crossed the Danube River, the natural barrier protecting Roman lands from the invasion by barbarians. Valens, for whatever reasons, decided to allow them to stay. They were not required to take oaths of loyalty to Rome or learn Latin.
Long story short, without any real troops in front of them to stop them, the Goths revolted. Valens fought them at the Battle of Adrianople. The result was a catastrophe. Valens and his army were completely destroyed. His body was never found. The Battle of Adrianople is considered a tipping point that spelled the beginning of the end to the Roman Empire.
Rep. Culberson mentioned that once he explains the history behind the coin, the person it is given to understands the implied modern meaning and equivalency: history repeats itself especially those that fail to study it.
I don’t know where Rep. Culberson has acquired his coins. However, I have found a few on Ebay and this other website.
If you want to know more about Emperor Valens, may I suggest this site and this one.
If you want to know more about the decline of the Roman Empire, may I suggest this one.
Final Note: In most of the material I read this morning about Valens, it was mentioned that Valens had many other excellent achievements, but the decision to allow the Goths to settle across the Danube and the Battle of Adrianople were so disastrous, they are basically forgotten.
By the way, Valens was also a Christian…
President Bush, please take note.
See also this morning’s post on the Mexico Totalization Agreement.
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Diversity man, let’s embrace our diversity. We need to be more open minded and embrace our new neighbors.
(tongue removed from cheek)
Culberson also said that Rome gave up their borders, language and culture. hmmmm, who does this sound like? I heard it this morning and I really wanted a smoke, but it was already coming outa my ears and nose!!
make that The Romans…drive by post!
#1
I have an open mind and I embrace my neighbors. I just want them to stay in their own yard, not mine.
I think another current example is the French. They let in all those Muslims thinking they would blend in and look what it got them. The British are about to be in the same boat.
When you come to America you are suppose to become American first, then you own nationality. That’s why I am so opposed to phrases like African-American or Mexican-American. Look, drop the first part, you are Americans with ethic backgrounds. Learn the culture of the country you live in. If you want your culture to be the predominate culture then stay in the country you came from. This is AMERICA—not Africa or Mexico. But as Culberson implies, it will be and we will destroy this country from within if we allow it.
ReeC
Please read the link to JohnRH posts about the alleged agreement under negotiation.
I think this should clear up the misunderstandings here
It could not have happended to a nicer bunch of guys.
Look, the end of the Romans began when the end of the Republic, when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon.
Our end began when we seceded from the Article of Confederation, the true Republic, and adopted the new Constitution of 1787. The year 1789.
Culberson is a person that refers to history and tht is good. He blinded by his party loyalty and is only raising the red flag now because of the incoming Congress. Where has he been when his own Party has been pushing for turning the Executive branch into the seat of a Caesar? Where has he been when his Party was in control and in a position to do something about the devaluation, the increasing debt, the increasing foreign entanglements, etc?
He sings a good song but he can’t fly.
#7 Jaime
Culberson was talking about this months ago. Nearly a year ago, I heard him going on about this very issue on Edd’s show. He’s not a Johnny-come-lately to this dance.
If either the House or Senate votes to deny this, then it won’t happen. However, if neither does, once it if formally submitted, then after 60 days, the POTUS can sign it without approval. In other words, NOT disapproving it means it is approved.
Congress can ignore it, let it happen, then blame Bush/the GOP, and get away with it (in the press), because they will have taken no action to forward it in its takeover of our money.
The coins are probably minted in mexico.
And all this time I thought Ritchie Valens song La Bomba was about dancing.
#8 glad to hear.
#8 Wino, I concur with your reply. I also heard John Culberson warn of this beginning months ago on Edd’s propgram. I heard him again this morning as you recuounted it above. The proposal is absolutely stunning–and not “stunning” in the complimentary sense. Yikes.
I think the compassionate conservative Valens administration called that the “Goth Worker Program”.
#13 DOTR
Now THAT’s funny.
Culberson has been on the front line of the “conservative issues”, he hammers away but I guess since he hadn’t been there for 40 yrs, he gets little press. He has been talking about this for about 18 months I believe.
I am sure coins will be flooding GW’s house now.