Maureen Dowd suggests in her editorial, “Are We Rome? Tu Betchas!” that the new is not working out, so we’re making our way back to the old. The really old. I was so drawn to this article because it comments on and captures, in my opinion, so well what exactly is happening today. Dowd comments on “sand-castle economy” which currently “washes away under the tide of bad gambles and debts”, reminding me of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida.
“One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand”
And this just tied the whole Roman thing together completely with the literal, however more than accurate, vision of a crumbling structure. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen connections with the lyrics of this song. Roger Cohen directly references it in his op-ed, “The King is Dead”. So this article struck a cord when I realized the constant emphasis on how our economy is not stable, being reduced to salt and rock.
Half of Dowd’s Op-ed is in Latin, alluding to the past, but also contributing to an air of higher intellect in her article. It’s sophisticated and interesting. But this Latin ramble has a greater significance. Dowd, whether intentionally or not, has made a prediction. She is obviously discussing current events –“Baracum Obamam”- but in an ancient language, suggesting a similarity between then and now. This is where I personally become frustrated. When we ask our parents why we learn history, they reply “So history doesn’t repeat itself”. Well then. It’s been said that America is on the brink of a new Renaissance. “Who we are and what we care about is shifting-and a new set of imperatives, products, behaviors, and ambitions is emerging,” says Patricia Martin in her book, Renaissance Generation. Now, the Renaissance was not ultimately a bad thing, but we are also being told that we are in the midst of the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/opinion/12dowd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
And this just tied the whole Roman thing together completely with the literal, however more than accurate, vision of a crumbling structure. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen connections with the lyrics of this song. Roger Cohen directly references it in his op-ed, “The King is Dead”. So this article struck a cord when I realized the constant emphasis on how our economy is not stable, being reduced to salt and rock.
Half of Dowd’s Op-ed is in Latin, alluding to the past, but also contributing to an air of higher intellect in her article. It’s sophisticated and interesting. But this Latin ramble has a greater significance. Dowd, whether intentionally or not, has made a prediction. She is obviously discussing current events –“Baracum Obamam”- but in an ancient language, suggesting a similarity between then and now. This is where I personally become frustrated. When we ask our parents why we learn history, they reply “So history doesn’t repeat itself”. Well then. It’s been said that America is on the brink of a new Renaissance. “Who we are and what we care about is shifting-and a new set of imperatives, products, behaviors, and ambitions is emerging,” says Patricia Martin in her book, Renaissance Generation. Now, the Renaissance was not ultimately a bad thing, but we are also being told that we are in the midst of the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/opinion/12dowd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
2 comments:
Hey Jenny,
I also read the op-ed "The King is Dead" and have noticed the frequent references to Coldplay's Viva la Vida recently when referring to the economy. Perhaps the songs on the album were even written with the current economic crisis in mind. Anyways, I love the imagery of the sandcastles as the economy, because like the current economy they are there but so fragile and so easily knocked over.
As far as the Latin usage in the op-ed goes, I think its to keep the reader's mind on the idea of people having gone to far with advancements and having to go back to simpler times to figure out where and why life got too complicated. And also maybe the idea that maybe the old could be better than our current reality as far as the economy goes.
And for me atleast, the Latin was entertaing :P I don't really think it does much in way of making the author sound educated though, I even found the title to make her sound less credible as it makes use of "false" Latin (betchus lol...) Just my opinion though ;)
Anyways, I love your analysis on the op-ed and the concept!
-Abbie
lalalalalaaaa
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