Elagabalus is back! Obama, return of a historical figure?

While reading a book on roman Emperors, I happened to stumble upon, a little known Roman Emperor named Elagabalus. I began to see some parallels between Varius Avitus Bassianus Elagabalus and the modern day Barack Hussein Obama. Get me clear now, many things are completely different form the modern day situation, and this past example. This is just my musings on the similarities the popped into my head while reading about Elagabalus.

Elagabalus and Barack Obama both share names from the middle east, and a mixed heritage. Obama has white and black heritage, Elagabalus had north African, Syrian, and Roman origins. Many people in the country were they came rule were bigoted against them because of their foreign origins.

Their childhoods are fantastically familiar to one another. Both had to leave the countries they would one day come to rule with their mothers . They were raised in a foreign states Obama in the Philippines and Elagabalus in Syria. Obama and Elagabalus's fathers disappeared from the scene at an early age. Because of the exodus from the comfort of the land of their birth both were raised primarily by both their mother and grandmother.

The former Emperor Macrinus was very unpopular because of his failure to gain victory over an inferior enemy (the Parthians who were from modern day Iraq) caused considerable resentment among the Romans. Sound familiar to Bush? Iraq? Malcontent with a long war with no victory? Macrinus also suffered from bad popularity in the late-summer of 218 A.D when a massive thunder storm caused catastrophic flooding, and Macrinus' appointee as urban prefect proved unable to repair the damage to the satisfaction of the populace and had to be replaced. The Romans became even more enraged when Macrinus never even showed up to comfort his people and oversee rebuilding. I believe this sounds familiar to Katrina and New Orleans, which caused his popularity to fall. One of the greatest early criticisms Obama and Elagabalus was their youth and inexperience. Elagabalus was only 14 when he became the youngest Emperor in Roman history at that time

The Romans said it was time for a change.

Elagabalus and his followers promised change to Macrinus's incompetent leadership and a return to Roman greatness. Macrinus was overthrown and Elagabalus started his reign as a extremely popular and hopeful new leader.

During the beginning of his rule, Elagabalus showed a disregard for Roman religious traditions and sexual taboos. This is similar to the way in which the conservative right views Obamas support of the Gay marriage leaders, and his abortion stance. In Elagabulus's case it was his open acceptance of transsexuals. The conservatives were silenced by the masses of Romans who just wanted to return to government that was not incompetent.

This was the situation at the beggining of the rien of Elagabalus.

Love to hear any questions, comments, feedback, good or bad.

imperial Spanish forces

(click on picture for larger image)

This is my latest drawing and homage to the imperial Spanish soldier. These were the warriors that were the dominant fighting force not only in Europe, but also the Americas for nearly a hundred years; from roughly 1540 to 1640. Many of the same soldiers who fought the moors in north Africa, the French in Italy, native peoples in the Philippines and the dutch in Flanders were also the same adventurers who would conquer the new world. Within a few years of Spain uniting the Conquistadors would have fought on every continent besides Australia.

When reading about the Spanish Empire I began to see parallels to the modern American society. After Spain became a world power her armies were nearly invincible for a hundred years, today Americas armies cannot be defeated in any sort of "pitched battle" against a foreign army, and without question are the finest in the world today. Spain also had a global empire which brought it immense wealth. The United States while not having a global empire, it maintains a global presence. With military bases in Asia, the middle east, Europe, and naval fleets all over the world, and the benefits from trade and commerce that is gained from being the global police, and having far flung global contacts.

However the Spaniards became weak, soft, and corrupt above all; because all the wealth that empire brought, and the security that the professional Spanish soldier brought. America may face the same fate if it does not change. Americans have become weak, soft, and corrupt. We are so wealthy that one could not imagine a world without all the comforts we have become accustomed to, and the American warrior has provided the United States with such an untouchable feeling, that most Americans are living in a "mickey mouse land" in their heads which does not exist.