Between 578 and 535 BC (thereabouts), a guy by the name of Servius Tullius (who may or may not have been born a slave) rose to become the sixth King of ancient Rome. Far more likely is that Servius was a soldier, possibly a mercenary, who surreptitiously ascended the throne as the second Etruscan to do so. (That's Servius there in the middle, about to be murdered by his son-in-law, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, at the behest of his daughter).
Anywho, among Servius' many contributions to Rome -- reforming the army, overhauling Rome's "constitution" and better defining social classes and tribal divisions -- was that he instituted the first census.
Now, he didn't walk door to door asking how many children you had; the Roman census was far more thorough -- it was more like a mini-inquisition into the personal lives and finances of anyone who is anyone in Rome. Senators were expected to have a certain standing in the community when it came to money -- if it were deemed they did not meet the criteria, it was likely they could soon find themselves out of power.
The census derives its name from the verb "censere" -- "to judge."
Can you see where I'm going with this?
Hop in the time machine with me about 2,500 into the future, to right around the present day. The Roman Empire is the stuff of history books and HBO series -- some blame the Christians (Thanks in large part to Edward Gibbon, author of one of the most overread Roman histories of all time). But I digress.
All this was inspired by a post by my old friend Logan C. Adams at Area Voices. His paper was inundated with the same letters to the editor I was as of late, all from seemingly upset people about a new TV show on CBS called "Swingtown" [Which coincidentally (not ironically) has been directed by Alan Poul, who helped direct HBO's "Rome."]
Many people who loudly proclaim their faith and values say that "Swingtown" violates their local community standards and should be taken off the air. For full disclosure, the show does appear to be about couples who engage in the swinging lifestyle.
A lot of people I've heard talk about this outcry against "Swingtown" are apt to say some pretty mean things about the groups trying to take "Swingtown" off the air, regardless of whether the show has any artistic merit ("It's there, on the air, get used to it!").
But I take exception when the "family values" crowd gets labeled with the word "censors." At least in the modern sense, the media censor prevents you from ever seeing something. There was a time in American history, not too long ago, that The Powers That Be were far more able and apt to never let anything objectionable reach the broadcast airwaves. That is not the case here.
I also hear a lot of people decrying the power that religious groups have over the arts, that we're living in a theocracy. That just goes too far for my taste; if that were really the case, why was "Swingtown" on the air in the first place? The traditional religious powers in America, while still commanding a powerful voice among the faithful, do not wield the same persuasive weapons they once did.
Simply put: When a major letter-writing campaign is initiated by a certain religious or moral authority to America's community newspaper to denounce a television show, it means said religious or moral authority did not have the muscle to do it alone.
If you want a true censor, you'd do well to look no further than your local newspaper editorial board. In the true sense of the word, we judge and estimate on a daily basis what is most important to our audience and what does not merit a place in our paper, in our e-mail updates and on our website.
Each day is an exercise in censorship for myself, as I have a finite space with which to present you, the reader, with the best mix of news, features, sports, entertainment info interspersed with photos, graphics and headlines. Quite a paradox: The people who bring you the news are all-too-often the people who keep other news from you.
But that's the nature of the beast -- by CBS bringing you "Swingtown," another show is sitting unseen (or at least relegated to a station with a smaller audience). Maybe you'll put together the analogy that CBS (Rome) has become too decadent and depraved ("Swingtown"), and just like Mr. Gibbon suggested, its downfall will come at the hands of Christianity.
Is history repeating itself? Only if you buy into Gibbon's take on things, it could be. Personally, I believe Rome fell in large part due to economic problems, and if "Swingtown" is doomed for the pop culture trash bin, my money is on the cause being money, i.e. ad revenues and ratings.
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