NERO - NERD OR NUT?
Yes, I can readily agree with you that the Emperor Nero who ruled Rome during the time around 64 B.C. was a notable nerd of his era.
His real name was Lucius Demitus Ahenobarbus. He grew up rotten and never really attempted to change, it appears. It happens, so often however, that certain critics of those who are critical of the subject personality. I have the same sort of trouble in attempting to say anything positive about Nero as I do when I try to speak well of Saddam Huessien. There still remains, at this time, a tinge of respectability about in that makes the term "nerd" a mark of distinction for a person who becomes adept in various aspects of a subject to the point that he sets himself apart as an "authority" - self-proclaimed . At that point, "nerd" becomes a nasty word.
If I try to come up with something positive for Nero, anything to take some of what seems and unfair amounts of blame for things, I find I'm walking on California coastline soil which could fall out from under me at any moment. As an example, I read of one account which said that Nero was at the time of the great fire in the city of Rome, but where all sensible Romans with any money at all lived in July's hot weather - "at the beach" - at a port city of Rome where the summer heat was stirred a bit by sea breezes at times. That fire is said to have burned six days and six nights before bring brought under any sort of control. One account says Nero turned his Roman palace over to the people of Rome to use as a shelter. Some accounts say Nero's palace was on of the first places consumed by by the flames. Of course,it could have meant demeaning Nero bused the populace down to his place a Anterim for the duration plus, but is made clear that Nero did profit form the firstimsomeays. When he built his new palace in Rome it occupied several of Rome's well known seen hills.
I reads well for Nero when we find, as Emperor, he ordered that less wood be used in construction of Rome's new buildings and he decreed that new buildings could be just so high and not a cubit more -" or else". Nero's idea of exactly what was considered to adequately express "else" must have been convincing for the low profile rules caught on in the Eternal City when it cooled off.
I wonder how Saddam is going to fare in the future. He sees to have many of Nero's qualities or lack of them. To some he may show outward signs of being some kid's granddaddy He used that look to advantage years ago in photo-op situations when he held a child and the youngster with the same way Ben Laden holds an assault weapon. This, too, can come in handy for me if I use it properly.
During the weeks and months ahead we we are all going to have to be aware of the simple fact that the man - be he old, ill, well-spent, pooped and pretty much done-in is both nerd and nut. He is both quirky and crazy; smart and stupid, wily and warry and he can still work some strange wonders in the minds of those among his fellow men who would dare accuse him, if he chooses to do so. Saddam can be our new nut and be like Nero if it be his wish to be so remembered. I fear we see far too many other personalities in "sad sack" called Saddam - in the composite we have made of him.
We should be very careful, before we enter this time of trials, to be sure of what we expect of it all. Are we trying to find out where and why Saddam went wrong"? Or, are we also asking where and why we "went wrong" in allowing a Saddam too gain such control?
His will, no doubt, be spoken of as "the trial of the century" and we must deal with it, but there is no need or reason why we should allow it to dominate our basic view of those things which are and must continue to be good, just, right and proper.
A.L.M. February 9, 2005 [c742wds]
