America the new Athens

The Bushites are leading America down the same path as Athens,
the true birthplace of democracy.
Athenians prized debate and persuasion over raw force.
The downfall of Athens was believing they were invencible.

1) They sent troops throughout the world,
thus trading democracy for imperalism.

2) Their cruelty grew with military success (including torture).

3) The cost of the military bankrupted Athens.

The love of law made her great
the abandoment of law brought her down.

(exerpts from John Wheat Gibson’s paper)