Swanky motorcycles, draft beer & Cuban sandwiches!

My friends, part of leading an "Empire" is how to lead culturally!

Unlike the Roman Empire that could be brutal at times (for example, the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperors Nero and Diocletian; Nero by the way, was the "anti-christ" figure that the Book of Revelation made reference to since the letters in his name equalled '666' . . .), the Eastern portion of the Mediterranean was led by the more peaceful, affluent Greeks.

From the time of Emperor Constantine (who officially legalized Christianity and was converted to Christ on his death-bed!) through the eventual Fall of the Byzantine Empire to the Turks in the 15th century (some 1,000 years later!), the Byzantine Greek-speaking Imperialists led by culture and finesse, rather than raw military power.

The end result was that in spite of eventual Greek hubris (always the Greek Achilles' heel!) that led to the Byzantine Empire's demise, nonetheless, for 1,000 years Christians reigned.

Here the example of the Western Hemisphere is quite striking, almost chilling in fact. From the tip of Chile and Argentina in the South to the tip of Canada and Alaska in the North, we are a Christian Hemisphere. Yes, there are Muslems who reside under our protective umbrella, guaranteeing freedom of religion. Yes, there are also pagans, neo-pagans and even witches who live in Las Americas, but by and large we are Catholic-Protestant Empire of North, Central and South America.

Praise Jesus!

So, as Christian Imperialists (whether we wish to be or not!), how are we to lead?

Are we to use the sword to subjugate the peoples of the world?

Well, contrary to Radical Islam's caricature of we Christian Imperialists as a bunch of 'Crusaders,' mostly, as Christians we just want to raise our families in peace and safety, and try to persuade ALL People that Jesus Christ, the God-Man truly is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that NO ONE can come to the Father except through Jesus.

Amen?!

So, now that we ARE a Christian Imperial hemisphere (with the exception of pockets of Marxism in places like Cuba or in Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's warped brain!), we must learn from the mistakes and also the gifts & blessings of our Christian forefathers, the Greek Byzantines.

Like my friend, a strong Venezuelan Catholic (who is as 'homophobic' as I am since we are both Catholic Latinos! :-) who rides a 'swanky motorcycle,' so also must I adopt the cultural mores of GOOD IMPERIALISM! Whether it is shelling out the extra dough for 'real birkenstocks' in order to finance the college education of the Birkenstock store's assistant manager (also a 3.7 GPA student and 'Young Republican') OR whether it is shelling out money for the 'nice cigars' that are hand-made (including even an occasional 'Cuesta Rey' for the special occasions of life!), I must simply lead culturally and (a Republican Virtue) through seeking to foster prosperity as wrought in the crucible of hard work, rather than government hand-outs (either corporate OR welfare!).

I even insist on always eating Cuban Sandwiches as a way of connecting with the Hispanic wealth of the Western Imperial Christendom (the Cuban part now lives in diaspora in Tampa Bay and Miami, Florida, sadly due to Castro's take-over!).

So, there you have it.

Rather than leading by warfare (the Latin way that resulted in bloodshed upon bloodshed in Western Europe!), let us instead try the Greek manner. Dikiasoune = "righteousness" in Greek, and let us allow this key Christian Virtue to guide us as an Empire Under the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ, Pantocrator.

Love in Jesus,
Rob J King, Hellenist Puerto Rican ;-)