All great nations inevitably end up committing suicide. Do you agree and why?

Question

All great nations inevitably end up committing suicide. Do you agree and why?

Answer 1

Disagree for the following reasons-



1.) A nation is a group of people, and mass suicide is not so common.

2.) Cultural artefacts that define a nation can live long after all members of the nation have disappeared.

3.) Suicide implies some sort of decision to die, whatever the state of mind. Blundering into something, or getting killed by something stronger than you isn't the same as commiting suicide. The Romans getting trounced by the Huns wasn't suicide, the Ming dynasty being subjugated by the West, then torn apart from beneath wasn't suicide. It may have amounted to 'suicide' for these entities to get lazy and careless enough to fall apart, but it wasn't actually suicide.

4.) Suicide is to kill oneself- 'selbstmord', 'jisatsu'. As a nation is a multiple entity, everyone who made it up would have to be working to dissolve it, and that doesn't happen often.



Things just decline, that's it. Nothing ever can continue strengthening forever. Perhaps what makes us great will make us weak? and therefore leads us to be conquered. You could try to argue that greatness itself is a form of suicide... but that's stretching definitions and minds a wee bit too much... Hmm... I think I penned an Oasis lyric there... but on which line?

Answer 2

To the general population I think suicide is such a complex phenomena that trying to figure out what Gary was thinking in the hours before this tragic event we will never know. And I suspect that if it was explained to us, we probably still wouldn't understand it anyway. How can we understand if we haven't had suicidal tendencies in the first place. Why Gary, why why? Why now? After all this time of wonderful success you would want to end it all so dramatically. Was there a suicide note? Did his wife have any inkling of such a tragedy? I know through experience that women are unbelievably perceptive. You can't fool a loving wife. So was Gary that good and skilled to be able to fool everyone, including his family, that suicide was the only way out for peace and to be free at last. Gary was running on empty but for how long? As far as I'm concerned there is something not quite right about this whole tragedy. Nothing adds up. You can understand other very famous former footballers would consider ending it all because of their depression, drug and alcohol use, nobody would be surprised. What is the uncomfortably incredibly sad about of all of this, is that none of us saw this coming and apparently there were absolutely no clues. Gary was a great player for my team Leeds U and scored some crucial goals almost at will. He was a legend at Leeds and I hope they will place a memorial at Elland Road, so we never forget that Gary was just a fantastic guy. RIP Gary Speed.

Answer 3

Nothing lasts forever, in a global anarchic society of inter-governmentalism we can always end up under the influence of blackmailing dictators. Once China has half the world work force, you'll see how they'll be able to get awaya with anything. bye bye Taiwan.



I don't think great nations commit suicide, they just decline, if you mean Iraq, it is not iraq that will change the US might, that's nothing. If it's economic influence and military influence decreases than you might see changes, but not just because they lost this war (they have lost, they'll need to admit it soon). Vietnam was the same, they lost, but it did not change much; the cold war went through many different phases. But the monolithic state right now won't last, China will rise above, and that's when people will regret the 'clumsy' yank-domination.

Answer 4

I can recall having read somewhere that all systems fail; no ifs or buts, they will fall at some stage, 100% certain. I understood this not to be a result of the dictates of entropy, but the result of mankind being in the mix. It is the reason that religions and certain countries and organisations have strict and very rigid regulations, and, for that matter, why despots adopt Draconian methods of population control - all designed to ward off the inevitable decline and fall for as long as possible.

So there is an ongoing cycle; assuming that the planet will last long enough, the fallen will have a chance to rise (and fall) again. Rather sad to think that Homo sapiens is not wise enough to avoid catastrophe's embrace each and every time; perhaps it is Evolution's gift in order to clear the status quo in preparation for the dawn of a new, better(?) age.

Answer 5

A nation itself does not commit suicide.



A nation built on foundations which are weak, will eventually crumble and fragment.



A nation built on trust and cooperation, rather than war and conquest, has strong foundations.



The leaders of a nation decline as they age and their friends and supporters diminish. With this decline comes the fragmentation of a nation.



The "nation" itself will still exist in its separate parts. It therefore has not committed suicide, it has decided that one part cannot rule over another part. It has to decide to divide, go to war, or destroy itself. As no nation will destroy itself, it is either war or a fair division. As no wars are ever won in the long run, a fair division is the only answer.



Ultimately, what goes around comes around. A union split amicably, may eventually decide that a reunion is a good idea at some point in the future. A union split with acrimony, will never reunite.

Answer 6

Everything has a life cycle whether it is a human being, a tree, a star or an atomic explosion. Nations are no different. The begin, the grow and beome powerful, then they become weeker and eventually die. At the moment the USA is at it's peak, maybe slightly past it, and is starting on the downward spiral. The only way to survive is to become something new and start again.



The universe and life itself expects and needs change. Without change it becomes stagnent which is why everything has a lif cycle. The upside is that new things can grow in there place.

Answer 7

It has certainly been the case in the past with a great many civilizations rising and then subsequently falling. The Last Hours of Ancient Sunshine gives a great overview of mighty empires from the past such as the Romans and draws comparisons between them and our situation now. We are in a similar situation whereby we have to use the stored sunlight (i.e. fossil fuels) and cheap labour of other countries in order to support our own needs. Its a fascinating read and offers some solutions to the problem.

Answer 8

So called Great Nations become great by committing great atrocities over many years. This is not taught in their history. The British or as it should be known, English Empire is a good example. Those who have suffered because of this and are taught the truth in schools etc eventually bring down the so called great nations.

Answer 9

It's probably true ... sometimes you can say that about (so called) great people too ... look at the way Mr Blair committed suicide over the War...there goes that legacy



Power currupts ... and great nations like the US for instance, when they stop believing in the democracy they want to enforce on smaller/other nations... (without the approval of the UN) .. are well on their way ... with their absolute power ..to absolute corruption



Guantanamo bay for instance ...is un-democratic .. and you can't have it both ways .. so for instance; while calling on all other nations (i.e Nigeria, Zimbabwe) to hold transparent elections ... you cannot have a faulty election process yourself (even if it is less faulty)... and if not for the faults/irregularities ... Bush would not have won the first time.





DR Bad

Freedom writer ;-)

Answer 10

I don't know wether i would call it suicide but most nations end up imploding. History has shown that when environmental influences change that the nations keep behaving the way they always have. only before the final implosion do they realise that they need to change and by that time it is to late to stop the implosion.

There are numerous examples through out history.

The Greenland Norse

The Maya

The roman Empire to name a few

Answer 11

i agree with you that all great empires have come to an end eventually but i don't really think that it is suicide. the vast majority of empires in the olden days fell because they were unwilling to change, the romans are a great example of this. they took technology and military warfare to a whole new level when they were at the height of there power but never advanced after that. subsequently other nations soon caught up with and eventually over took them by bettering the methods already used by the romans themselves.

the mongul empire collapsed through the death of genis khan, when all the tribes that he had brought together split over who should be the new leader.

the greeks followed the same fate as the roman empire.

the british empire fell simply because it was to vast.

there is one word that connects all the great empires and there eventual downfall and that is 'greed'

Answer 12

All great nations were made off the back of raping and pillaging of other less develeped countrys. Implosion of those nations is down to greed. Stretching of ones Army creates a powerful nation, weak.



A prime axample of this is Germany, had they not opted to invade Russia then europe would be a different place from what it is today.



America is doing much the same today, raping a nation of its wealth of black gold under the guise of Terrorism.



Suicide NO greed YES

Answer 13

Nations dont commit suicide..!

I understand what you mean by the collapse or implosion of different empires throughout the ages. The only real answer I can give you is,

"Everything that has a beginning, has an end"

Answer 14

I'm not sure whether I agree it is inevitable all great nations end up committing suicide. However great nations as well as great people's success depends largely on what they achieve and it's usually depends on what power and wealth one has accumulated. This brings us to materialism, what we can achieve today may be gone tomorrow. If a "great nation or person" has power and wealth and then loses it they may become despondent and feel they have failed and in extreme cases this may lead to suicide.

Answer 15

There is a book that explains the reasons for this and everything else......paraphrasing from different sections;

"man has dominated man to his detriment...the sentences against bad conduct (whether individually, nationally or on a global scale) are not being executed speedily that is why men continue to become bad. Someone doing bad seems to do so a hundred times and yet still carries on as he pleases (again, individually, nationally or globally)....To man, his own path does not belong, he should not even direct his own step". Basically no human governments will EVER work.

Answer 16

"Greed bends all truths." -Tanya Henrich





Governments are made up of people. Most people are self-destructive (7 deadly sins)-- especially us Americans. But we never think of it as self-destruction, we think of it as self-soothing through over consumption of food, alcohol, sex, power, shopping, etc. As a whole we have really poor coping mechanisms.



The people that find themselves at the top have had to compromise a lot of values and step on a lot of heads to get where they are. After all, they have the constituents to pay back who helped them rise to power.



Societies and Governments are run by people and anytime humanity is involved there will be exploitation and chaos. We are the greatest predators of the animal kingdom.



All our arrogance and ignorance will kill us.



The politicians and corporations see themselves as citizens of the world not citizens of America. If things get rough for them they can fly away in their jets to go destroy other continents. They are beholden to no one.



God forbid any of us take responsibility (myself included). We will end up in trouble. Our country is in major debt-- all it takes is for foreign investors to start calling in their investments and our economy could collapse like a house of cards. America is not really owned by Americans. The majority of Americans are in major debt without any savings. And our dollar is losing value. In our pride and elitism we are

alienating ourselves from the rest of the world.



We are a service economy. We'd better keep on top of the wave of innovation or we will lose the only asset we really have left. We do have alternatives to relying on outside resources (oil), the problem is that the majority of us are comfortable or lazy and the good old boys are still lining their pockets at the expense of our environment and health. There are cost effective alternatives out there it is just that the interests of the American people and the planet are not of an immediate concern to "our" politicians.



Most people think that America is invincible. While we are a large country we are not impenetrable.

Answer 17

I can't really think of any that have. Empires come and go but people live on.



Spain's domination ended, but it's a very dynamic country these days. Britain's empire ended, and despite some rubbishness, it's got a lot to go for it.



Perhaps the Third Reich did, but it wasn't particularly great and despite its apocalyptic ending the Germans soldiered on (no pun intended), and it's an amazing country these days.



Did you have anything particular in mind?

Answer 18

Commit suicide?



Well, Rome stretched itself too thin...



What about The British Empire? Did they commit suicide or were they beaten down in world war 1?



Occasionally, nations do commit suicide... Just like people eh?

Answer 19

Empires maybe, not nations.



Through various incarnations, Russia has survived as a changing country, although Empires based within that country have come and gone for centuries, same as China, Japan, Germany, Italy and England.

Answer 20

The Chinese have the longest continuous civilisation in history so it doesn't always happen I guess.



It will be interesting to see the future of our global civilisation. As I believe we are more interconnected through our technology than at any other time in human history.



We truly live in unique interesting times.

Answer 21

I think this judgement is likely true in this way:A great nation means great riches and consequently many

covetous and greedy people.Once they are in power in this or that way,the process of committing suicide starts unless their abuses and explotation are stopped, no matter how great the nation is.

Answer 22

While this is an interesting concept, it is not at all accurate. Some great nations get swallowed up by greater nations.

Answer 23

It's called decadence, and it happens every time.



Read Gibbons "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" written nearly 300 years ago about a civilisation that was starting to disintegrate two thousand years ago.



Someone wrote an answer :



"i dont get your point."



That'll do it.........

Answer 24

All good things must come to an end, but at least the legend will remain alive through the retelling of history.

Answer 25

Why not?

With the blind in leading the blind in planet of apes.

At loss and blurr on what went wrong out there in planet of apes.

Living in misery with the blunders and slip-ups with human errors created back in the past being created in own backyards expose with time in planet of apes.

While living human kind were blind and happily singing "For he's a jolly good fellow" in following the Piped Piper's tune of "My way" in idol worshiping the dead Mummy and not in worshiping God in planet of apes.

Wonder will I be around or happily laughing in my graves too in planet of apes?

Until all the idol of statues had tears on them and could'nt stop themselves from laughing too in planet of apes.

Ever wonder what a bunch of educated idiots we have out there in making a mess and monkey out of the misery of living human kind in planet of apes?

Answer 26

No, unless you opt to blame every event that occurs to that nation solely upon that nation. Plenty of "great" nations go down torn to pieces by outsiders, hardly suicide. Sure you can always say, "well what if they had thought to do...", but that's not suicide that is just being ethnocentric.

Answer 27

Power corrupts. Look at the USA. Once you get corruption you get division and the nation falls apart.

Answer 28

yes all empires fall in the end because the people at the top get too greedy

Answer 29

great nations are destroyed within before any outside influence come into the picture.

Answer 30

that doesn't really make sense but no in the past they have but it doesn't mean they will in the future , i think the British are doing quiet well we colonised allot of the world and kicked started some of the greatest countries in the world and tbh we we dont show any signs of stopping but i dont think were gettin ahead of our selves

Answer 31

No. You would have to give examples. Define great, define how a nation can commit suicide!

Answer 32

With the introduction or understanding of deconstruction suicide is painless.

Answer 33

Empires fall because they get too big for their boots and spread themselves too thinly in my humble oppinion. Holy Roman, Third Reich, British etc, etc, etc.

Answer 34

I don't agree...

Your analogy is Incongruent with the definition of what a nation is...

Answer 35

people in those country's commit suicide because there depressed

Answer 36

I think that there is a lot of Arrogance involved in thinking that we are invinsible and can fix everyones problems

Answer 37

In the case of Israel, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, in the case of the US it's $.

Answer 38

like, yeah, only last week a small republic was rushed into the ER with a paracetamol overdose.........just in time

Answer 39

All empires fall if thats what you are asking.

Answer 40

Labour has just committed suicide for us all; so what's new?

Answer 41

Here is a website that's informative



http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy/great_nation_4233.jsp

Answer 42

Amem!

Answer 43

i agree cos every nation gets fat and bloated after time

Answer 44

Yes...bye.

Answer 45

not necessarily suicide, but one way or another, they decline, disappear.

Answer 46

yeah and ours was letting iran do what they just did unchallenged

Answer 47

No, they migrate.

Answer 48

if they are really great, then why?

Answer 49

i dont get your point.