by Marcus Calidius Gracchus on Sun May 04, 2008 1:33 am
M•CALIDIVS•GRACCHVS• A•MARIO•PERIGRINO•S•P•D
SALVE!
S.V.B.E.E.V.!
Please forgive my absence and my apologies for the delay in responding, I have been away on business this last week!
May I strongly commend your constructive critique of the NOVA ROMA ranking system. I found myself reading your comments and muttering to myself in whole hearted agreement. As you correctly point out if the NR system were being truly consistent to the Republic of ROMA ANTIQVA, there would , indeed, be more categories of citizen. I personally found that the dichotomy between ASSIDVVS and CAPITE CENSI, which in reality came down to whether or not you had paid NR “taxes” (money), was stark. In real terms, non payment meant that you were not only officially excluded from public office but if you chose not to pay you very often ended up feeling somewhat less than those who had paid. NR would know doubt argue that no deliberate policy to make one feel so existed, or was operated, but one only needed to have seen the regular debates on the NR “Main list” on the subject or the publication of lists of “taxpayers”. For example, whilst I very much agree with, approve of the MON AVENTINVS project, and to that end I have taken an apartment. However, I could not help but notice that, although open to everyone, to own any of the best housing one must be a CIVIS and “taxpayer”of NR. In this virtual VRBS ostensibly open to ALL Romans, why should we in SVR be less entitled to any of the better housing? I think this simply another manifestation of NR’s negative ranking system and propensity towards privilege, cliques and favouritism. Were I a Tribune of the People I would seek to remedy this as I know TIBERIVS SEMPRONIVS GRACCHVS would have done!
Like you, noble MARIVS, I consciously chose the name of my distinguished adopted ancestors the GRACCHI, for similar reasons. As you know, brother, they too tried to help the homeless, the landless, the poor and the unemployed, they tried to empower the people and reform corrupt government and sadly paid with their lives. I hope, therefore, I may say with all modesty and sincerity, that it goes without saying that in politics, as in conviction, I am of the POPVLARES and not the OPTIMATES, of the people equal, free, valued and empowered and most decidedly not on the side of privilege, rank and the elitist social class of a powerful few.
In any event, to the matter hand, I would agree with your inclination, honourable MARIVS, to avail of the term/designation “CIVIS”, perhaps, as a ranking after SOCIVS? After all, NR do not have exclusive rights to use of that term, are we not as citizens of Rome entitled to lay equal claim to it? We do not have to dispense with the term “SODALIS” entirely that could be used, perhaps, to denote membership of one of the COLLEGIA? As an aside, and not to create any unnecessary debate, but I did just find myself wondering the other day how the ladies among us felt about the military designations - not that I am suggesting for a moment that they are not every bit as capable of filling or wanting to fulfill those roles. All that said and broadly speaking, I agree with honourable Iohannes the SVR system is a good one because it gives little encouragements/ rewards along the way so I don’t think we need to change it too much.
BENE VALE
M•CALIDIVS•GRACCHVS
VERITAS•LVX•MEA
"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero!"
Pluck the day; do not expect anything from tomorrow!
(Horatius, Carmina)