A good day to be Roman

The election of Tiberius Galerius Paulinus as Consul is excellent news. He brings a good combination of practicality, traditionalism and energy to the office. He can be doggedly determined, yet he is also able to negotiate alternative routes to the same goal.

Gaius Equitius Cato was elected as Praetor, an equally excellent result. Anyone who frequents the Nova Roman forum on a regular basis will know this man. Dedicated, witty, charming, relentless in debate and analytical in reflection, this man is the quintessential Roman patrician. He can be a true friend and doughty foe. Justice is safe in this man’s hands.

Titus Iulius Sabinus was not so fortunate in his attempt at the Praetor’s tribunal, which is a great pity for he and Cato were a good team this year as Curule Aediles. Sabinus is organized, methodical, inspiring and a really good man. Nova Roma benefited immensely from all his hard work organizing the various games and festivals his year. He will make an excellent Praetor, and I hope that day will be soon.

Hopefully better days lie ahead for Nova Roma.

Ungodly, unspeakable, and unattainable

The proposed elimination of the Collegium Pontificum’s right to issue constitutionally protected decreta signals the most foolhardy risk that could be taken in order to solve an internal issue of voting gridlock. For some, winning is obviously more important than the long-term security of the Religio Romana.

Not content with exposing the Collegium to the possibility of hostile interference, the author has included a raft of duties and functions that are largely impossible to fulfill. This legalistic role-play is exactly the sort of example that the opponents of Nova Roma’s legal system have seized on in the past.

Normally one would have expected these well known Luddites to heap derision on this long-winded shopping list of theoretical priestly duties, but so far they are silent. Since the aim of this “reform” is to allow one faction in the Collegium total victory over its opponents, the normal objections have of course been shelved.

What a classic example of Nova Roman power politics at its best, and better still this long and dreary suicide note is to be tacked onto the already discredited Constitution.

The ungodly married to the unspeakable in pursuit of the unattainable.