Thanks, Tom. Actually, I left a longer post over at Heraklia's Symposion (thanks for remembering, Heraklia, the old group from Ancient Sites!).

I did just wish to say about Victor Davis Hanson that I quite agree with you. He has rather overstepped the line in re-making ancient history as contemporary polemics. But all historians have their calling cards, I suppose, and his, so I understand, has been left previously at the Bush White House! Oh well.

One ancient-modern topic that has struck me lately is the concept of citizenship, especially since the riots in France and the demographic politics of immigrant labor in the EU. Unbelievably there are now proposals in the U.S. Congress to change the American concept of citizenship, which is quite different from the European. Here, a citizen is defined by the 14th Amendment as anyone born or naturalized in the United States or under its jurisdiction. In Europe, in France, at least, there is no such welcome to citizenship. Of all of Caesar's policies I most liked his concept of Roman citizenship, although he might have cheapened it a little by giving it out as freely as he did! Of course, as it turns out, citizenship generously given is what makes free citizens truly valuable!