this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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Is there a line though? I feel like owning human beings and treating them with tremendous cruelty cannot be excused regardless of cultural environment, because we have inborn intuitions that strongly tell us this is wrong that can be listened to, that cross cultural boundaries and time. Lots of other things that I wouldn't excuse someone in my own culture for though, I would be more willing to excuse of someone in a different culture/time, because otherwise I'd be basically demanding that no other cultures exist.
The Romans had slaves. As a state, they definitely existed, and were extremely successful, and they even impact our culture today. Yet, their view on slavery was unacceptable. So you have to accept the good and bad aspects of their culture at the same time.
I think it is reasonable to denounce the Roman Empire and its supporters for that reason, they don't get a pass on that for having been "successful" or for being in the somewhat distant past.