The Roman emperor Nero is remembered in history for ‘fiddling’ while Rome burned. Nero had a love of music, and it is recorded that he played the cithara — a lyre like multi-stringed instrument— while singing in public performances and competitions — some of which he organized and instituted for self aggrandizement.
In 60 A.D. he instituted, apparently for the first time in Rome, musical competitions after the Hellenic pattern. In 65 A.D. he inaugurated a more elaborate festival, the "Neronia," which he planned to hold every five years. In both he appeared as chief contestant. To all appearances, Tacitus and other conservative Romans were more shocked by these actions than by his brutal murders. Of course, the desire for recognition in the musical world on the part of a Roman emperor was not original with Nero. His predecessor, Caligula, had performed as a dancer and singer, and planned to take part in tragedies. Whether he was trying to emulate Caligula or not, Nero's desire for artistic recognition was evidently quite sincere. He is said to have been exceedingly anxious over the outcome of the contests in which he appeared and to have observed strictly the "full rules of the cithara.” penelope.uchicago.edu/...*.html
The ‘Great Fire of Rome’ began on the night of July 18 and 19 in the year AD 64 and over the next six days it spread through the narrow streets of the city pushed by winds and destroyed 3 of Rome’s 14 districts and partly burned 7 others. en.wikipedia.org/…
Some analysts have speculated that Nero had a hand in setting the fire, started by arsonists in his pay to make room for a new palace he was planning. Others have blamed the fires on Rome’s Christian community. Other analysts have credited emperor Nero with organizing the efforts to extinguish the blaze and save what remained of Rome. History now remembers, correctly or not, that Nero ‘fiddled’ or sat idle and watched that great tragedy unfold— as Rome burned in July of AD64, he did little to stop the blaze before it was out of control.
Fast forward 1953 years and we find ourselves in a similar circumstance on a much larger scale. www.usatoday.com/… Twenty Seven major fires are currently burning in the west — many of them in flyover country — in states where the pResident has garnered wide popular support. Hot dry weather will surely lead to more fires. The question is, will Trump take action in a timely manner and at an appropriate scale to coordinate an effective response to these wildfires — or will he tweet and whine and ignore the blazes until they reach historic proportions — destroying lives and property that might then provide him the opportunity to, like Nero, achieve the historical recognition he so desperately desires, by then sending armies of young men and women in to risk their lives trying to put them out.
Governance isn’t easy — this will be a historical test for the pResident and his half staffed ‘administration’ — one I fear they will fail with spectacularly horrific results. If you live in the path of these blazes, my heart goes out to you. You deserve much more help than you are likely to get from this pResident. Be safe and be smart — help may arrive too late for many of you, if it comes at all.