Brutus’ ideas about the present situation

P. Iunius Brutus sal.

I posted the following on our Discord a few hours ago. But I think it’s worth sharing here:

Salvete,

I’ve had a rough new year. I caught the damn virus and it hit me like a ton of bricks. That’s the reason for missing the CC meeting. There was no way I could do auspices etc.

I’m 75% back to normal. I also got a voice mail from Varro on the state of affairs here.

Here is where I stand:

I’m not angry or surprised about the present state of affairs here. I empathize why others are upset and frustrated. I’m equally not shocked why certain groups, such as Sarmstia, who are not victims are also pointing fingers. But from the big picture of the goals of why the RR was founded, I think we are going to be just fine. But it will require understanding that we are collectively part of the problem and therefore part of the solution. That’s good news, as it means we can do something to improve things if we do choose.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am disappointed that no CC meeting can be called by another lictor until recently, especially considering  my recent illness. I’m disappointed no augur wants or can help with me with auspices (besides Curio who does help). I am disappointed that not enough candidates stood for high office this year. I’m disappointed that key citizens who had clear jobs to do failed to do 9/10 that was required, and what they volunteered to do.

But don’t get me wrong. I’m disappointed in the manner a student is disappointed if they get a poor score on a test. This present outcome provides an important lesson. For that, I’m also grateful.

For the past two years I’ve remained out of any high office, acting as a mentor, in part to see what would happen. To stress test the system we created here. Ultimately our “test scores” of this “stress test” tell us the present system isn’t viable. That’s the primary lesson.

That’s a GOOD lesson to learn.

But a bitter lesson still. I understand. I believe I feel it more astutely than most. I personally invested a lot of effort and energy into crafting the management system we have. So it’s frustrating, personally, even sad, that it does not work as I would like. But the reality should not be ignored because the lesson is unpleasant

When I strip away all the superfluous things from what I dream the RR to be personally. I’m left with the following — I want a place to commune and teach about LIVING the virtues, living romanitas and the stoic values, while exploring the CDR and romanitas as a system by which to FACE LIFE PRACTICALLY FOR TODAY.

Communities form organically from one man or woman living what they preach and obtaining desired results that are demonstrable to others. Others join such people seeking similar results. This forms groups. Such groups influence neighborhoods, which influence towns, which influence provinces, which influence countries which influence the world.

It does not start from any online committee. Or magistrate. It starts from you as an individual living in a manner that is PROOF of the value of living the virtues.

Of all the virtues, now is the time to have the COURAGE to acknowledge what has worked and what has not. To face that reality. Maybe even on a personal level? To have the TEMPERANCE to not let disappointment about such a reality to result in false notions of victimhood or personal attacks. To take the facts of the past and today and to gain WISDOM from them. Then, ultimately to act in a manner that brings JUSTICE. Not only justice as we understand it today. But justice as the Roman philosophers described it. To do the right thing which yields results that allow for a legacy of more virtue to be made manifest.

So personally, I want to turn more introspective in my approach here. Less focus on building some political replica of Rome. Maybe NR is the place for such things?

I desire more focus upon building back the virtues and living them. What are the virtues? How do you live them? How are they relevant today? What tools exist to help you learn and live them? What does stoic philosophy and the other thinkers of antiquity actually teach? How can we apply these lessons? How does this fit with ideas about spirituality and the CDR? How does this influence ideas on the divine? How do we best seek patronage and communication with the divine?

I personally seek a community based on wanting to answer these questions and to remain focused on these questions. Undistracted by 3 or more elections a year or protracted debates over other so called Roman organizations, or bogged down in a system that by its very nature encourages political discourse over practical action.

Our most valuable asset is time. I feel embarking on the present course further is to squander this precious asset.

So I propose the following:

– To focus the leadership of the RR upon simply benign admin tasks and into one body with longer terms. To be reconstituted into a single body geared towards strategic planing, and upkeep of the assets if the organization.

– to shift the core focus on our most educated citizens towards producing actual content. Books, podcasts, etc that address LIVING the virtues / CDR today in a practical manner which addresses the needs of the present. We live in some of the most chaotic times in the last 60 years. It’s also going to get a lot darker on a global scale, I predict, before we see the light. We need these things more than ever.

– To produce software apps that supplement the books written this year and assist as tools to guide in helping others LIVE the virtues DAILY.

— to offer regular weekly scheduled face to face online meetings and training around the virtues, stoicism, the CDR and living Romanitas practically. Towards this goal to identify coaches that could assist in leading this training.

We need a new model. After watching things evolve for the past two years, I’m thinking this is the direction I want to move.

To do all this properly takes time. Time is our most valuable asset. All of this requires time from others beyond me. This means money. This means fair compensation for those who do work here. Who give their time, skills, and experience.

I would propose raising and using funds to properly compensate those who write books. Who are well respected coaches offering video training etc.

This would mean a different system of membership. But also a membership that would offer MORE VALUE in return.

Personally, since I started to practice the virtues daily, consciously. Since I started to delve more deeply into the CDR years ago. My life has unquestionably expanded for the better. I’m healthier. My family is stronger. I’ve been better prepared to weather the vicissitudes of working as a frontline physician during years of a pandemic. It had strengthened the resources I materially have available to have more freedom for creative, and legacy building endeavors to better my children and community. I would like nothing more than to further develop this system and to assist as many people as possible in living it and moving it beyond where it is today. For they can see the results of living in such a manner made manifest in their life and the lives of those they love.

The first step towards this would be shedding the superfluous and cumbersome “magisterial” system that is great at stagnating everything and not getting tasks done. Once the leadership and purpose is restabilized then hashing out a plan with three facets: (I) Curriculum design (II) Funding model (III) Promotion model

I understand I may be alone or in the minority around such a plan. Ultimately, for myself, I’m fairly convinced this is the path I should go down. So if the RR desires another course that’s right and good. But I shall be seeking the creation of such an organization and putting the brunt of my efforts behind such an aspiration.