Modern-day Concubine and the fall of the Roman empire
Throughout history man has stored women for his personal adventure, to quench a thirst that appears to be sexual, but is actually much deeper of a thirst than just a mere act. As I watch movies such as The Prince of Persia, and read history books describing the Qing Dynasty, I question. We witness the fantasy of a room filled with beautiful women whose only objective is to appease the King. We men in modern day all feel as if we are Kings in one form or another. We revel in the thought of it all. But is this fantasy unobtainable, or are there men who have such a life? Not in the middle ages, not in the Middle East, not after a Muslim jihad sacrifice, but right here in 2010 on this American soil?
Yes we do. You’d venture to think that the number of women who would subject themselves to such a life are diminishing. With the independence of women, and the less tolerance for male inadequacy, you may guess that concubines are virtually impossible. Even the pimp game has run its course. That industry in Nevada has women who are more times than not, better paid and in more control than their patrons.
The modern day concubine is a strong and independent woman with her own money and is in “full” control of her life. So she thinks. They have come to the conclusion that life should not be 
about chasing a man and protecting him from his own stupidity. This concubine is a concubine by choice, not indentured or enslaved. She no longer cares what that fool does once he is outside of her presence. So if a man chooses to have 3, 4 or 5 independent women who are not chasing his hand in marriage because they have given up on the thought that he is worth it, our worst nightmares and our nastiest fantasies are all realized simultaneously.
But where does that leave us as a civilized society? Are there consequences to this perception that are worst than the former marital commitment lifestyle that we once valued? As I look back on my path of stolen hearts and crushed female dreams, how many have given up on what they held so dear at the age of 9 while playing house on the front porch? Is that my fault that I was the deliverer of such a harsh reality? Or was the dream so far into fantasy that it is good that our society is slowly reprioritizing?
If you study the fall of great nations in history, you will find the first institution that crumbled was it’s moral institutions. If not studied and considered, history will repeat itself. When a society prioritizes paganism over God, or materialism over humanity, we are witnessing the b
eginning of the end. In further proof of this fact, despite the murderous nature of many armies, the everyday citizens of newly created dynasties tend to have a high moral structure. The small flaws within that structure tend to grow into larger issues that eventually topple any great society. As we in America reach the peak of our dawn, we must embrace philosophies that create a balance between self-indulgence and harmony. If not, we too will fall as did Rome.
balance.
that’s all i can think of after reading this at this late hour.
Wow! I had to re read this article twice. Initially I read Qin dynasty and was highly confused but then thought of course they had hoes, they built the great wall and was responsible for currency. All hoes love status and cheddar. But since you wrote Qing and not Qin I should refocus now! Modern day concubines most def exist! The only difference is they have been defined as mistress and go by names like Monica Lawinski and superhead. However on a smaller scale, does the position of the concubine really affect the decision of the man? Rather royalty or lil boobies girl from the block, lady number two should know her place just as in ancient china. Concubinage lives on, however I’m confident the paradigm can withstand the hot spot but greed, and immediate gratification through selfish, egotistic gains will forever affect modern day relationships.
Statistics show that fifty percent or more of all marriages end with divorce. Cheating rates among couples are even higher! How many times in our century to people get married? Two? Three? How often is it only one for a lifetime? It is not very often at all and it is a shame on us citizens. Where are your morals when it comes to love, relationships, and sex? My parents have been married since they were seventeen years old and they are still married. I have a brother and sister and there relationship is even better now that we are older. I really look up to them for that. I have been anxiously waiting for a guy with similar morals as myself when it comes to love, but I too am on the verge of giving up. It is so common these days to get so tangled up in focusing only on pleasure. It has become a habit for the majority of society, especially people in my generation. This is most definitely a social issue we have in society but I feel that It is rarely addressed, especially in media. If anything, media these days enhances, contributes, and encourages these habits. But how can we tell people what morals they should have? I feel that it impossible to do. I know that there are a handful of people not sucked into following habits of pleasure and bad morals, but for the rest of society I feel that it is a growing trend. This issue has bothered me since I was a young teenager, and more so now that I am getting older. It frustrates me, it angers me, yet there is not much I can do about others’ behaviors.
The situation is complicated and sometimes bleak, but viewing these issues of morality in a new light is as necessary now as it has ever been. We need to individually prioritize and determine if the values of our society are aligned with our own. If they are not, we should make a conscientious effort to operate with regards to our own view of morality rather than others. The working girls in Nevada may be seen as a blight on our society, but it is likely their conceptions of reality and society are more realistic than ours.
I totally agree with Armineh when she says “balance”. I believe in fact that its all in balance and keeping your beliefs. I myself, consider myself in being an independent women that has her own and yet I’m also that woman that condone in my mate feeling like the king in the relationship. Balancing has a lot to do with that as well. I feel like the queen and my mate feels like the king, as a relationship should. And as far as my beliefs in marriage, its sustains always. Marriage has always been important to me and will always. I wouldn’t chase anyone for a hand in marrige, or lose my beliefs, I will just come across someone that is looking for the same things in life as I am…. Balance.
“If you study the fall of great nations in history, you will find the first institution that crumbled was it’s moral institutions. If not studied and considered, history will repeat itself. When a society prioritizes paganism over God, or materialism over humanity, we are witnessing the beginning of the end…As we in America reach the peak of our dawn, we must embrace philosophies that create a balance between self-indulgence and harmony. If not, we too will fall as did Rome.”
I have to disagree. No empire or great nation was ever founded on the strength of its moral purity and benevolence, or known for lack of materialism. Greed and immorality are in fact the driving engine that creates empires in the first place. Alexander, Caesar, The East India Trading Company…all created their place in history by conquest, and all committed acts of barbarism and cruelty that put modern standards to shame. You can’t create a wealthy and powerful nation without the desire to rule, and a willingness to commit unspeakable horrors against those who would stop you. In fact, I would argue that all the leading nations of the world rose to prominence and power because of their ruthlessness in exploiting another culture.
I’m reminded of two quotes from Balzac:
“Behind every great fortune, there is a great crime.”
“Manners are the hypocrisy of nations.”
There is always someone out there looking for someone .Many women looking for men or vise versa. In todays society , money talks . There are a lot of women who dedicate themselves to one single man. If you have ever seen the show on TLC “Sister Wives” its about a man with three wives. They have 17 children…
In a nation like ours, we do need balance. If everyone were to go and be whatever they want, have women/men, babies ,spend money , and not be moral about all these issues, our nation will crumble. There are limitations in where balance has to always be there. If we dont walk in a straight line and start curving, we will see the consequences .
I do believe that a man has used women to get what they need done and a woman is the #1 mule because she’s willing to lose faith in a man& do whatever he wants for temporary happiness even if it means they have to sell themselves and be in control a woman whom makes the money seems as if she doesn’t need a man but a man needs her.
I disagree with portions of the article. There are so many cultures that have their own set of moral values and who are we to judge them? Indians for example have lived with many wives and their society was just as civilized as ours but because it was different from European values we annihilated them. Everyone’s point of view is different why should we use moral values as a scape goat for the fall of any society.
I agree with another student’s post – “every culture have their own set of moral values.” I don’t understand why there’s so much judgement on how others should live. What may not work for us does not make it wrong for others. If no one is harm, then people should be able to be who they are. I just watched an episode of “Sister Wives” on TCL network about a guy having four wives. The wives are okay with having to share their husband. However, in the eyes of many they are not what you would consider a traditional family. Everyone’s perception of a family differs and our society spends too much wasted time trying to implement what they perceive as being correct.
thought provoking. I think you give a little too much power to the fact that it is men who crush women’s dreams. I think modern day women have come to dream bigger and better. There is less of need to be a “kept” woman. Women are experiencing and enjoying their sexual freedoms more than ever and that should frighten some men. More women are becoming single mothers on their own volution, they have come to realize that not only do they not need men, they have also come to learn they can’t rely on them either. I think the balance should be with self-responsiblity and accountablitiy.
The leaders of a conquest are of a different mentality of the general population of a State. After conquest, the inhabitants are a mix of indigenous and migrant peoples. In order to calm the population there requires a moral or religious ideological infiltration. Hence the hypocrisy, yet and still as the 99% fades to the level of the conquering class, anarchy grows.
Regardless of culture, self-indulgence and harmony are always polar opposites. Self-indulgence will always lead to destruction, harmony will never lead to destruction, unless self-indulgence interferers. You can’t live alone, thus how you treat others has an effect that supersedes culture. Empires collapse regardless of culture. The only culture I criticized is this one, but if children don’t know who or where daddy is, that impacts all cultures negatively.
Modern day concubines is a interesting term. I personally dont understand why woman choose to live this lifestyle. I am all for the independent woman and knowing her self worth but are we taking this new attitude a little too far? Everytime a woman sleeps with a different man I do believe she loses a part of herself even if it is in the simplest way. So if you are a woman that sleeps with man after man because you are so called independent and dont need a man that tells me what your self worth is and its not worth much..self reflection is what you really need. I dont see how a woman can feel comfortable dealing with a man that chooses to see and sleep with multiple woman. We are creating these men who call themselves “Players”. Now I’m not speaking of all woman here I personally know of woman who just dont deal with men period and just focus on their life..now those are true independent woman. Some people speak of sexual freedom..well if opening your legs is viewed as a freedom to you…thats sad. Some speak of single woman starting familys..well I think that is selfish because in most cases a mother and father is needed to raise a succesful child with true values and morals. Man and woman create a unity and a sense of balance. I have brought up this point to many people…prostitutes get payed for having sex…promiscuous woman dont get paid for having sex..I actually have more respect for the prostitutes..at least they know they are worth at least something..just a thought LOL
This was interesting being that everyone nowadays would settle for the quick pleasure instead of being patient for the right one. This a society of now, everybody wants it easy and now instead of putting in the work. I feel when you take the quick route nothing will last, but when your patient, letting things grow you will see a better outcome and less divorces. People take the little things for granted, when the little things maybe the secret ingredient for a lifetime lasting relationship and happy marriage. If you can get it that easy its not worth having. Some people have very few morals or if any at all.