There are many reasons why “Part 2s," and successive iterations in films do worse than those that came before. Generally though, eventually a series will bleed out as more are made until it is forgotten, or laughed at. Usually because the first movie in a series was inspired by some novel idea, moral, or angle that captivated audiences. Then, movie number two in the series comes along and it wasn’t as good as the first because it was diluted; diluted because it was not inspired from the same dream as the first, and instead merely a continuation of the first like a bad run-on sentence. 

Thus the importance of memory, reflection, and dedication of that inspiration.

For as long as I can recall, some naysayer here or there has likened whatever decadence that they see around them in the United States to that of Rome, or some other long dead civilization. “America’s collapse is imminent!" Bah! Maybe a more intellectual and truer thing to claim would be likened to part 2’s and 3’s of movies. America’s death as a country will be slow, mostly because it forgets itself. I would personally claim that like an old man who wakes up with the same mind as his twenty-year old self would feel depressed upon seeing the wrinkles on his face in the mirror – Lady Liberty certainly wouldn’t recognize herself in a mirror.

The West has long claimed to be inspired by the philosophies of the ancient Greeks and the Republic of Rome. That is not the reason we exist, which was originally to escape from religion being forced on us by law and thus the eventual threat of violence by a tyrannical king or queen. No, the founding fathers of our constitution and nation were inspired by Rome and Greece and thus modeled our values and institutions on a dream of the past, and our slippage is forgetting our inspiration, and that which we inherited from the Europeans that was handed down to them from their fathers of those same ancient places.

“Patronus,” meant, "Fatherly Protector,” in ancient Rome, which is where the word "patron" in English is derived from. Back then a “Patronus," would have been a wealthy man somewhere around the Mediterranean who would spend his mornings listening to the difficulties of those less fortunate - perhaps they were too poor to hire a lawyer, or the breadwinner in the family died and they needed help keeping food on the table, or perhaps they didn't have the skills to keep their fields from being flooded, and the Patronus would pay for what he could. Sometimes they would even pay for tutors to educate the gifted children in their local communities, and spend money to call for talented doctors to aid a local sickness. 

In return, the people who came to ask for help would provide intelligence, skilled labor, and protection to the Fatherly Protector of the community. This communal relationship allowed for upwards mobility for those that would otherwise be unable, as well as a transfer of health, food, and money from the top down. The Romans grew this system from the Greeks, who believed that as part of a nation, one owed a civic responsibility, or virtue, through paying for local ceremonies, plays, schools, and educators among many other things.

In the Renaissance, this system can be seen to change into wealthy families like the Medici, who pay artists handsomely for their work, and later in Europe, eventually people would give money to schools to further scientific studies.

But there is a keen de-evolution happening there, that has only grown more and more threadbare in our own country:

Where are the dedicated patrons who have interpersonal relationships with and monitor their local communities and their cities beyond that? From giving to the arts and sciences, to now blindly giving money to universities and schools, the responsibility and dedication of the “Patron,” has shifted.

“I’ve given to this charity," or “I’ve donated to this program." Thus are the things said to alleviate guilt or to help someone who could be in the “Patronus" role, feel they’ve made an impact, all the while the divide between who has the wealth and resources between those who do not is growing at breakneck speed. A further lack of communication to and from those at the top of the wealth hierarchy and those at the bottom has only borne a divide devoid of empathy and full of resentment and paranoia.

Where are the ancient Patron’s of a city, who commissioned statues, new roads, and parks? Now, that money is given to an institution, be it the city or an art gallery, who may or may not do a good job. How many more lame, post-modern stacks of triangles and squares in place of statues do we need? Maybe I am approaching this wrong. Perhaps it's just a money-laundering scheme between the wealthy and institutions, and the rest of us just have to suffer the stacked-toddler blocks in our public spaces instead of things that inspire awe.

No, the West has traded the true nature of patronage for quick and easy fixes: “Here is money, City-Bureaucracy, fix that road.”

How much better would it be if we could better integrate the wealthy and those less fortunate? When that gap gets too wide, as we saw in Russia with the overthrowing of the merchant class and the nobility in favor of communism, then the structure of a civilization becomes untenable.

By taking more time to get to know those around you, you who would claim the long-dead title of “Patronus,” can better assess what your community needs. I beg the inspiration for the West – the grandchildren of Rome and Greece can look back to what made the first iterations great, so that we don’t continue down this path of, “America Part Two."

The role of a dedicated father or mother of the community can ensure the right culture makes it to the next generation, and those who you saved and protected may be inspired to continue to shape things in the way you want as time marches forward. 

Austin Petak is an aspiring novelist and freelance journalist who loves seeking stories and the quiet passions of the soul. If you are interested in reaching out to him to cover a story, you may find him at austinpetak@gmail.com.

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