Rome tolerated every abominable practice, embraced every foul idea in the name of freedom and the rights of the common man. Citizens no longer carried on deviant behavior in private, but pridefully displayed it in public. It was those with moral values who could no longer freely walk in a public park without having to witness a revolting display.What happened to the public censors who protected the majority of citizenry from moral decadence? Did freedom have to mean abolishing common decency? Did freedom mean anyone could do anything they wanted anytime they wanted, without consequences?
The text discusses the moral decline in Rome, where practices once hidden in shame are now openly displayed as a form of freedom. Citizens embrace these aberrations, leading to a society where those with traditional values feel uncomfortable in public spaces, affected by the visible moral decay around them.
Questions arise about the role of public censors who once upheld decency, pondering whether true freedom necessitates the loss of common moral standards. It challenges the notion that freedom equates to the ability to act without restraint or accountability, reflecting on the implications of such a societal shift.