If you've been watching the news, images from across the Middle East portraying a breakdown of peace, the dissolution of decorum, the disturbing display from unruly mobs of young and old, men and women alike, have been etched in your memory. Could this type of anarchy also awaken in the United States?

Two millennia ago, the Western world was in a state of uneasy peace, commonly referred to as Pax Romana. This peace was brought about by the region's only superpower, an entity powerful enough to give pause to nations thinking about independence. While this peace led to an explosion in literature, culture and technology, it did not last long.

As the Roman Empire collapsed under the strain of supporting a morally—and financially—bankrupt society, this state of uneasy peace came to an end, throwing the region into chaos. History is repeating itself.

A recent article highlighted how much of the U.S. debt is held by foreign creditors (approximately 30%). China and Japan combined hold about 40% of the foreign-owned debt. Other creditors include the UK, Russia, Canada, Hong Kong, and many oil-exporting nations in the Middle East.

In what some are calling a “landmark decision,” two UK High Court judges recently ruled that a couple could not serve as foster parents because they believe homosexuality is a sin. The case was brought by a social worker who was worried when the couple would not condone homosexuality. Mrs. Johns, one of the potential foster parents, commented for herself and her husband: “We are prepared to love and accept any child. All we were not willing to do was to tell a small child that the practice of homosexuality was a good thing.”

Last week, a 9.0 earthquake struck Japan, the strongest quake recorded to hit Japan. The quake destroyed structures on Japan’s north-east coast and damaged a nuclear power plant that is now releasing radiation. The quake generated a 30 foot-high tsunami that devastated coastal villages. As the tsunami sped west, it also impacted islands in the Pacific and coastal areas along the west coast of North, Central, and South America (USA Today, March 14, 2011, 1A).