The Musée Guimet in Paris is home to a remarkable sculpture from the Tang dynasty of a Chinese woman playing polo. Remarkable not only because of its artistic qualities, but for its witness to the tolerant, prosperous & cosmopolitan society that was Tang dynasty China. 1/

The last few years and especially the last few months, I’ve thought a lot about the sculpture (which I hope to see in person again someday when this is over). I’ve especially thought a lot about the last week. 2/

For those who don’t know a lot about Chinese history, the Tang dynasty is thought of as one of the golden ages of China, a time of technological advance and innovation and the period when many of the cornerstones of Chinese literature were written. 3/

The Tang capital of Chang’an (長安) is thought to have been the largest city in the world at the time - with people from all over the world living in it, brought to China by trade along the Silk Road. 4/

Tolerance was another key hallmark of Tang China, with Chang’an containing places of worship for Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Nestorian Christian, along side traditional Chinese temples. 5/

But the reason, I’ve thought about the sculpture from the first tweet a lot is because the Tang dynasty lasted for about 300 years. In other words, a little longer than the United States has been around. 6/

I often wonder if we haven’t been blinded by the remarkable success of our country in its (by historical standards) short, blink of an eye history, operating with too much confidence that past is prologue. 7/

When it may turn out that, in truth, we and our ancestors - like the people of the Tang dynasty - may have been living in the exception rather than the rule. 8/

How else to explain the blasé reaction in the face of threats. COVID sure, but not just COVID. In so many ways, we of this age haven’t shown the ability to be a serious country. 9/