I was watching the Democratic debates tonight, and heard Tulsi Gabbard talking about the word “Aloha”. She says that it is so much more than marking comings and goings of meetings of strangers and friends — it is the recognition that we all share a connectedness, whether it is our first meeting, or our last goodbye.

I actually had been thinking all day about the word “Howdy” which to most people is Texas way of saying hello, a cowboy shorthand, like “Adios.”

However, to me it reminds me of my Latin I course, where many years ago I learned much of the basic currency of the Roman Empire. It is obvious to me — “Howdy” is derived from the word “Hodie” which means “Today”. Because this is what everyone shares when meeting.

What does that say about the empire?