Bangladesh, June 14 -- History rarely repeats itself in exact form, but it often echoes in ways that are impossible to ignore. For those who study archaeology and the rise and fall of civilizations, the temptation to draw parallels between past empires and present powers is irresistible. It is also dangerous. The collapse of great states is never caused by a single event. Yet certain moments become symbols-markers of deeper trends that reveal what a society values and what it chooses to celebrate.

The proposal to stage a UFC event on the grounds of the White House as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations is one such moment.

To many, it is simply another entertainment spectacle in a country built on showmanship. Supporters se...