Based on this historic and prophetic setting, one might suspect that the impending destruction of Am Yisrael by Haman may be a Divine punishment for their apathy. After all, the Jews living in the Persian empire appear to have:
Preferred Shushan over Yerushalayim;
Opted to subjugate themselves to Ahashveyrosh rather than respond to God's call to return to their land;
Replaced the Beit HaMikdash with the palace of Ahashveyrosh!