Valley of the Kings

As I have discussed in several commentaries, I have been blessed to travel the world. (Eight around the world trips, passport stamped in 157 countries) Mark Twain said that India is the ultimate travel destination, without a doubt, India is the photographer's dream, unforgettable sights anywhere you look, but I still believe that Egypt is the traveler-historian's Mecca. Just think, the 17 million population city of Cairo, Luxor, Thebes, Abu Simbel, the temples and the archeological greatness of the Valley of the Kings. The great plateau at Giza, the Great Pyramid.

I have traveled through Egypt several times, entered the Great Pyramid, explored the tomb of King Tutankhamen, was in the temple of Queen Hatshepsut when they were uncovering it. She was a female pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty, one of the more successful pharaohs.

I think the traveler-historian-Bible scholar falls in love with Egypt because of its antiquity and the fact that so much of its ancient greatness is well-preserved. Egypt is referred to in the Bible many times. The baby Jesus probably saw the Great Pyramid when His parents fled to Egypt, the only long trip He ever made. In other commentaries I have described my thoughts on the Great Pyramid.

I was in the Hilton hotel in Cairo, the great Egyptian museum is just to the rear of this hotel...right on the Nile. I am not a large man, and I was in the back of the elevator, probably not noticed by the Egyptian officials who entered the elevator. One was complaining about the hotel being filled with Americans. The other Egyptian official said, “we are overrun with Americans constantly, they have all the money, all the influence. Many of our brothers cannot stay here, because we never have a vacancy, we cannot afford to anger the Americans, or even the Europeans.” I believe the thing that amazes every tourist in Egypt, is the same thing that amazes Egyptians in America...disparity, a few very wealthy living off the fat of the land, masses of the poor supposed content with crumbs from the table.

Egypt is the most populated Muslim country, 83 million. Staying in various cities, I found the people very friendly, they are beleaguered by government control. I understand that not more than 10 can assemble in a place. After President Sadat was assassinated 30 years ago, Mubarak took over, he is one of the world's strongest dictators. He has been the pet of American presidential administrations, because they want he and Egypt to be a stabilizing force in the Middle East. America gives Egypt as much money as America gives Israel, about $12 billion each year. Very little of it gets down to the common man, as was the case with Yassar Arafat, who cleaned up from American largess, I think most of it goes into dictator's European bank accounts.

The thing about television, internet, radios (Al Jazeera) you cannot keep the people in darkness, many have seen the light of liberty. With all the tourists who pollute their country, the rewards of freedom. The old mantra of “going along to get along”, just surviving, dictator's promises, knowledge of prison tortures and other corruption has gotten old. The people know they are pawns in international geopolitical intrigue. They know about the 100 ton bomb which Israel set off in the Negave desert last week. They know about food shortages which will afflict the world, that Saudi Arabia has purchased enough wheat for one year. They know that America, in the final analysis, will defend Israel. They probably know that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recalled 180 ambassadors to Washington, probably to prepare them for a greater Middle East conflict. The news is out, mostly from Wikileaks about consistent inconsistencies in Egyptian politics.

I am convinced that great civilizations like Greece, Persia (Iran), Iraq, Syria, Ireland, Portugal, and Egypt, people who have shown their greatness in so many ways throughout history, will not be humiliated by dictators, will not have their humanity and common sense abrogated by other nations, even the United States of America.

One day in Luxor, where horses and carriages are used to transport you to various scenic spots, hot weather, files...I saw one horse fall over dead from being pushed too hard. Much to my surprise, no matter how bad a civilization/culture/society/citizens are treated, they usual profess pride and support for their country. You must really push them to the brink in order for them to turn on you. The dictator of Egypt, the dictator of Tunisia, the dictator of Jordan, even the dictator of America are all learning that the people will push back.

George Santayanna said, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Gamal Abdel Nasser had a heart attack, Sadat was assassinated, I understand there have been many assassination attempts on Mubarak. As with most dictators, Tito – Yugoslavia, Mussolini – Italy, the people have been stripped of their weapons. But, even if Mubarak's army supported him, mass killings will not be permitted by the world. We know that the Pharaohs army drowned as he pursued Jewish slaves. We have found chariot axles in the Red Sea. Again, Egyptians slaves (21^st century Egyptian slaves), hanging onto buses trying to get somewhere, sleeping on the streets, are not making bricks without straw, but have had enough enslavement.

One bad decision can change the rest of your life. You reach the place when you have had enough manipulation, especially in-your-face manipulation. It astounds me that people cannot understand simplicity, the simplicity of the Gospel, the simplicity of the deity of God. The simplicity of one man being humane, decent to another. We cannot control everything, you take life one day at a time and do the best you can with it. These are your days, it is your life, you do not live in submission to any other man.