We had a totally awesome three days checking out various tombs and ancient temples in Luxor. I got back to Cairo yesterday, and started pulling together the raw materials for a very deep think-piece here about the fate of empires etc– with our clamber over the ruins of the statue of Ozymandias providing a great leaping-off point.
Unfortunately, however, I had a late buffet lunch at the Nile Hilton yesterday that totally pole-axed me and spent much of the evening clasping the toilet bowl as I heaved profusely into it.
Lucky, really, that at this stage in life my body has enough anti-bodies in it to various Egyptian tummy bugs that it knew exactly what to do and repelled all invading microbes in efficient (I guess) and thorough fashion.
So there went “Ozymandias, king of kings” (Shelley reference needed here.)
Actually, here’s another interesting thing about Ozymandias (a.k.a. Ramses 3). He, too, like a present-day would-be emperor, got into a big battle against a big city in the Fertile Crescent. He won it, and had himself extensively represented in carvings wearing the 1400 B.C.E. version of W’s flight suit… Won the battle, yes, but ended up losing the war.
And now we get to kick sand in his face.
By the way, I’m not in Egypt any more.
Hey, Helena, glad to see you’re having a good time in (perhaps) warmer climes. You’d think a top hostelry like the Hilton wouldn’t have you worshipping at the Porcelein Altar. Poor thing. I went for Kerry myself on the now-familiar electability platform. I like your depiction of Shrub as a sad little president.
I’ve been to Palestine/Israel and can imagine the wanton ugliness offered by the barriers. They’re a great step back from peace, let alone dignity.
When you get back, I’d like to tell you about a congregation-based community organizing effort for justice some of us clergy are working on under the tutelage of a national network acronymned DART.
Bruce
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