Rest in Peace Good Old Fellow Khufu,
Egypt Has Forgiven Your Debt
Watching the Most Respected World Media marvel at Egypt's sophisticated prosecutorial wizardry under the deftly hands of Attorney General Abdul Maguid Mahmoud, One Can’t help but look pensively back at the legacy of the man who caused all this reveling at his criminal investigation and detention.
Hosni Mubarak for sure was not the first corrupt absolute ruler of a modern nation. Nor was he the most blood-thirsty despotic figure among his peers of modern dictators. Nor still was he the most notorious for being the focus of derision and scorn amongst world leaders. So what exactly is the secret behind this sweeping media frenzy that finds wide audiences around the world after his name while he was at the summit of power and now that he is in abject state of contempt having been arrested like a common thief?
The answer is simply Egypt! … Egypt is not merely a developing Middle Eastern Country with a huge population and a powerful Regional military presence, or merely an historic cultural center with a long legacy and classic heritage, or a mesmerizing ancient civilization of interest to adult and child alike. But, besides being all that and more, it is a Biblical Spirit always peering through human history, theologically, geo-politically and in parable. Egypt’s spirit permeates its sphere of influence. It affects and causes effects like no other nation amongst its sister nations. They call it: The Cradle of Civilization. He who Rules Egypt gets this special status rubbed in on him.
So looking at Hosni Mubarak the man and his legacy, one must have a point of reference for a given perspective. Here, in this very brief pensive look at Mubarak and his legacy, I have chosen a comparable figure from the depth of Egypt’s ancient history. Historians divide the history of ancient Egypt into three distinct Dynasties; Early (or Old) Dynasties, Middle Dynasties and Late Dynasties.
My choice was the most famous Pharaoh of the Early Dynasties. Like Mubarak, he was an absolute and haughty Pharaoh and acted like one. Like Mubarak he had two sons. And like Mubarak, his two sons had either succeeded him or exercised influence for being his sons.
My choice was the most famous Pharaoh of the Early Dynasties. Like Mubarak, he was an absolute and haughty Pharaoh and acted like one. Like Mubarak he had two sons. And like Mubarak, his two sons had either succeeded him or exercised influence for being his sons.
Khufu is the Pharaoh that I have chosen, right or wrong, he is merely a point of reference for a reflection. Khufu was a Great Pharaoh of sort. Certainly he was a great builder, and a man with a vision and a will of steel. He was also a man who was obeyed by his subjects and aids alike; either for fearing him or for loving him, we just don’t have this kind of information reliably telling us which was which.
Khufu ruled for 32 years, Mubarak for 30 years. Khufu was succeeded by his son Khoff’Raa, who was succeeded by his son Mun’kow’Raa. … Mubarak was almost succeeded by his son Gamal but (not Raa), who would have definitely been succeeded by his son to be, but also (not Raa!)
Khufu Looted Egypt’s National Resources for 20 years of his 32 year-reign and poured them into the construction of a tomb for his dead body to be buried in; the Great Pyramid bearing his name of the three pyramids of Giza. It took 20,000 men 20 years to construct that pyramid, and 50% of the grain crops and animal live stock of the nation to pay the men, feed them, and import whatever material they needed and did not produce in Egypt to finish the project … The project was finished, the Pharaoh was dead, and was, as he wished, buried in his great edifice along with all the rest of the Loot; Gold, Silver, Food and Furniture. He knew that he would resurrect, but had no idea that he would never be able to use those things ever again!
His Son also tried to do the same thing. He too Looted an already weakened nation economically as well as population-wise having had to toil for 20 years under austere conditions with no returns because almost everything was diverted to the Pharaoh’s edifice. But out of the lesser Loot, he built a lesser pyramid. … And the story was repeated verbatim by the succeeding son who, too, did build yet a smaller pyramid, because by that time, the nation had almost been bankrupted.
On request from, and commissioned by, National Geographic, A San Francisco huge Engineering and construction firm ran a study to estimate how much the great pyramid of Egypt would cost in today’s money effort and technology to build. The cost-engineering team, whom I know personally, ran the necessary engineering model and came up with astounding information.
The computer model showed that if we were to attempt to build the great pyramid of Giza today, it would take 5000 pieces of equipment, and 6000 workers, technicians and engineers over a period of 5 years and would cost a staggering $7 billion Dollars US in today’s money. Indexing this figure to equivalent money value of the time of the pharaohs, that figure would be $70 Billion Dollars US.
So what we have is a Pharaoh who Looted $70 Billion Dollars from His Country Egypt over a period of 32 years and poured that Loot into a tomb in which he lay dead for 5000 years … And 5000 years later, we have another Pharaoh who Looted $70 Billion Dollars from his country Egypt over a period of 30 years.
Are we to say that it is just an application of the old cliché … History repeats itself? … Well … Let us take a second look at that history … The Guy who looted $70 Billion and poured it into an edifice and lay dead in it gave Egypt a Big Fat Hen that lays Golden Eggs, which has already reproduced the $70 Billion Dollars several times over in Tourism revenues, and will continue to lay Golden Eggs for as long as Egypt keeps it alive and well.
The other guy who Looted $70 Billion Dollars smuggled them secretly, stealthily and by connive out of Egypt and he is now lying in a borrowed hospital bed in abject scorn and contempt by his subjects, unable to lie in a pyramid or lie on top of his loot …
So where is that history that has repeated itself here? … It is probably buried among the secrets of Khufu at Giza. …
Rest in peace good old fellow Khufu, for I am certain, your great, great, great grand fellow Egyptians have forgiven your debt.
