A few years ago when the Egyptian "Spring" sprung forth I listened to that dimwit Monica Crawley hold forth that we were ignoring that "fact" that the Arab Spring was all George Bush's policies come to life. Now that matters have, to be polite, not worked out so well, it is time to look again at North Africa, and Egypt, perhaps not so much through politically rose covered glasses.
I've never been to Egypt and what I know of it comes from books, a curiousity about geography in general and now CNN. It doesn't feel like 30 years since Sadat was gunned down - a strong enough visual at the time to stick in my head - and Mubarak and Israel didn't have another fruitless war so Egypt was somewhat off my radar. A commentator said that if Mubarak resigns and leaves Egypt he will be the only leader of Egypt in its history NOT to die in office. I suppose that is true and its an interesting observation.
Looking at a map of Egypt (so to get my places straight so I can follow the newscasts), I noticed a town called "Mut". In school there was a class on Egyptian gods and goddesses and Mut, if I remember right, was something of the mother figure but thats about it. Well Mut, Egypt, needs a little PR or at least a chamber of commerce as the current description doesn't exactly make me want to go there:
Mut is probably the most "tourist friendly" village in the Dakhla Oasis and does have some accommodations and amenities in that regard, including a number of hot sulphur pools. Some better stuff about the town can be found here. It appears the town was named after the goddess or there is some connection which eludes me if it is past the obvious.
I wonder what people in Mut are thinking about all that has gone on in the past few years. Cairo and the Mediterranean seems light years away from Mut. I don't think many Mut'ians" Twitter or are on Facebook; local cell phone access seems probably a bit spotty as well. There is a supposition on my part that Mut might be passed over in the scheme of events unfolding and it will go on its merry way regardless - just as it probably has done for a few thousand years.
I wonder what people in Mut are thinking about all that has gone on in the past few years. Cairo and the Mediterranean seems light years away from Mut. I don't think many Mut'ians" Twitter or are on Facebook; local cell phone access seems probably a bit spotty as well. There is a supposition on my part that Mut might be passed over in the scheme of events unfolding and it will go on its merry way regardless - just as it probably has done for a few thousand years.
The point of this? The unrest is unique for a lot of reasons not the least of which is the juxtaposition of somewhat modern Cairo, Tripoli or Tunis with a land so ancient and unchanging as to be out of our comprehension. We don't have a Mut, Egypt counterpart here or frankly know of many first hand. No towns in the rurals here that are named after goddesses from a 40 centuries ago. Mut is far on the otherside of the birth of Christ as we are on this side of it. What is going on up north will be old news when it hits Mut full force and in the scope of things, will be just a bump in the road.
Anyone who wants to assume leadership of one of these sandhills would do well to read this written at the entrance to Ramases' tomb: "And he found Mut at the head of the gods, Fate and fortune in her hand, Lifetime and breath of life are hers to command...I have not chosen a protector among men. I have not sought myself a protector among the great...My heart is filled with my mistress. I have no fear of anyone. I spend the night in quiet sleep, because I have a protector"....and realize that her hand, the protector hand, rests in the dust a lifetime's journey from your palace.
Nothing quiet in North Africa today.
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