Al-Ahram Weekly | Opinion | Letters to the Editor

		Al-Ahram Weekly Online 21 - 27 June 2001 Issue No.539
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue \| Previous issue \| Site map

Paternity suit
Sir- Genghis Khan died in 1227 and Tamerlane was born in 1336. So they could not be father and son ("Plain talk," Al-Ahram Weekly, 14-20 June).
Paolo Lombardini
Zamalek

Bastion of civilisation
Sir- Given that he is an artist, as well as the minister of culture, I thought that building an ugly cement wall around Abu Simbel would go against Farouk Hosni's artistic nature. If construction has already started, it will be easy to dismantle it. There is absolutely no good reason for this atrocious wall. We might as well bomb the temples, like the ignorant Taliban. We might as well build a wall around the Giza Pyramids.
The minister claims that the wall is to protect Abu Simbel from possible terrorist attacks; but this problem could be solved in a better and less negative way. An ugly wall, and the meaning behind it, will only reduce the inflow of tourists, as it will give them cause to worry about the possibility of terrorism. If they go all the way to Luxor and/or Aswan, terrorism is initially far from their minds. But seeing the awful new construction may make them worry. This is not good tourism policy, and will worry foreign travel agents and tour leaders. We have a good security system, and should adapt all possible progressive and modern means. Not even a transparent fiberglass wall will achieve these objectives.
I have a feeling that the proposed wall is being built for another purpose. Could it be just to prevent people from enjoying a free sound and light show from their cruisers? What a price to pay, in order to save a few pounds!
I suggest that all boats be prevented from approaching or cruising along the Nile during the sound and light show (which always begins after sunset), and from docking close to the other temples, to protect the environment and topography.
A special berth could be built far from the temples. Even at a distance, tourists could enjoy the fabulous sight, as the monuments are certainly big enough. This would satisfy visitors and tourists, yet prevent erosion, and make it impossible for ships to include free sound and light shows on their itineraries.
Abu Simbel was dismantled in the early 1960s and then reconstructed, piece by huge piece, in order to evade inundation after the opening of the High Dam. Please don't let all that reconstruction work go for nothing. This is a landmark and the pride of the Egyptians. We have taken their land away from them, so at least leave their heritage alone.
All people have a right to see our archaeological heritage and fabulous monuments. What a beautiful sight to see these temples blending naturally in with the landscape and horizon. Please don't tamper with it. We are not the Taliban.
Hoda Nassef
Cairo

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