A Stark Reminder Of The Instability In The Middle East

On our return to Cairo for three days, Sam took us past the gravesite of his favorite Egyptian leader, Anwar Sadat.  The most courageous man of the 1970s, Sadat worked with Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter to bring peace between Egypt and Israel in 1978 (see, I CAN say something nice about Carter).

It's Egypt's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and very close to the parade review grounds.  Sadat had ordered the construction of the Tomb after the 1973 October War to honor those who died.  Sadat's second wife, Jehan, asked to buried next to Sadat, and her request was granted.  She did not die until 2021. 

I vividly remember his assassination in 1982.  When people claim that we are living in the most turbulent times, I scoff.  The 60s were crazy, the 70s were unstable, and the early 80s featured assassination attempts on President Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and, of course, the assassination of Sadat.  

The most important thing to remember about the Peace Treaty is that it has lasted to this day, 45 years and counting.  I doubt many people believed it would last that long.

(As an aside, for those who think this is a difficult time to be alive, read about the Great Depression, followed by the twin events of World War II and the Holocaust.  Then chill and turn on Netflix.)

Apropos of nothing, the member of the

crew in blue (further left) is wearing

a New York Yankees hat.  I've traveled

all over the world, and when I see locals

wearing hats of American baseball teams,

they are wearing Yankee hats 

(definitely not Mets hats!)

Even though we couldn't stop, 

it is a moving memorial.