Calls to Destroy Egypt’s Great Pyramids Begin

According to several reports in the Arabic media, prominent Muslim clerics have begun to call for the demolition of Egypt’s Great Pyramids—or, in the words of Saudi Sheikh Ali bin Said al-Rabi‘i, those “symbols of paganism,” which Egypt’s Salafi party has long planned to cover with wax. Most recently, Bahrain’s “Sheikh of Sunni Sheikhs” and President of National Unity, Abd al-Latif al-Mahmoud, called on Egypt’s new president, Muhammad Morsi, to “destroy the Pyramids and accomplish what the Sahabi Amr bin al-As could not.”

... as Bahrain’s “Sheikh of Sheikhs” observes, and thanks to modern technology, the pyramids can be destroyed. The only question left is whether the Muslim Brotherhood president of Egypt is “pious” enough—if he is willing to complete the Islamization process that started under the hands of Egypt’s first Islamic conqueror.

http://frontpagemag....y-the-pyramids/

I certainly would.

No. I wouldn't support any such nonsense....its their country to destroy.

how does a foreigner "support" or "oppose" the destruction of the pyramids in Egypt?

"However, while book-burning was an easy activity in the 7^th century, destroying the mountain-like pyramids and their guardian Sphinx was not—even if Egypt’s Medieval Mamluk rulers “de-nosed” the latter during target practice (though popular legend still attributes it to a Westerner, Napoleon)."

A bit of hyperbole worthy of the Daily Mail. Of course the rulers of Egypt were medieval - it was the 7th century That's what 'medieval' means.

What if we Brits decided to bulldoze Stonehenge which predates the Pyramids by approximately 500 years? Would you invade the UK? What if the Cambodians threatened to raze Angkor Wat to the ground? Invade Cambodia?

No, but when they start slaughtering more Christians, it might be something to consider.

Even military intervention didn't stop the Taliban destroying the Bamiyan Buddhas.

I don't really see what outsiders could do. Egyptians have been robbing tombs, especially royal tombs, since dynastic times.

Islamic fundamentalists seem to have no aesthetic values, no historical values, no education whatsoever outside their narrow misinterpretations of the Koran.

It seems to be a new trend. These people don't even respect their Islamic heritage.

_______________________________________________________

Mali Islamists destroy tombs at famous Timbuktu mosque

BAMAKO | Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:09am EDT

(Reuters) - Islamist militants destroyed two tombs on Tuesday at the famous 14th century Djingareyber mosque in Timbuktu, classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site, residents said.

About a dozen militants arrived in an armored four-wheel drive truck, armed with pickaxes and hoes. They fired in the air to intimidate people and started smashing the tombs, said Ibrahim Cisse, who witnessed the scene.

"They blocked the two main roads leading to the mausoleums. When they saw people gathering for a ceremony nearby, they began firing shots in the air," said another resident, Mahamad ould Ibrahim.

http://www.reuters.c...E8690O420120710

Even military intervention didn't stop the Taliban destroying the Bamiyan Buddhas.

How many people had heard of those statues compared to the Pyramids?

No. I wouldn't support any such nonsense....its their country to destroy.

I disagree. The Pyramids are an amazing part of human history, not just ancient Egyptians. They do not belong to any political party in Egypt or religious faction to do with as they please. To allow the leadership of the country to blow them up would be irresponsible.

What if we Brits decided to bulldoze Stonehenge which predates the Pyramids by approximately 500 years? Would you invade the UK? What if the Cambodians threatened to raze Angkor Wat to the ground? Invade Cambodia?

The "importance" is all about public perception and awareness, not necessarily age or value. Support to stop the destruction of Stonehenge could probably be pretty high - but not as high as for the Pyramids. Not as much so for Angkor Wat as amazing as the place might be.

In Egypt, I'd be surprised if support for destruction of the Pyramids among Egyptians was as high as 5%.

No. I wouldn't support any such nonsense....its their country to destroy.

I disagree. The Pyramids are an amazing part of human history, not just ancient Egyptians. They do not belong to any political party in Egypt or religious faction to do with as they please. To allow the leadership of the country to blow them up would be irresponsible.

What is that irresponsibility compared to the loss of life an intervention would result in?

No. I wouldn't support any such nonsense....its their country to destroy.

I disagree. The Pyramids are an amazing part of human history, not just ancient Egyptians. They do not belong to any political party in Egypt or religious faction to do with as they please. To allow the leadership of the country to blow them up would be irresponsible.

What is that irresponsibility compared to the loss of life an intervention would result in?

Well armies rush in to protect "assets" all the time. Think of oil wars. I'm not sure what the value is of the pyramids. Certainly they're destruction would deal a death blow to Egypt's tourism sector, which is pretty big.

I remember when Thailand and Cambodia were having border skirmishes over the Preah Vihear temple. Several soldiers from both sides lost their lives over it. I recall thinking at the time a Solomon like decision to bulldoze the temple might be wise, in that it would save lives that wouldn't need to "defend" a pile of rubble.

^{This is a tough one.}

^{I am all for protecting the worlds historical assets. When those statues were blown up in Afghanistan I think was a sad day for humanity and I remember thinking at the time that somehow, somebody should have stepped in.}

^{As mentioned the Pyramids belong to the Egyptians, but really I think they below to the world, Angkor Wat, Wat Kao Phra Viharn, Stonehenge, The Eiffel Tower even. The WTC was lost and half the world went to war. I bet the Americans would have pre-empted if they had known.}

^{Oil assets are apparently worth going to war over, but not the pyramids?}

^{This is a tough one.}

^{I am all for protecting the worlds historical assets. When those statues were blown up in Afghanistan I think was a sad day for humanity and I remember thinking at the time that somehow, somebody should have stepped in.}

^{As mentioned the Pyramids belong to the Egyptians, but really I think they below to the world, Angkor Wat, Wat Kao Phra Viharn, Stonehenge, The Eiffel Tower even. The WTC was lost and half the world went to war. I bet the Americans would have pre-empted if they had known.}

^{Oil assets are apparently worth going to war over, but not the pyramids?}

I guess one could also think about what it means to be llisted by the UN as a "World Heritage Site". They have conferred this status on hundreds, maybe thousands of globally significant areas. Does the UN classification bring any extrasoverign ramifications with it? I don't know.

^{This is a tough one.}

^{I am all for protecting the worlds historical assets. When those statues were blown up in Afghanistan I think was a sad day for humanity and I remember thinking at the time that somehow, somebody should have stepped in.}

^{As mentioned the Pyramids belong to the Egyptians, but really I think they below to the world, Angkor Wat, Wat Kao Phra Viharn, Stonehenge, The Eiffel Tower even. The WTC was lost and half the world went to war. I bet the Americans would have pre-empted if they had known.}

^{Oil assets are apparently worth going to war over, but not the pyramids?}

I guess one could also think about what it means to be llisted by the UN as a "World Heritage Site". They have conferred this status on hundreds, maybe thousands of globally significant areas. Does the UN classification bring any extrasoverign ramifications with it? I don't know.

It should certainly bring a responsibility. Take Angkor Wat as an example, where foreign aid is slowly helping to repair some of the temples. Surely in poorer countries the leadership should see the potential earning at least from such sites.

The only ones which don't are seemingly fundamentalist Muslims.

Be realistic. If the West won't intervene to save the Syrian dissidents, of whom thousands have been killed, do you really think it is reasonable to suppose they would intervene to save the Pyramids?

No. I wouldn't support any such nonsense....its their country to destroy.

I disagree. The Pyramids are an amazing part of human history, not just ancient Egyptians. They do not belong to any political party in Egypt or religious faction to do with as they please. To allow the leadership of the country to blow them up would be irresponsible.

What is that irresponsibility compared to the loss of life an intervention would result in?

So we should sacrifice the Great Pyramids if it would save one innocent life? No, I believe history would be on the side that intervened to save the Pyramids regardless if tens, hundreds or even thousands died.

^{This is a tough one.}

^{I am all for protecting the worlds historical assets. When those statues were blown up in Afghanistan I think was a sad day for humanity and I remember thinking at the time that somehow, somebody should have stepped in.}

^{As mentioned the Pyramids belong to the Egyptians, but really I think they below to the world, Angkor Wat, Wat Kao Phra Viharn, Stonehenge, The Eiffel Tower even. The WTC was lost and half the world went to war. I bet the Americans would have pre-empted if they had known.}

^{Oil assets are apparently worth going to war over, but not the pyramids?}

Some things belong more to mankind and not just one nation or people. The Pyramids - in my opinion - are one of those things that have transcended national "ownership". In my book, the Egyptians do not have the right to destroy them. They should be immensely proud of that.

A modern example would be space exploration. Who went to the Moon? USA, baby! Who has functioning probes on Mars? USA, baby! That's fine for silly, meaningless, bragging rights but in the big picture everything learned from these explorations is for the benefit of all mankind.

So let the Egyptians brag that they built the Pyramids, but the world should reserve the right to stop them if they try to destroy them.

Now, where to draw the line? What about the other thousands of UN World Heritage sites? Each could deserve their own thread. But this one is about the granddaddy of them all.

No. I wouldn't support any such nonsense....its their country to destroy.

I disagree. The Pyramids are an amazing part of human history, not just ancient Egyptians. They do not belong to any political party in Egypt or religious faction to do with as they please. To allow the leadership of the country to blow them up would be irresponsible.

What is that irresponsibility compared to the loss of life an intervention would result in?

So we should sacrifice the Great Pyramids if it would save one innocent life? No, I believe history would be on the side that intervened to save the Pyramids regardless if tens, hundreds or even thousands died.

Depends on whose that life is. What about you? Are you willing to die for the Pyramids?

^{This is a tough one.}

^{I am all for protecting the worlds historical assets. When those statues were blown up in Afghanistan I think was a sad day for humanity and I remember thinking at the time that somehow, somebody should have stepped in.}

^{As mentioned the Pyramids belong to the Egyptians, but really I think they below to the world, Angkor Wat, Wat Kao Phra Viharn, Stonehenge, The Eiffel Tower even. The WTC was lost and half the world went to war. I bet the Americans would have pre-empted if they had known.}

^{Oil assets are apparently worth going to war over, but not the pyramids?}

Some things belong more to mankind and not just one nation or people. The Pyramids - in my opinion - are one of those things that have transcended national "ownership". In my book, the Egyptians do not have the right to destroy them. They should be immensely proud of that.

A modern example would be space exploration. Who went to the Moon? USA, baby! Who has functioning probes on Mars? USA, baby! That's fine for silly, meaningless, bragging rights but in the big picture everything learned from these explorations is for the benefit of all mankind.

So let the Egyptians brag that they built the Pyramids, but the world should reserve the right to stop them if they try to destroy them.

Now, where to draw the line? What about the other thousands of UN World Heritage sites? Each could deserve their own thread. But this one is about the granddaddy of them all.

That's fine in theory, Koheesti. But as Endure says, would you die for them? I wouldn't.

Me neither...nor for any other tourist attraction.

"Would you die for them?"

The point isn't to go out and die to save the Pyramids. It's to make the other person die trying to destroy them. So would I kill to save the Pyramids? Sure.

"Would you die for them?"

The point isn't to go out and die to save the Pyramids. It's to make the other person die trying to destroy them. So would I kill to save the Pyramids? Sure.

Hmmm....I've never seen them...but I have other historical sights of significance. I wouldn't kill to save them. I would do my best to save life if anything at their expense if necessary.

"Would you die for them?"

The point isn't to go out and die to save the Pyramids. It's to make the other person die trying to destroy them. So would I kill to save the Pyramids? Sure.

Military intervention means that people usually die - possibly some of your fellow US citizens. It's a bit disingenuous to posit that only your opponents are going to die. You're asking your fellow Americans to risk their lives - would you join them and risk yours?

The whole debate would be moot had the Muslim brotherhood not been given the clear support of the U.S administration. It was Obama who insisted the Muslim brotherhood representatives be invited to attend his speech in Cairo in 2009. So roll on their ascent to power, the Salafists incidentally follow the same immoderate Islam as the brotherhood, however they are at least more honest in their game plan compared to the suit and tie Islamists.

On the face of it UNESCO should be pushing very hard to safeguard the pyramids, however they themselves are a politicized joke like the UN itself.

P.S Wait for the Arab spring contagion to reach Jordan and the same debate would apply to the shrines at Petra.

Well if the cretins ever take a fancy to destroying Fenway Park, I'm going to get really miffed.

"Would you die for them?"

The point isn't to go out and die to save the Pyramids. It's to make the other person die trying to destroy them. So would I kill to save the Pyramids? Sure.

Military intervention means that people usually die - possibly some of your fellow US citizens. It's a bit disingenuous to posit that only your opponents are going to die. You're asking your fellow Americans to risk their lives - would you join them and risk yours?

YES. I'm too old, and unhealthy but if they would have me, train me, give me a gun and put me in the position to do so, I'd gladly shoot any bastard trying to blow up the Pyramids. No question.

This whole "would you die for" bit is not even a valid argument IMO. It's just plain silly. WHAT would any of you be willing to die for? Seriously. What would you lay down your life for? Your children - maybe? When push came to shove, would you really? I'd guess few really would. So does that mean there isn't anything worth saving because "you wouldn't die for it?".

"Would you die for them?"

The point isn't to go out and die to save the Pyramids. It's to make the other person die trying to destroy them. So would I kill to save the Pyramids? Sure.

Hmmm....I've never seen them...but I have other historical sights of significance. I wouldn't kill to save them. I would do my best to save life if anything at their expense if necessary.

That's a real Kumbaya moment I just had.

We could nuke them.

I think its a great way to start the jihad, and I'm surprised George Bush didn't think of it first.

Getting an aemy of occupation into a Westernised Arab country would really boost the extremists' position, and we could avoid peace for a hundred years.

It'll require more than common sense to avoid doing anything stupid, in the face of such a situation

SC