05/13/2014
What I wouldn't give to go hear this.
Mitch
I've agreed to participate in this event because it gives me the opportunity to hold an open, on-the-record public debate with Zahi Hawass on our very different views of the history and prehistory of ancient Egypt and of civilisation in general, and to do so not only in a conference hall but also on site in front of the very monuments that Hawass has had exclusive -- and controversial -- guardianship of for much of the last quarter of a century. I see this as an unprecedented opportunity, and one that is most unlikely ever to be repeated, to confront Hawass with the tough questions that have never yet been put to him publicly, face to face, in front of an audience, and I intend to make the most of it, holding nothing back and pulling no punches. "Time of a New Era", the organisers of the tour have not yet made this clear on their website but I have now asked them to do so, nor have they yet made it clear that it will only be at Giza, and only for the purposes of this public confrontation and debate, that Hawass and I will be together. It seems that some are outraged that I would even appear with Hawass on the same platform but I don't understand that point of view. It is all very well ranting and raving against him on the internet and trading in rumours as many do, but isn't it much better, and a service to exposing the truth about his stewardship of the Giza monuments, to confront him face to face and in the presence of an audience where (a) he will be obliged to reply and (b) everything he says will be filmed, and afterwards put on the public record?
I'm attaching "Time of a New Era's" official poster, the second paragraph of which gives a more accurate picture of what we will be doing at Giza.