Random Musings #55: Present, the Past of the Future!
The taxi came to a stop. On a busy street lined on both sides by shops and cafes.
The driver turned around and said “We are there”.
Noticing the puzzled expression on my face, he gestured towards the line of shops to our left and added “Walk between and through those”.
I had arrived in Cairo the previous night. Following a fitful night’s sleep and some breakfast, Andy took me to our partner’s offices. For some discussions and negotiations, on one of either compensation or cost sharing I can’t remember now, with the partner’s representative agreeing to (an aside on matters of language: one agrees ‘with’ a person and agrees ‘to’ a non-person) my proposal fairly easily and quickly. Andy was not impressed though and chided me “All you did was take candy from a child’s hand!”. Maybe due to the partner’s representative being a PYT!!
We finished up early and I found myself back at the hotel with nothing much to do. I walked out of the hotel to the taxi rank and spoke to the driver of the first taxi in the queue. We struck a deal for him to take me to the Giza pyramids and back.
A reasonably short trip got us to the busy street. Lined on both sides by shops and cafes.
I got out of the taxi and walked in the direction that the driver had pointed and sure enough there was a passage between two clusters of shops.
Walking a bit further I looked up and there were the three pyramids of the Giza Necropolis framed against the setting sun. And thus came about my first and only encounter, so far, with a wonder from the ancient world! I also caught a sound and light show with the Sphinx, understood to be built around 2500BC, providing a goose-bumps inducing back-drop!
Reflection on ancient history and, in particular, Egypt have been prompted by recent increased interaction with a couple of Egyptian colleagues in a specific context and even more by a friend’s account of a visit there.
Clearly, I need to go back to Egypt for more than a couple of days like I did some 20 years or more ago. To experience enchanting Egypt in its entirety.
Egypt is but just one of the many places in the world steeped in history and fascinatingly so.
There is something magical about history. For, “The future has its beginnings in the past” — one of the many pearls of wisdom from Derek that has stayed with me.
I do find history intriguing. But I find irony in it too! I will tell you why.
As we know, there are said to be four periods of history. Ancient Times. The Middle Ages. Early Modern Era. And The Modern Era.
Each of the four periods is filled with intrigue. Each more than the other. And therein lies the irony, as well.
We live in the modern era. This is our present. And for us, not just the ancient times and the middle ages but, even the early modern era is the past. All these periods make up our history.
And when we look back at our history, we are fascinated and intrigued. But truth be told, when I look back at our history, in addition to doing that with fascination and intrigue, I also do so indulgently and, shame on me, condescendingly too!
After all, we have evolved and gotten better over time, haven’t we? We are certainly better versions of mankind - more capable, more informed and living quite the life — with all conveniences and comforts, thanks to amazing advances in science and technology.
We are now at another cusp, poised, even if a tad nervously, to take the next revolutionary leap — into the era of artificial intelligence.
Soon enough and sure enough, though, our next generations(s) will look back at our present. With fascination. And be intrigued. With indulgence. And condescendingly so!
For, we will be their history!
Our Present is, but, the Past of the Future!
That said, we have it within us to influence the future. If nothing else or for no-one else, certainly, our own.
I quote St.Jerome: “Begin now to be what you will be hereafter!”
