I won’t be going back to Egypt.  I would also totally support withdrawing ANY financial assistance to that country.  Those might be strange statements from someone who’s written two books about Kleopatra and clearly loves the country and its history.  Let me explain.

I am sharing herewith in its entirety a report from CNN’s blog about the recent gang rapes in Egypt.  Historically, women of the conquered were raped by the victors as part of the “prize” of winning a war and to assert supremacy over, and humiliate and shame, the losers.  That reflected a savage mentality to be sure, but the recent rapes in Egypt are more frightening because they are coldly calculated to terrify and suppress half the population.  The message to Egypt’s women:  Stay out of public life.  If you show your face, you’re asking for it.  The message to foreign countries and institutions: send us females and this is how we will deal with them. ... Read more.