The Revolution

 

Dear Friends, 

It's still Monday but the fight has shifted. We were slowly emerging from three months of fear, confinement and introspection to dive straight away into confidence, protest and demonstration. 

My father Zaketo was always using parables and stories to explain the world or to offer an historical perspective when things were getting too stressful. 

"On the 26 of January 1952, started the "Cairo Fire" in Egypt, a night of riots where 750 buildings - including the famous Shepheard's Hotel and The Khedivial Opera House where Verdi's Aida was created - were burned and looted. In reaction, massive arrests and incarcerations were ordered by King Farouk to maintain law and order and a curfew was imposed. 

From there, and after six tumultuous months, the Free Officiers Movement conducted a coup on the 23 of July 1952, and the King abdicated. 

Many of the Free Officiers wanted to put the King in trial and execute him in public. But Officiers Naguib and Nasser rather send him in exile "where History will condemn him to death much more surely than we can". 

King Farouk left Ras Al-Teen Palace of Alexandria on board of the Royal yacht el-Mahrousa for an exile in Italy where he became the favorite target of tabloids and paparazzi, living a life of gambling and socializing nights and days, smoking cigars while enjoying the company of his mistresses. 

When he suddenly died in a restaurant-cabaret in Roma on the 18th of March,1965 (the month I was conceived, funny coincidence isn't it), the New York Times wrote: 

"One could pile up pejorative adjectives like sybaritic, avaricious, lustful, greedy, to reach a contemptible total. Farouk ended up in luxurious exile, caring nothing for Egypt or the impoverished Egyptian people. The epitaph for King Farouk has to be bitter and contemptuous"

Naguib and Nasser were right: History condemned him much more surely. 

The best burn brightest when it is darkest taught me Aaron yesterday. He is right as well.


Mondaynely yours,
#ggg

Lucien Zayan
Director 


PS: New York City restarts partially today. Warmest wishes to whom who are on their way to work. Did you notice how this morning is noisy already. The noise of life...


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