I returned recently from a trip that took me through Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and Israel. Of these four countries, Egypt left me the most depressed. I visited former King Farouk’s summer palace in Alexandria on the shores of the Mediterranean. It is a magnificent structure that served to highlight by contrast the dirt, disease, and great poverty that abound in this country of 34 million people.
Egypt’s population growth rate is such that by 2000 it will have at least doubled in numbers, even though it cannot adequately support its present populace. While the people suffer, the nation spends its resources to gird its loins militarily against Israel. It would be far better for Egypt to dismantle its army, settle for peace, since no one is going to invade Egypt or would want to, and get down to the important business of solving its internal social and economic problems for the benefit of a people whom the visitor cannot help liking and whose deprivations rend the heart.
While away we received news of the instant accidental death of Floyd Sharp, daughter Nancy’s father-in-law, who lived in Congerville, Illinois. He was taken in the prime of life, a thing that is always difficult to understand. We are thrust back in simple faith to believe that all things work together for good
