Recently, an article appeared in El Akhbar Newspaper, entitled "A New Dawn: Zahi Hawass' Hat."  I was very touched by this article, and I would like to share it.

Here is the text of the article:

"There is an expression that the most fruitful trees are the ones that are attacked by people the most... and Dr Zahi Hawass, if he was not a world-renowned scientist, would not be detested by the ignorant people and those who claim to be educated. If he had not made the top position at the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) productive and worthwhile, no one would be envious of his role.

Dr Zahi Hawass, his name, his knowledge, his generosity, his value... It was not his chair at the SCA that made him what he is, but he who made the chair what it is today.

Zahi Hawass's fame outshines that of most world-famous moviestars and politicians. I have visited many countries and met people who do not know the names of the presidents of even the largest Arab countries, but they did know Dr Hawass as well as the pyramids and the Sphinx. I was at a reception abroad when a foreign scientist said, “I know in Egypt the pyramids and Hawass,” and he looked quite embarrassed, gave a smile to the audience, saying, “and Hosni Mubarak!”

The value of a person is not because of their position or their job. Zahi's value is because of his personality. Today he is a well-respected scientist and he is well known all over the world. He has received awards from several presidents and kings of different countries; national universities have given him honorary doctorates; national research centers have awarded him as well; he has been the Man of the Year in a national newspaper; and he deserved to be one of Time magazine's top 100 most influential people for 2005. His publications in the field of Egyptology, and his discoveries into the secrets of the pyramids and the ancient history of Egypt, will be remembered into posterity, as well as all of those discoveries made, even during the heat of the sun, wearing his famous hat. This hat, which is sold with a copy of his signature inside, has raised millions of dollars for charities involved with cultural development and heritage awareness.

Egypt did not previously know such a person as Dr Hawass, who protected Egypt's monuments, civilization and history, and who has been doing so for more than 45 years."