Monuments of Great Men

We had a certain family(couple) member who stayed in Kenya, Nairobi for six months and who stayed for two months in Germany.

They talked about how Kenya was like, that it wasn't that HOT and sunny all the time after all. Although one part which is an 8 hour drive from Nairobi, near the coast would be sooo much like Cebu, the weather that is. They talked about all the things that are feared by most they have gone through all of it and of course they talked about they've had enough and would not be coming back to really stay there.

Poverty is pretty much evident in those parts. If you've seen poverty in the Philippines, boy you've never heard far more than that than in those places. You would begin to realise that "Hey, I'm blessed after all.. I can eat 3times a day and all that."

In every poverty-stricken country you can always pinpoint that the government is corrupt. Yup, pretty much more corrupt than our country.

What is saddening about the country is the way the people live. I'll give some examples about how poor their situation is.

• they get to eat one heavy meal a day.


• You'd see people lying on the grass by midafternoon. You would think they are sleeping which is in fact true but the reason for their sleeping is because they are HUNGRY. They believed that they would be FULL when they lie down and get the energy of the land.


• Rice is a luxury. It costs 180-200 pesos half kilo.


• Girls always skip class 2-3 days a month whenever their period strikes because they have no money to buy sanitary napkins


• Most of them walk to work because they don't have enough money to ride the Matatu (their public transpo much like our jeepneys here)

Actually, there are still more saddening information but I'm not gonna dwell on them since my post is about Monuments of Great Men.

Anyway, they stayed in Kenya for 6 months. They got a visa for Germany, actually it was a visa wherein they could travel to different countries in EU except Britain and Switzerland I think. Anyhow, they were riding an Egyptian airline for Germany. The rate of the airline is actually half of the rates compared to Lufthansa and other airline companies.

Airline: "Our rates are pretty much good right? Well, only one downside of it. It's because you won't directly go to Germany we will be stopping for a night in Cairo. Sorry for the inconvenience."

But of course, we Pinoys would definitely love a sight-seeing and it was free sooo why not?

Couple: "Would we have Visa's for that ?"
Airline:"Of course we will take care of your visa and your hotel accomodation."
Couple:"Oh ok, that would be fine."

But deep inside... one would definitely get excited.

They got the tour to see the pyramids of Egypt and the Sphinx in Giza. With all it's glory, they were awestruck. It was really a great experience they say. They saw the Sphinx and behind the Sphinx was the pyramids. The Sphinx was created in monument of men, the egyptians. Before, the Egyptians were really on top. They created the Sphinx and it symbolizes strength and power.

Image from National Geographic.

Behind it are the Pyramids. It's supposed to guard the pyramids, that's what they say. It's face was meant to be in honor of an Egyptian Pharoah. It has a "missing nose" and it was believed that it was broken off by a cannon ball fired by one of Napoleon's soldier.

Anyway, when you gaze in front of the Sphinx you'd be awed specially by the view behind it, which are the Pyramids. But, have you ever wondered what the Sphinx is gazing at nowadays? -_-

I have to google for the picture. Haha.

image from TrekEarth.

There you go! With all it's splendour and glory the GREAT SPHINX faces it's opponent. A chicken! Of all the fast food chain in the world... why KFC(notice the red sign of KFC)? And of all the types of chicken whyyyy should it be the "FRIED" onesss? Could it have been much better if the chicken was alive?

God really has a humor. In fact God invented humor. The Ancient Egyptians were so proud of their accomplishments before. And now...... it faces it's opponent.

They also saw the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and the Mercedes Benz museum. Each different monument/memoirs of great men behind it.

It actually made them realise that great men can make a monument of what they have done in the past to show to the world in the future about what they accomplished but it's just PHYSICAL. What good would a monument be ? Sure, it has it's part of being amazing (like the pyramids which were created without the use of mortar and was done mathematically right.), sure it is a reminder, but then what? What good would it be to the next generation?

Men can make monuments of their accomplishment. And you can see that behind every monument there is a great man who HAD A DREAM. A great man who wanted sooo much and nurtured that DREAM and thus in the process made itself a monument as a reminder of what he has done.

A monument is a great reminder. But, what's best is to SHARE the DREAM to the NEXT GENERATION so that they to... will learn how to LIVE THEIR own DREAM. Not just SHOW but SHARE. Not just stones and rubbles but it should be alive and with a heart that could be passed on from generation to generation.

The marble keeps merely a cold and sad memory of a man who would else be forgotten. No man who needs a monument ever ought to have one.

Hey, I'm not putting down the monuments ok? It's just that we all need more than just a monument of a great person. -_-