On the other hand, waving the flag in a religious context does not exhaust meaningful scholarship that can excite interest in learning. The disadvantaged should not be shut out from the beauty and challenge of ancient worlds. Even those who are not financially and socially disadvantaged have lost contact with the perspective and structure that the past provides. This line of thinking led to the development of my alter ego, a virtual tour guide named Dubsar the Cuneiform Scribe who guides the visitor through the Sumerian culture and religion. A limited amount of scholarly jargon is used and that much is explained in plain language.
Scholars can develop the habit of speaking only to each other.
This bad habit is overcome by Dubsar. Readings taken from his original excavation reports a century ago convey the many obstacles offered by the uncooperative environment and fragmented volatile political structures of the time. The excavators endured dust storms, extreme heat, locust plagues, drenching thunderstorms, and obnoxious flies. Discovery and exploration can be quite difficult, demanding great perseverance and energy. After all his procrastination, he circulated slanders to dissolve the marriage before it was really consummated, intending not to refund her payments.