‘Three Cups of Tea’: Greg Mortenson a great example to follow
So what can an early appreciation for the outdoors do for your kid?
It just might give your son or daughter the inspiration to do great things. That’s one of many lessons I learned from Greg Mortenson, the subject of the best-seller “Three Cups of Tea.”
The book chronicles Mortenson’s life, and part of that included exposure to other cultures as well as the outdoors. He developed a love for climbing, which eventually led him to Pakistan’s Karakoram Range, home of the most wicked and sought after prize in all of mountaineering: K2.
Mortenson didn’t succeed in climbing the peak. And he got lost on the trail getting off the mountain. That in turn led him to stumble into a small village, where he was nursed back to health. The village, called Korphe, had an abundance of hospitality. But it lacked a suitable school for its children.
To make a long story short, Mortenson went through great pains to see that a school would be built there. And ever since, he’s been building dozens of schools in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, helping educate boys and girls, in an effort to better the lives of these poorest of people. A nice side effect is that an educated population is less likely to resort to religious extremism – a novel anfd effective way to fight the terrorism.
As you can tell, I loved the book and admire Mortenson. But it was one more example that I can see where a man’s love for the outdoors (as well as an open mind to cultures other than his own) can open unexpected and wonderful new paths. Read the book and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Bob Doucette
bdoucette@opubco.com
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Comments
…anyone can raise money for a cause and feel they are doing good in the world., perhaps they are???…mortenson is preying on the rich people (and phoney Hollywood types) who give the money to get a temporary feel good buzz….They all would do just as much good by being nice to their own children (who are out of control)and neighbors, College Professors and students who go around and shot each other…”DON”T FORGET TO SAY GRACE”…..If mortenson really wanted to do something more important and self sustaining he should try to create jobs………we get tired of americans who interfere and relieve their guilt by dropping their money in countries….The world should WATCH and be concerned about the CHILDREN in USA, that are daily used and abused on TV programs or Ads (for money)…..and how about all the little girls that are made up with make up and displayed as beauty queens…be aware and get real!!!!
Wow. Not a lot of love for Mortenson tonight. I think a good point to make here is that American children, more than most in the world, have an opportunity to get an education. We spend billions of dollars on it. A lot of the problems we have with our kids here have more to do with other cultural pressures, parenting issues, etc. But it’s definitely not because the opportunity for an education isn’t there. You go into rural Pakistan and the options are few. In some cases, the government helps. Or some villages just do without. Or, in a worst-case scenario, these kids are stuck in madrassas and are given hostile ideologies that primes them for war against the West. Most of the time, girls are left out altogether. Poverty, a lack of opportunity and hopelessness breed discontent and hostility. Mortensen can, with $12,000, build a school through his foundation that educates all the kids in a given village. Nothing wrong with giving to a group that helps educate people who otherwise would do with out and suffer for it. I think the world, as a whole, would benefit from a more highly educated population. Just sayin.
not impressed