"We succeed only as we identify in life, or in war, or in anything else, a single overriding objective, and make all other considerations bend to that one objective."
- General Dwight Eisenhower
Greg Mortenson of the Central Asia institute is a man living with a single overriding objective ruling his life. He is better known as the author of a perpetual best selling book called Three Cups of Tea which I read several years ago.
Wiki: " co-author of the New York Times Bestsellers Three Cups of Tea and author of Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "
In any case, here is a guy who made a promise to build a single school for a small village and manages to build it against all odds. (wiki: to have initially promised to build a school in Khane village, but was convinced to build a school in Korphe by the village leaders.)
He built one school and continued from that success to build others, many others - founding 145 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan that provide education to 64,000 students.
From 'Stones into Schools:
"No one grasps better the profound impact and ripple effect of even one child's education. And, arguably, no single individual or organization has done more to advance the American cause in Afghanistan than Greg Mortenson...
He has spearheaded the effort to educate girls ...in a region where parents regularly keep thier daughters out of school and where long-standing cultural traditions have deprived women of education.
Greg has a belief he says repeatedly, "If you educate a boy, you educate an individual, but if you educate a girl, you educate a community." He says he learned this from his father who was an aid worker in Africa.
Greg showed commitment and ingenuity in pursuing his single overriding objective and succeeded well beyond his initial vision.
Although I have great admiration for the man and his accomplishments, before I continue to sing his praises, I need to read the Wikipedia article and decide if it is slander planted by the competition or some of Greg's many enemies in the Taliban.
My remarks are tongue in cheek but my nervousness is real. Who wants to say too many nice things before you have the facts before you. It would be like if you had... sent a good friend to Bernie Madoff for money management because you'd heard good things about Madoff and his great track record of exceptional fund performance.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Read all the evidence first, even Opra Winfrey got caught up in a scandal around creative non-fiction with the controversy over 'A Million Little Pieces" and the brouhaha over truth and accuracy that erupted. James Frey, the lie-telling writer was forced to apologize to the'Queen of Daytime' television on her show as penance for his double crossing her.
*Wiki also reports:
"In April 2011, he was accused of using literary license in his non-fiction books and of financial improprieties at his charity,Central Asia Institute.
I refuse to let that pop my balloon. The guy struggled long and hard for his schools. But to keep my foot out of my mouth I'll stop here.
- General Dwight Eisenhower
Greg Mortenson of the Central Asia institute is a man living with a single overriding objective ruling his life. He is better known as the author of a perpetual best selling book called Three Cups of Tea which I read several years ago.
Wiki: " co-author of the New York Times Bestsellers Three Cups of Tea and author of Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "
In any case, here is a guy who made a promise to build a single school for a small village and manages to build it against all odds. (wiki: to have initially promised to build a school in Khane village, but was convinced to build a school in Korphe by the village leaders.)
He built one school and continued from that success to build others, many others - founding 145 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan that provide education to 64,000 students.
From 'Stones into Schools:
"No one grasps better the profound impact and ripple effect of even one child's education. And, arguably, no single individual or organization has done more to advance the American cause in Afghanistan than Greg Mortenson...
He has spearheaded the effort to educate girls ...in a region where parents regularly keep thier daughters out of school and where long-standing cultural traditions have deprived women of education.
Greg has a belief he says repeatedly, "If you educate a boy, you educate an individual, but if you educate a girl, you educate a community." He says he learned this from his father who was an aid worker in Africa.
Greg showed commitment and ingenuity in pursuing his single overriding objective and succeeded well beyond his initial vision.
Although I have great admiration for the man and his accomplishments, before I continue to sing his praises, I need to read the Wikipedia article and decide if it is slander planted by the competition or some of Greg's many enemies in the Taliban.
My remarks are tongue in cheek but my nervousness is real. Who wants to say too many nice things before you have the facts before you. It would be like if you had... sent a good friend to Bernie Madoff for money management because you'd heard good things about Madoff and his great track record of exceptional fund performance.
TO BE CONTINUED...
*Wiki also reports:
"In April 2011, he was accused of using literary license in his non-fiction books and of financial improprieties at his charity,Central Asia Institute.
I refuse to let that pop my balloon. The guy struggled long and hard for his schools. But to keep my foot out of my mouth I'll stop here.
No comments:
Post a Comment