If you've not read Mortenson, you need to. Whether you're interested in politics, education, humanitarian efforts, world cultures and customs, or the If you've not read Mortenson, you need to. Whether you're interested in politics, education, humanitarian efforts, world cultures and customs, or the Afghan war, this book will show you something about this far corner of the world in which so much of the world has been drawn into. Believe me, you'll come away with new knowledge & understanding of the middle east, but even more importantly, you'll learn a little empathy, too....more
A lot of people have picked up this book looking for an inspriring story of how one man's vision and dedication can impact the world. It was that, no A lot of people have picked up this book looking for an inspriring story of how one man's vision and dedication can impact the world. It was that, no question. But it was more.
It's been difficult, somehow, to find answers to questions I've had concerning Pakistan, Afghanistan, the War on Terror, and the Taliban. Through this man's journey, political, religious, and cultural details are revealed that help explain just why the "good guy/bad guy" labels the media has been using just do not work in this region. "Dr. Greg"'s story explained so much about why the US is having such a difficult time in Afghanistan - if only we had heeded his advice early on in this war.
To help demonstrate why I believe this novel is more than a heartfelt, inspiring tale, let me leave you with a quote from the novel, attributed to Brigadier General Bashir Baz (Cups of Tea, p. 310):
"Osama, baah! Osama is not a product of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He is a creation of America. Thanks to America, Osama is in every home. As a military man, I know you can never fight and win against someone who can shoot at you once and then run off and hide while you have to remain eternally on guard. You have to attack the source of your enemy's strength. In America's case, that's not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is ignorance. THe only way to defeat it is to build relatioships with these people, to draw them into the modern world with education and business. Otherwise the fight will go on forever." [as remembered by Greg Mortenson, summer 2003:]...more
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