Quick note on Three Cups of Tea: It is a damn good story about some guy who got it in his head to build schools for kids in the Middle East. Amazingly, he did it and still does it. He got obsessed and just did/does it.
I'm glad his story has made it so far into the North American mainstream. There are many racist people over here using up all the oxygen. If you are one of them (believing Afghani and/or Pakistani people to be generally inferior to you or generally predisposed to violence) this book may successfully cram a little factual information into your oxygen-saturated brain. Or, if you care about, but are relatively ignorant of (as I am), the sociopolitical situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan... this book may successfully cram a little factual information into your oxygen-saturated brain.
A final point. If you are a college-aged aspiring philanthropist, readying your oxygen-saturated brain for an anti-glamorous (yet en vogue), anti-missionary (yet value-laden) stint of volun-tourism in the Middle East: Let this story inspire you to save the world, but also let it challenge you to reconsider your methods for doing so. I'm skeptical (believe it or not) about North America's ability to produce many more authentic Greg Mortensons, and fearful that the illusion of aid (readily created by the droves of eager college-aged volun-tourists taking off to Africa, South America, and the middle East) is concealing our need to imagine more ways of providing it. While as North Americans, we are often in good positions to provide help where it's needed, our efforts often fall flat. Greg Mortenson and this, his publication of Three Cups of Tea, do not fall flat. This story is a lesson in the importance of generosity and compassion, but more importantly, personal education. Let's take this lesson and put it towards a refresher for North American philanthropy.
You know, Jane, you should learn not to mince words and say what you feel. **wink wink**
ReplyDeleteIMO, every point you have made is right on. Volun-tourism is a wonderful word. I believe there are many young people who would like to save the world (or even a tiny part of it), but they lack knowledge of the countries, the language, the culture, money, and planning.
My friend Joyce, who is retired and an ex-pat living in Panama, strongly dislikes the Americans and Canadians who move there thinking they are going to "make a difference for the poor Panamanians." Similarly, I know several Indians from the Navajo Nation who dislike "Anglos" for the same reason. These people don't need sociologists, but they DO need schools, libraries, and especially jobs.
I hope you post this review on LT: It may very well make the hot list.
Thanks, Charlie :)
ReplyDeleteHello? Hello? Are you still here, or there, or wherever?
ReplyDeleteI am! well, I wasn't... isn't it amazing how a whole month of business-as-usual can be eaten up by guests, vacation, and painting my kitchen? I aim to post again very soon, but in the mean time prefer to catch up with others' blogs...
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