In Defense of Greg Mortenson Get link Facebook X Pinterest Email Other Apps April 21, 2011 60 Minutes just posted an "expose" on Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, and president of the Central Asia Institute, who has built dozens of schools for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan.The "evidence" appears damning, but let's take another look.#1 The so-called accountant, Daniel Borochoff, accused Mortenson of spending more money in the U.S. than he spent in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Do not ever hire Daniel Borochoff to do your accounting. For a guy who works with money, he seems to know very little about it.A Pakistani can expect to make about $2,400 a year. That's at least a tenth of what Americans make. For this reason, things in Pakistan cost about 70% less than they do in the U.S. Because of exchange rates, you have to spend a lot more money in the U.S. than you do in Afghanistan to get things done. 1 dollar equals about 80 rupees (also used in Hyrule). Borochoff did not take exchange rates into account when accusing a good man of criminal activity.#2 They accuse Greg Mortenson of things that Greg openly admits to in his book. They say he sucks at accounting. The book mentions this. Mortenson doesn't keep receipts well. Greg lived in his car for a year. He used to write "mountain climber" as his occupation on forms. He's not a business-minded guy.Does a guy in Pakistan selling goats on the side of the road print receipts? Do you lug your accountant halfway up K2 when you have to hire extra labor in a pinch? The guy is flying all over the world, building schools for children in places that you and me are paying our government to bomb, and we get after him for not keeping track of his receipts. Do you keep track of your receipts? Probably not. Good thing you're not running a charitable organization, or Daniel Borochoff would probably sue you.#3 They also accused Greg of not keeping track of how many schools he built. I can attribute that to a brain fart. I sometimes forget how old I am. Plus, how many schools have you built in Afghanistan, Daniel Borochoff?#4 The witnesses are obviously biased. They interviewed disgruntled former members of the CAI. When Bill Maher made the movie Religulous, he only interviewed anti-Mormons for his section about the LDS church. I expect better from a news organization.I had a friend who got fired from Costco. That guy hates Costco. I love Costco. You can see that these witnesses may be biased.To be fair, Mortenson didn't return their calls. But then they pulled a Michael Moore and made a surprise attack on him. Once again, I expect better.#5 They accused Greg of profiting off of book sales, not donating the book money to the CAI, and of using CAI money to fund his book tours. The only reason anyone knows about the CAI is because of Greg and his book. Greg isn't siphoning funds from a charitable organization for his own private uses. Greg is relentlessly advertising the plight of Pakistani and Afghan children. It's not a scandal, it's marketing.The only reason the CAI exists is because Greg founded it. And now some bureaucratic accountant is trying to discredit a non-profit that has actually succeeded in building dozens of functioning schools in the most remote and war-torn places in the world. Thanks for making it difficult for the CAI to raise money. Now our village doesn't get a teacher, a-hole.(Edited by Double Birds) In conclusion, the real scumbag isn't Greg Mortenson.Help build a school in Pakistan and Afghanistan by donating to the Central Asia Institute. You'll directly help the children there have a chance for a better future. Get link Facebook X Pinterest Email Other Apps Comments Bryson D. KearlApril 22, 2011 at 9:43 AMHear! Hear! Let's add Greg Mortenson to the list of great men that lower men tried to throw their feces at.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyPapa PeteApril 22, 2011 at 11:04 AMAnother perspective is always nice. Although Mortensen appears to be super human, he is after all one of us, merely human.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyStevenMay 9, 2011 at 9:34 PMBy his own admission, he is a poor money manager, but has been an amazing school builder and money raiser for his mission. He doesn't live "high on the hog", and to berate him for making money from his books is disingenuous, especially from Krakauer who has made loads of money from his books, and just came out with a new book on Amazon called "Three Cups of Deceit". Speaking of deceit, Krakauer had to backpedal when some of the "facts" in his books have come into question, especially timelines! This is really a case of "the pot calling the kettle black".I've met Mr. Mortenson, and watched him speak. Yes, I heard him as well, but watching him come onto the stage and up to the lectern you see he is a shy person who is going against his grain to speak before a large audience. He does it because he must to do the good work he feels in his heart is important. I have traveled in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and they are poor countries. I do not mean any disrespect, but there are many many poor people who will tell you anything you want to hear for a few dollars.Much of what Krakauer has said was based on comments alleged to have come from Scott Darsney, his climbing partner. Mr. Darsney recently came down from a climb, and when he got into Katmandu heard about this uproar, and the things he was to have said. He has basically said Krakauer either misunderstood him or mis-heard him, and that it is basically a load of rubbish!Too bad 60 Minutes gave so much credibility to Krakauer. It won't hurt Mr. Mortenson anywhere near as much as the kids (especially girls) in Pakistan and Afghanistan for whom some schools may not be built. If that is the result, it will truly be a pity. Perhaps 60 Minutes should have considered this possible outcome.Lastly, Oliver Rellin actually wrote the book based on notes and travels with Mortenson. His taking literary license to compress events for a smoother or more exciting read is mostly on him, yet he isn't suffering this abuse, and neither is the publisher! Frankly, this whole business is a tempest in a teacup in my opinion.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyCarlJuly 16, 2011 at 2:08 PMNicely written. I agree whole-heartedly.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyAdd commentLoad more... Post a Comment
Join the Pumpkin Revolt September 05, 2011 Bureaucrats in Orem, Utah, are trying to destroy 71-year-old Darrell "Bud" Durrant's livelihood. Durrant lives off of a $396 retirement. The bulk of his income comes from pumpkins that he grows on his farm in Lake Shore, and sells from his yard at 112 W. 1600 N. in Orem , a distance of 17 miles . He's been selling pumpkins from his yard for 20 years. But this year, authorities threatened to shut him down. Bud Durrant and his business partner, David Cook. Durrant appealed to the city, and so they will " allow him to sell through this year." City Attorney Paul Johnson said, " It's too bad the city hasn't enforced the law before now ." The city hopes to have a decision by the end of 2011, on whether or not he can sell next year. It seems to me, that shutting down small farmers during a recession is just plain stupid. It's a cold, impersonal cruelty, that someone would destroy an old farmer's livelihood simply to enforce a nonsen... Read more
Using gang violence to end gang violence April 29, 2011 Thuggish police beat, tased, and broke the arm of a student for wearing baggy pants . It was in an effort to rid the school of its "gang culture." Who's gangsta now? This is what happens when you give a guy a gun, a taser, and bat; immunity from the law; and tell him to go enforce the law. Since the police force is a government monopoly, it has been removed from market forces. There is no feedback mechanism to tell them whether they're serving the customer or not. Monopoly is why government services (think DMV) suck. If Costco were to tase customers who wore baggy pants, they would lose customers, get sued, and probably go out of business. If a police officer abuses customers, our taxes still pay them. People tend to scoff at the idea of breaking up police monopoly. The main argument I've heard: Q: In a free market, wouldn't only rich people would have police? A: In our free market, poor people have access to almost every good imaginable (for example—p... Read more
Welfare hurts poor people (and the rich) May 07, 2011 We should give to the poor. But must we? I win! (Edited by Double Birds) In a voluntary exchange both parties benefit . A rich man may give money to the poor, and the poor may give nothing in return, but the rich man still gets something. He may get to feel good about himself. He may, if religious, get a feeling that he has laid up treasure in heaven. He may simply get satisfaction out of the poor man's smile, or knowing that he has made the poor man's life better. He may get public recognition—entire hospitals and colleges have been built for this seemingly trivial benefit. Voluntary exchanges always benefit both parties, otherwise they would not occur. Forced charity, on the other hand, hurts both parties. If the rich man's money is forcibly taken (through taxation), he gets nothing. No recognition. No smiling poor. He might not even want outward recognition, but he does not even know where his money goes. He may ki... Read more
Hear! Hear! Let's add Greg Mortenson to the list of great men that lower men tried to throw their feces at.
ReplyDeleteAnother perspective is always nice. Although Mortensen appears to be super human, he is after all one of us, merely human.
ReplyDeleteBy his own admission, he is a poor money manager, but has been an amazing school builder and money raiser for his mission. He doesn't live "high on the hog", and to berate him for making money from his books is disingenuous, especially from Krakauer who has made loads of money from his books, and just came out with a new book on Amazon called "Three Cups of Deceit". Speaking of deceit, Krakauer had to backpedal when some of the "facts" in his books have come into question, especially timelines! This is really a case of "the pot calling the kettle black".
ReplyDeleteI've met Mr. Mortenson, and watched him speak. Yes, I heard him as well, but watching him come onto the stage and up to the lectern you see he is a shy person who is going against his grain to speak before a large audience. He does it because he must to do the good work he feels in his heart is important. I have traveled in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and they are poor countries. I do not mean any disrespect, but there are many many poor people who will tell you anything you want to hear for a few dollars.
Much of what Krakauer has said was based on comments alleged to have come from Scott Darsney, his climbing partner. Mr. Darsney recently came down from a climb, and when he got into Katmandu heard about this uproar, and the things he was to have said. He has basically said Krakauer either misunderstood him or mis-heard him, and that it is basically a load of rubbish!
Too bad 60 Minutes gave so much credibility to Krakauer. It won't hurt Mr. Mortenson anywhere near as much as the kids (especially girls) in Pakistan and Afghanistan for whom some schools may not be built. If that is the result, it will truly be a pity. Perhaps 60 Minutes should have considered this possible outcome.
Lastly, Oliver Rellin actually wrote the book based on notes and travels with Mortenson. His taking literary license to compress events for a smoother or more exciting read is mostly on him, yet he isn't suffering this abuse, and neither is the publisher! Frankly, this whole business is a tempest in a teacup in my opinion.
Nicely written. I agree whole-heartedly.
ReplyDelete