Hello ambivalence, my old friend

A few days ago, I posted a story about the niqab ban in France that was uncharacteristically leaving me of two minds on a sensitive topic, religious freedom and the place of religion in western society, on which I am not usually torn.

Anyway, it just happened again, FFS.

(If you don't know what that acronym stands for, ask your teenager but rest assured, it's profane)

A few years ago, I read Three Cups of Tea and was very moved by its author's story about trying to improve the lives of girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The stories were incredibly profound and it motivated me to have delusional aspirations of raising funds to build a school somewhere and when that idea proved too difficult, I donated some funds to a couple of groups that were already doing that kind of work.

Yesterday, however, 60 Minutes did a story about Mortenson and his Central Asia Institute that did not reflect well on either him nor it. In fact, the best one can say about it is that Mr. Mortenson appears to have made some very sloppy decisions and worst case, he's a pretty big fake artist and/or liar.

Some of the claims against him are minor and irrelevant. Whether he went to Afghanistan once or three times during a specific period in the book is beside the point. If these visits were combined into one for the purpose of keeping the story moving is not important.

Whether he was kidnapped is a pretty big potential whopper of a lie but even there, for artistic licence, I'd be prepared to overlook such a fib.

I'd even go so far as to say it's not as important if all the numbers in the story add up: if Mortenson is claiming they've built a few more schools than they've actually built, well, that's unfortunate but that's show-biz. He has to keep telling stories to keep the money coming to continue to do the good work he does? Fine.

HOWEVER, that his charity is funding his book tours but not collecting a dime of the book revenues is outright fraud and theft.

That his charity provides Mr. Mortenson with private jets is starting to delve into a Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker scenario of abuse of funds.

Another inspirational author, Jon Krakauer, has written a book about the CAE and what he describes as Mortenson's abuses. Krakauer appears in the 60 Minutes piece and he speaks as someone who knows his facts and has details and corroboration in his back pocket. 

Mr. Mortenson has backtracked somewhat on his story but only he, and a good forensic accounting firm, can truly clear the air at this point.

 

All the accusations against Mortenson may or may not be true. It seems very likely that some, maybe most, are but here's hoping the important ones are false because this world really needs people like Greg Mortenson, even a flawed Greg Mortenson. 

Comments

[Heather]

I too am hoping the story wasn't accurate. I loved the books and you are right, we need more of him.
I would however really like a detailed forensic audit done...the book thing bugged me and the plane thing was ridiculous... leaving an open mind about it all.... I was going to quote scripture here about not judging others...but didn't think you would appreciate it.
:0)

[Erin Wilson]

... the only Greg Mortenson that exists is a flawed one. Same is true for each of us. Not justifying any bad choices he might have made. Just saying.

[robert]

I agree with both of you and far be it from me to throw him under the bus. Like I said, on a net accounting basis, he's certainly done a ton of good. I am hopeful that we do not uncover he has squandered the chance to do much more.

[Erin Wilson]

Agreed. I don't want to diminish the need for accountability. At all. But I guess I can't help having a sour taste in my mouth about it all. I'd feel differently if the people bringing this to the mass media had themselves built one school... a single school... anywhere.