Editorial

Gunning for Greg

This needs to be considered as we assess the controversial documentary, attempt to analyse its allegations logically.

Editorial April 20, 2011

Gunning for Greg

For reasons possibly rooted in our psyche, negative news seems always to inspire special delight in our country. The investigative programme, “60 minutes” by CBS, which alleges that many of Greg Mortenson’s claims about the schools he set up in Pakistan and Afghanistan are falsified or exaggerated, has immediately created a stir in the country. Opinion seems to be sharply divided, almost down the middle, with some arguing that Mortenson did at least attempt to help powerless villagers — something most of us in the country have never worked towards — and others accusing him of downright fraud.

The affair highlights several issues. Persons engaged in philanthropy are often targets of all kinds of accusations. Even Abdul Sattar Edhi has not escaped them entirely. But, at the same time, this also highlights the need for a better mechanism in the country to keep a check on philanthropic work in order to establish credibility. There seems little doubt that much of what Greg Mortenson has done is good. It is also true that his heart is in the right place. But for all this, the concoction of events alleged in the documentary cannot be condoned. It should also be noted that well before the CBS cameras began to roll, there were accounts within the country of schools and hostels being run in an unprofessional manner or contracted to outside parties. Talk of other roles played by Mortenson in the key northern areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier abounded. There were accusations alleging that Mortenson was perhaps more than an educator. These add to the CBS allegations. But it is important to keep balance, not to jump to any conclusions and give time for the mists to clear.

It is also important not to condemn too quickly and, instead, give time for the story to unfold. The Mortenson story has inspired millions. We know a significant portion of his work is factual. Children — who once had no schools to go to — can today read, write and aspire to a better future. All this needs to be considered as we assess the controversial documentary and attempt to analyse its allegations logically and dispassionately.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

Truthseeker | 13 years ago | Reply Greg Mortenson reminds one of 70's Alex Haley, the Afro-American iconic author of 'Roots', whose exploration of family history was exposed by Jane Campbell in 'Mythic Black Fiction'. The tragedy with Greg is that his blatant lies are exposed ,while he is still alive. A kindle edition of 'Three Cups of Deceit' by Jon Krakauer leaves no doubt that Greg Mortenson is not what he poses to be in 'Three Cups of Tea'.

IZ | 13 years ago | Reply Instead of giving time for the story to unfold why doesnt ET send some reporters up to Baltistan and try and find out of some of the allegations are true for yourselves? I know investigative reporting isn't what Pakistani newspapers always do best but surely our own journalists are better positioned to prove/disprove some of the allegations than reporters sitting in the USA?

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Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 13 years ago | Reply His heart is in the right place? He used children of a deprived area to sell books and raise funds and his organization has only filed its accounts once in nearly two decades. In these very pages issues related to corruption have been raised, and there the full force of the law was called into. Why is he being treated differently?

Greg | 13 years ago | Reply @Line Gauthier: Unfortunately, I have to agree that Mortenson's integrity is at issue, despite the obvious benefits of his endeavors to impoverished kids. If he had done various projects, wound up his business affairs, retired from public life and only THEN written the memoirs, I'd shrug off a slight re-writing of events to make a better book. But his appeal for support is ongoing, with very specific information given in "Three Cups" for those inclined to give him money. The charitably-minded public deserves utmost accuracy.

Line Gauthier | 13 years ago | Reply I beg to differ that his heart is in the right place. He used millions of dollars from benefactors, incluiding pennies from children's piggy banks, to put in his bank account, to promote his books, which profits he kept. There is no heart. What made him a hero was the extent to which he was willing to put himself at discomfort, at risk in order to help children. Greg paid himself handsomely, in the tunes of millions of dollars for his efforts; that makes him simply a business man just like many others while dressing himself as a humanitarian, a hero. I will go as far as to state that most of us would have done what he's done for this kind of money, even for much less. He travelled extensively, dined very nicely, stayed at the best hotels, travelled on chartered planes, taking on adulation and admiration (on false premises) on the back of charitiable donors. We have been duped.

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