The World and I

I have just finished reading a brilliant book - brilliant not because of the book itself (although a very good and highly recommended read) but brilliant because the man it describes and the message it gives. The message is simple, so simple it seems obvious and makes you wonder why we do not all adhere to it: the war on terror is not going to be won with guns and bombs. The war on terror is going to be won once we understand that the solution is providing students with education. It seems a simple solution and far less costly than what is being spent at the moment on destroying countries.

Greg Morteson is one American who is fighting this war single handly and successfully. He is on a mission to provide the students in Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan with an education, in partiuclar girls. Furthermore in a region where Islam is strictly adhered to, he is empowering women. And his biggest supporters? The local chief to the taxi driver to his porter from the time he was still a mountain climber. They all assisst him in all ways they can and with the little resources they have to build schools in the most remote areas.

In my opinio, education is one of the most fundamental aspects of life and it is a human right to be able to acquire it. But especially in such a volatile region where you are competing with the ever growing numbers of madrassas (schools that teach strict Islam and often produce fundamentalists), allowing students to acquire a balanced education is fundamental.

So why if the local chief who has had no education can see the obvious that this is the way we will be able to fight a war as opposed to destruction and killing of innocent civilians, do men and women who have been through what is arguably the world's best higher education fail to see this?

To get a better understanding of what I am trying to depict (without ruining the book for you) please read "Three Cups of Tea" about a man who in my opinion is long overdue for a Nobel Peace Prize.

See Also:

www.gregmortenson.com

www.threecupsoftea.com

www.ikat.org

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