Building Humanitarian Compassion

I just finished the book Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace. . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

This incredible memoir is about Greg Mortenson's journey in 1993 to unsuccessfully climb K2, the world's second-highest mountain, in the Karakoram range of northern Pakistan. Instead, he finds his life's mission to build schools for the most impoverished villages of Pakistan and Afganistan.

This is an inspiring book that shows how true humanitarian spirit in action and education for all can make this world a safer place. If our government would takes it cue from people like Mortenson, spend more of its resources on aid and less on weapons, it would make such a more positive effect on society and change the perception of Americans worldwide. It would also give us Americans more reason to feel passionate and proud to call this country our home. I feel so incredibly fortunate to live in a country of free will and to have the opportunities that I've been given. And reading this book makes me further grateful for the freedom that our country possesses.

However, it should also be said that we could learn a lot from cultures such a this. During construction of the first school for the village of Korphe, village leader and mentor to Mortenson, Haji Ali, taught him a very valuable lesson (p. 150). "If you want to survive (in Pakistan and Afganistan), you must respect our ways. We drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything--even die." He advised "Dr. Greg" as he was known, "You must make time to share three cups of tea. We may be uneducated. But we are not stupid."

That day Mortenson learned "to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them."

Culture is a beautiful thing and should be supported and celebrated. Terror exists through ignorance and indifference. And we Americans are not immune to its effects. This book is an education in itself. It is so enlightening into the world of Islam so misunderstood by the majority of Westerners.

In a powerfully delivered speech inaugurating the Kuardu School (p. 257), Syed Abbas, supreme religious leader of Northern Pakistan's Shi'a, requested America to "look into our hearts and see that the great majority of us are not terrorists, but good and simple people. Our land is stricken with poverty because we are without education. But today, another candle of knowledge has been lit." Mortenson wished that "Americans who think 'Muslim' is just another way of saying 'terrorist' could have been there that day. The true core tenants of Islam are justice, tolerance, and charity, and Syed Abbas represented the moderate center of Muslim faith eloquently."

As one who hopes to continually be inspired and passionate in my endeavors, I will work to be compassionate, understanding and cooperative as Greg Mortenson has proven to be. This book is an inspiration to all of humanity.