Peace, education central to Mortenson's life
By: Rachel Cheeseman
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: News
The best way to promote peace is through education, said Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, during his Ubben Lecture in Kresge Auditorium Thursday.
Mortenson spoke about his mission to promote peace with education. Many of the people in attendance said they had had read the book.
Mortenson spoke of his mission to bring education to rural areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to promote peace - a mission made clear by his book's subtitle: "One Man's Mission to Promote Peace." Mortenson's publisher altered the subtitle for the hardback edition of the book so it read "One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism."
After the hardback edition flopped, the paperback edition was released with Mortenson's original subtitle and it enjoyed a 92-week stay on the New York Times' bestseller list, in addition to becoming required reading for several high schools, universities and military personnel.
"Fighting terrorism is based in fear. Promoting peace is based in hope," Mortenson said.
Mortenson's mission started with an earnest promise to build one school in the Pakistani village of Korphe after developing an intimate friendship with several of its residents. Since then, some 28,000 students have gone through one of Mortenson's 78 schools and 18,000 of them have been female.
Mortenson quoted a proverb he learned throughout his youth in Africa: "If you educate a boy, you educate an individual. If you educate a girl, you educate a community." This proverb is an integral part of the philosophy of his schools, which focus primarily on the education of young females.
"I really think a key to many solutions in impoverished and war-torn societies is the girls' education," Mortenson said.
Mortenson also said that if women are educated to at least the fifth-grade level, it can do three things: reduce infant mortality, reduce population explosion and improve the basic qualities of health and life.
Freshman Emma Lanham, who attended the lecture with her mother Sally Lanham, said the discussion of women's education was the part of the lecture she found most compelling.
Mortenson spoke about his mission to promote peace with education. Many of the people in attendance said they had had read the book.
Mortenson spoke of his mission to bring education to rural areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to promote peace - a mission made clear by his book's subtitle: "One Man's Mission to Promote Peace." Mortenson's publisher altered the subtitle for the hardback edition of the book so it read "One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism."
After the hardback edition flopped, the paperback edition was released with Mortenson's original subtitle and it enjoyed a 92-week stay on the New York Times' bestseller list, in addition to becoming required reading for several high schools, universities and military personnel.
"Fighting terrorism is based in fear. Promoting peace is based in hope," Mortenson said.
Mortenson's mission started with an earnest promise to build one school in the Pakistani village of Korphe after developing an intimate friendship with several of its residents. Since then, some 28,000 students have gone through one of Mortenson's 78 schools and 18,000 of them have been female.
Mortenson quoted a proverb he learned throughout his youth in Africa: "If you educate a boy, you educate an individual. If you educate a girl, you educate a community." This proverb is an integral part of the philosophy of his schools, which focus primarily on the education of young females.
"I really think a key to many solutions in impoverished and war-torn societies is the girls' education," Mortenson said.
Mortenson also said that if women are educated to at least the fifth-grade level, it can do three things: reduce infant mortality, reduce population explosion and improve the basic qualities of health and life.
Freshman Emma Lanham, who attended the lecture with her mother Sally Lanham, said the discussion of women's education was the part of the lecture she found most compelling.
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