I loved this book

I picked up a copy of this book at the kids' preschool. The director wants to do a Pennies for Peace fundraiser, and thought that we parents would be more motivated to help out if we had read the book. I, for one, am most definitely motivated now that I've read it.

It's about an American climber, Greg Mortenson, who gets lost on his way down from a failed attempt to climb K2. He wanders into a tiny village in northern Pakistan, and ends up being more or less adopted as the "American son" of the village leader. Before he leaves to return home, the villagers show him the children's school. It's a field. Basically, the kids kneel on the ground (keep in mind that this is at high altitude, where it's always very cold and windy) and scratch out sums in the dirt. He is stunned, and vows to build them a school.

The book goes on to describe his experience raising the money and building the school, and then doing it over and over again for other villages all over northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The story itself is amazing and beautifully told, and Mortenson should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize someday for the work he does. He is a true American hero.

But beyond the story of Mortenson's humanitarian efforts is the story of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, of Muslim families and our fundamental ignorance about this part of the world. You will be amazed and delighted by what you read about these regions. I think this is so important for our country and the world. Eradicating ignorance -- our own as well as that found in poor parts of the Muslim world -- is the ONLY way we will end terrorism. Children without hope grow up to be terrorists. Providing them with a balanced education, as opposed to an Islamic fundamentalist worldview taught in a madrassa, which is the only other educational opportunity for many children in this part of the world, will give them not only the tools to find jobs to feed their families, but it will give them hope. They will not need to seek refuge in the purpose and support that organizations like al Qaeda provide.

We need to do a better job in that part of the world. We should support efforts like Mortenson's, and we should keep the promises we have made to help rebuild Afghanistan to repair the damage we've done. At a bare minimum, we need to try harder to understand these people and places. Our own ignorance about the Muslim world is a danger to ourselves. If we fail, ignorance succeeds and resentment burns.

Please, read this book.