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| Afghan children at a celebration 2002 |
EDITORIAL
How to respond to news that another writer, this time author of a best-seller, pulled one over on the public? The publishing and book world are full these days with recent news that the author of the acclaimed
Three Cups of Tea wrote not a biographical account but a fictional one. Its presentation was believable and immensely inspiring. How far should the harm move us, if we believe the news reports?
At a personal level, it should not deter efforts to remain or to become involved in good works among the
Afghan people. One only has to read one of Afghan writer Khaled Hosseini's books, starting with
The Kite Runner and
A Thousand Splendid Suns, to learn about yesterday's and today's Afghanistan, to feel closer to it, and to remember how much every particle of real help can mean, amassed for good there.
A copy of Three Cups of Tea is in our house, a special present from a daughter to her father a couple of years ago. Now media outlets make serious allegations against the author. The facts in support of those claims are important. But, are they overwhelming at this point?
Among those trying to shed more light on facts, "Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rashid says Mortenson has made a 'phenomenonal' (sic) contribution to promoting education in the region," according to one of this post's reference articles below ("Embattled...author). In this writer's view, the full story is not yet out there for all of us to consider, in full.
Whatever the conclusions drawn after full investigation and reporting on this matter, this part of the story is about an author and one book. It does not change real needs and facts about the people and interests of Afghanistan. It does not change that the author, Mortenson, has, according to interview reports, built and turned over new schools for poor and remote areas.
One hopes this incomplete story will neither be swallowed whole (first reported by CBS "60 Minutes") nor allowed to discourage American soldiers and citizens everywhere inspired by the book and its author. It is likely the soldiers have seen enough with their own eyes to draw similar conclusions, that generosity is called for regarding protection, education, health, and other parts of every Afghan citizen's well-being, on their own and for their country.
Scandal at the heart of a book promoting peace and giving causes a wake of wreckage, including the life of the one behind it...if reports are true. What does the author have to say? As yet, he is silent. We wait to see.
A final note: Many writers publish personal narratives. Every such book needs vetting. Recently, we wrote here of the importance of
peer reviews. In publishing, across the millions of books every year...or tens of millions...this kind of scandal is rare. Also, at this point it is a report, not a "done deal" as far as the truth goes.
(c) 2011 by Opinari and Jean Purcell
