[frostfire]

Originally Posted by bailaviborita

Not to downplay Mortensen, but I fail to see the connection between improvement in Pakistan and educating women. Unless the culture will allow women to change society, hold jobs, improve legal status, etc.- educating them IMO won't naturally lead to "good". Seems to me that our own example didn't begin with education for women as much as it began with a break from tribalism/nationalism/religion over time- and that eventually led to women enjoying the same opportunities.

Sir,

I'm not Mortenson's spokesperson, jut a believer in his cause. I tried to to summarize his core mission beliefs to explain the connection, but I realized it's best to let him speak for himself.

"If you educate a boy, you educate the individual. But if you educate a girl, you educate a community" ~African proverb

Promoting Peace and Building Nations
Since a 1993 climb on Pakistan's K2, Greg Mortenson has helped more than 25,000 children, especially girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan receive quality education. He recounts the challenges and joys that have culminated in the building of more than 55 schools to an audience at UC Santa Barbara. [9/2008] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdqVoNtJZfU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8MyNQqHqGc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JxY52OOYzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrXh_db3POg

I'd make a (weak) argument, however, that the example of USA may not parallel Afghanistan. There are tribalism and religion in both cases, but Islamic teaching and influence is not the same with Christianity IMHO.

I concur with the rest of your points.