The Politics of Literacy

Chapter 14: Greg’s daughter is born at home. She is named Amira Aliana (Amira means “female leader” in Persian and Aliana was the middle name of Greg’s sister). Greg learns that Jean Hoerni is dying of cancer, so he quickly returns to Korphe to record the completion of the school, because Hoerni wants to see pictures of the building. Greg uses his nursing skills to save the life of a village woman after she suffers from complications delivering her baby. Greg also confesses to Haji about his kidnapping and Haji advises him to let local people help in identifying the best places for new schools. When the last work is finished on December 10, 1996, the villagers celebrate completion of the school. Greg returns to America with the pictures and takes his family to Idaho, where Hoerni is in the hospital. I thought it was hilarious when Hoerni tells the nurse he will buy the hospital so he can hammer the pictures in the wall! After Hoerni is moved back to Seattle, Greg goes there to stay with him. He nurses Hoerni until the end. Hoerni passes away on January 12, 1997, and Greg later delivers a eulogy at the memorial service. Hoerni leaves the CAI an endowment of $1 million to ensure that the organization is able to continue its work.
Chapter 15: Chapter 15 depicts the growth of the CAI into a full-fledged organization and the radical expansion of Greg’s vision. A surprise phone call notifies Greg that he is the subject of a fatwa, or religious indictment, issued by a cleric in the Braldu Valley. The cleric faults Greg for educating girls. Reluctantly, Greg leaves his family and returns to Pakistan, where he gathers all of his allies for a meeting. He is determined to quickly accomplish as much as possible, in case the fatwa succeeds and he is forced to leave Pakistan. A lot of new supporters are introduced. After he gains support and his financial resources grow, he considers building more schools, then begins thinking about other aspects of education, such as expanding existing schools and paying teachers. In six months, Greg oversees the building of three new schools and the addition of rooms in existing schools that were overcrowded. Greg asks Hoerni’s widow, Jennifer Wilson, to create a board of directors for the Institute. At the end of August, everyone gathers in Korphe for a celebration and dedication of the school. Finally, in a symbolic act near the chapter’s end, Greg pours Hoerni’s ashes into the waters of the Braldu.
Chapter 16: A letter from the highest Shiite religious council arrives in a red velvet box, and although Greg expects the worst, the decree read by Syed Abbas expresses support for Greg. The fatwa is void. The nurmadhar of Hushe, Mohammed Aslam Khan, also visits Greg to request a school for his village. He explains that his daughter Shakeela has a special gift for learning. The school is built, and Shakeela’s academic success not only brings great pride to her father but changes the villagers’ attitude concerning the education of girls. Realizing the importance of female education, Greg ties CAI funding for schools to continued increases in the enrollment of girls.

Wow, a lot going on for Dr. Greg now. I can’t keep up with everyone as we are going through the book. I really enjoyed reading this section of the book. It moved at a more rapid pace and flowed smoothly. I knew that Mortenson was a great person of character and his actions exceed those expectations throughout the readings. Not only did he want to build schools but vocational centers as well for the men and women of the villages. However I thought it was kind of selfish for the people of Korphe to come and ask him for more. He also wanted to help provide clean water for the villagers. I mean I couldn’t even imagine what his life might have been like if he succeeded in climbing K2.

One thing that really bothers me and stood out to me in this section is how much he is away from his own family. He is newly married and has a baby now and his seems to care more about everyone than his own family. This is something that is just hard for me to grasp. I also couldn’t believe that he put his family in danger by bringing them over to visit Korphe. I mean at times for me is just seems that he forgets about his own family and just focuses on helping others. I think he needs to find a balance between them both because even when he is at home he is in the office working and not spending time with the family. I mean he said he only slept 5 hours each night so he could communicate with others on a different time zone.

No matter what gets in his way Dr. Greg has the determination to surpass the obstacles that stand in front of him.

Response to Cathy:

I thought it was hilarious as well when Hoerni told the nurse that he would buy the hospital just so he could hang that picture up of the school. I also really liked how we got to see the bond between Hoerni and Dr. Greg on a completely different level. It really surprised me that Dr. Greg went to stay with him until his last breath but again this shows how their bond had truly grew over the past years just because of their passion for the same things.
I could only imagine how Dr. Greg must have felt in front of the red velvet box. I mean what if he had not had the support, what would have happened?

Response to Holly:

I agree.....I am getting a little confused with all the people too. I agree his commitment to both the school and doing what he can to help women too is amazing. It must have been really hard on his family with how much he is away...and probably still is. He does seem to let NOTHING stop him!

My Response to Chapters 13-16
Chapter 13:
Greg is kidnapped while on a scouting trip to Waziristan. The entire time I was reading this chapter I could not help but think that; firstly, Greg was set up by Badam Gul, the man who offered his services as a guide. Gul seemed like a very suspicious character to me and I could not help but think that he really should not trust this man. While Greg was held by the mysterious Mr. Khan he was treated fairly well. I found it very prophetic that they left him a Time Magazine from November 1979 with the main focus of it being The Iran Hostage Crisis. I still wonder exactly what happened to prompt his release after eight days, but enjoyed that the men who held him hostage gave him money to support his cause.

Chapter 14:
Greg made it home seemingly just in time to witness the birth of his daughter, Amira. I wondered just when did he tell his wife that he was more than detained by the government, but kidnapped by the Taliban? I am sure that he his reservations about going back to Pakistan multiplied after this experience.
I could really feel for Greg when he finds out that Hoerni is dying because he is about to lose the man who helped make his dream possible. I found it very touching that Greg worked so hard to fulfill Hoerni's dying wish to see the school, his legacy. I think it says a lot about Greg's character that he worked so hard to take care of Hoerni as he was dying. I also found it very amusing that Hoerni spent his time threatening to buy the hospital and crossing people out of his will. You could also see Greg's maturity as he delivers the eulogy at Hoerni's memorial.

Chapter 15:
What is a fatwa? That is the biggest question I asked myself throughout this entire chapter.
I know it is a religious opinion, but exactly what is included with a fatwa? This entire chapter seemed to deal with Greg dealing with this fatwa. Though it may not have seemed like it this fatwa was very important because it could have altered Greg's work. I am appreciating more and more that Greg is allowing his board and the Pakistani people to decide where the new schools should be built. I also love the fact that along with the schools Greg is building centers for the women wherever a CAI school is built.

Chapter 16:
The fatwa is voided! Greg is allowed to continue his work! The ruling of the Supreme Council arrives in a red velvet box. Now this story is moving!I found it very telling that Greg now feels comfortable enough to bring his family with him. I think this is important because he is giving them insight into his world. It seems that Greg is now becoming more comfortable with leading the board and being in charge of the CAI. I am happy to see that Greg is honoring an ailing Mouzafer by building a school in his village.

Response to Kathy:
Greg shows amazing growth throughout these chapters! I would say that growth is the unspoken theme of these chapters. Greg's creation of his board for the CAI and how well he has taken to his new position is so telling! I don't think Greg was expecting the relationship he developed with Hoerni. Greg also continues growing into a husband and father. I am excited to see he continues to growth.

Response to Holly:
You are not alone with not being able to keep up with all these new people! This section is definitely moving at a rapid pace! Greg definitely has a lot going on! I also worried about how little time he is spending with his own family. He does seem more involved with the CAI than his family. It must take a VERY special and understanding woman to be married to him!

Response to Nakita:

I wondered too if Greg was set up????? The part about Horni dying was hard to read - sad I mean. It is great that Greg is keeping to his fathers legacy of allowing the Pakistan people aid in the descions about things that directly impact them. He allows them to have a voice! I think it is important for Greg's family to really see into his world, but I wonder about the saftey of bringing them???/

response to Nakita:

I wonder myself why they finally let him go after eight days and then they helped him; I was just confused with that section. Did they realize who he was or something?
I also was wondering what a fatwa was myself and I finally figured out it was a ruling on a point of Islamic law that was given by an authority.
Dr. Greg showed tremendous growth throughout these chapters through maturity and character and I really noticed it through your brief summaries of each chapter.

Okay, the part that stood out to me was of course when he was kidnapped. This came at a time that could not have been worse. Greg's first child about to be born. I know that was so tough for him to go through. I believe Greg learned a very good lesson through this experience. Not to trust people so easily. He was so trusting of this man to not only go with him. But after the man said that he couldn't take him anymore he still went. We as American's I believe do that a lot. We trust way to easy. And then we have to learn the hard way.
I thought it was a little peculiar that the magize that was in the room when Greg was being held actually had an article about a women being kidnapped. That magazine gave Greg hope that he will survive. Im wondering why that magazine was even there. I almost felt like someone had put it there on purpose, for him to read.
I really enjoyed the part of how Greg got a chance to help Hoerni through his last days. Hoerni was a very special man that saw something in Greg that at one time no one saw. He gave Greg a chance. So when Greg dropped everything to sit by his side and nurse him that should Hoerni just how much of an impact he actually made in Greg's life. That goes to show you that as a child we are taken care of by our parents or people that love us. But how the roles are easily reversed as we get older.

Response to Cathy:

I was not surprised when Hoerni left Greg to head the organization worth millions. I knew that Hoerni saw something in Greg and trusted him. I'm so glad that Greg was able to come in contact with a person like him. Without him, who knows what we would be talking about now! And I really apprciated the fact that after Greg found out about his gift, that he made Hoerni's wife a part of it as well. To me, that shows his loyalty to Hoerni.

Response to Holly:

I agree that this section seemed like it moved a lot faster and smoother than the other parts. I was able to really get into this section and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I could marry a man like Greg. He is away from his family a lot. Like Nakita says, it takes a special women to marry a man like him. And his wife is very special and strong in her own ways.

Response to Nakita:

In the back of my mind while I was reading chapter 13 I felt like Badam Gul had set up Greg to get kidnapped. But after I finished reading it and saw that they released him with no ransome or anything. I didnt really know for sure. Im still thinking as well, what was all that about? The magazine was a little ironic. But I felt like the magazine helped him push through and not give up hope. I loved the fact that Greg completed the school before Hoerni died. Sometime our urgency comes in differnt forms. Maybe weather, time, or people. In Greg's case his urgency was a promise that he had made. So that was very special.

Response to Jamillah

The magazine was a little suspicious. The care that Greg gave to Hoerni was very touching. I am amazed at what Greg has been able to do. I know I am not made of that kind of resilience. I would like to think I am tough enough to withstand what he has seen, and been through, but all truth be told...I guess I'm just a wimp!

Response to Jamillah

Finding that particular magazine was a little suspicious to me as well. I also really liked how we the readers got to see the development of Greg and Hoerni relationship and how it ended. It was a very special time. I don't really know why I was surprised at first about Greg staying with Hoerni through his last breaths but it just goes to show you what kind of person Greg is. Greg is an awesome person and does for everyone. Hoerni impacted his life in a way that we can never know.