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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Apr 24, 2011 - 04:10pm PT
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Roger,
I hear you.
I have a smattering of languages but lack the guts to go on foreign language forums.
Perhaps Anejo is bolder and smarter than me, but it was ambiguous to me on a third reading, so perhaps a rewrite WAS called for.
(to "do" was one of the first verbs I learned in latin)
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Apr 26, 2011 - 10:44am PT
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Darsney's account rings true to me, especially the part about the difficulties of straddling two cultures.
I know that one well.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Apr 26, 2011 - 11:12am PT
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Darsney's response is remarkable for how little it says.
Its only new contributions are to provide an excuse for the date of the Korphe event (and I don't really care-- I'm amazed at how many folks seize on this peripheral issue as the detail to focus upon) and to suggest that Krakauer misunderstood Darsney's claims about whether or not Mortenson had ever been to the Himalayas.
Then some predictable boilerplate about what a good guy he ghosted for.
Given the legal ramifications, I suppose it's remarkable that Darsney spoke with the media at all. But this "interview" just doesn't shed any helpful light on anything, really. I don't blame Outside for publishing it, because there is so much interest in the story. But we don't know anymore about the ghosting than we did before.
None of the damaging issues-- the charges of fabrication of the kidnapping and Taliban claims, the Mother Theresa puffery, the Messianic complex, the multiple warnings and resignations from board members, donors, administrators, and legal counsel, the mechanics of the ghosting --are addressed at all.
Darsney is in a a spot as well. It's going to be tough for his name to appear on a cover for awhile. He's probably going to have to be less visible than Caspar on his current projects.
Edit: Thanks to my fact checker for point out that Darsney wasn't the ghost but rather the former climbing partner cited by Krakauer. He probably wasn't in a position to speak to the other issues. Which makes his interview even more tangential, although possibly of more interest to climbers. Heh
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Apr 26, 2011 - 11:34am PT
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what a scumbag Mortenson is
As I understand it, that's not the issue.
But you're right. This thread, and the larger debate, quickly degenerated into a simplistic set of judgments on individual personalities: Mortenson, Krakauer, is or isn't an as#@&%e who ought to be shot.
It's the 21st century, and Americans can't think about any issue in even the simplest social context. Each and every thing that happens must be reduced to a black/white judgment of the "soul" or "intentions" of one individual. Then all accounts of that crummy little social atom have to be written as either hagiographies or demonologies.
Every thread on ST eventually ends up in that sort of moronic reduction of the Final Judgment.
End of an empire.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Apr 26, 2011 - 11:42am PT
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I would agree that the mitigation is insufficient. The waters only muddy further.
This whole thing makes me so sad.
There is a lesson here about he dark side of doing good.
The best outcome would be for a bunch of schools to become a reality.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Apr 26, 2011 - 01:06pm PT
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The best outcome would be for a bunch of schools to become a reality.
Seems like even with the website not jiving with what people are finding, schools are and have been built.
I don't think the man is perfect. When I read 3 cups of tea he sounded like an unbalanced mess. He still does. But he also sound like he has a genuine calling to build schools and that is what he is trying to do.
I think he needs some strong managers, and he needs to be kept as a visionary for CAI. Hopefully that is how this will play out. But I also wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing collapses and he gets shoved completely out.
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Ain't no flatlander
climber
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Apr 26, 2011 - 01:09pm PT
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FortMental, what is your connection to GM? You are sure going out of your way to defend the liar.
The only possible positive outcome from this whole affair is for CAI to cut all ties with GM. If they do that and get a real BOD, then CAI might have a chance of surviving.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Apr 26, 2011 - 01:43pm PT
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I have no ties to Mortenson, and I will defend him. Some people on this thread are talking sh#t - pure sh#t, based on news bite spin.
Sheep.
If anyone hasn't noticed, the reason this story came to light in the first place appears to be that someone leaked information FROM the CAI's internal discussions in looking the problems in an effort TO address them.
F*#king jackals. Wonder how much those internal documents and notes went for.
There are audits being done, and the issues will be addressed. I will bet three cups of tea with anyone that Mortenson will NOT be found guilty of any crime, and will NOT be "having to owe millions to the IRS." You have ONE guy, doing multiple speaking events on like 200 days of the year, and all the rest he does for his cause, having been on the roller-coaster from day 1 over 18 years ago and without a pause to regroup, and you think he is intentionally inflating school numbers to pocket the money, when graft and corruption in a wild territory is rampant?
It's ONE thing to say "All this is very distressing, and it doesn't look good." and QUITE another to be labeling him "liar, thief, psychopath," ready to donate the static line for a noose around his neck.
When the sh#t hits the fan for yourselves personally, next time, and others are misinterprating YOUR actions, discounting any attempts of explanation, I do hope you enjoy a healthy serving of humble pie.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Apr 26, 2011 - 02:32pm PT
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HG--have you read Three Cups of Deceit yet?
If not, why are you still posting on this thread? Why should anyone waste his time reading your opinions if you won't spend the minimal amount of time necessary to have anything like a slightly informed opinion?
(I don't have any beef with you, just posting this bc I recall earlier in this thread your stated intention NOT to read 3COD--it's fine to be ignorant on this, but you seem to want to both have an opinion and remain ignorant. Kind of weird.)
Edit--I hadn't read Coz's post above when I wrote mine.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 26, 2011 - 02:37pm PT
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Coz has it right, the jury is still out. Nearly every post I have seen is from someone who has already come to a conclusion based, not on the facts, but on how they personally feel about Mortensen, Krakauer or 60 minutes. The focus from 60 minutes will lead to an intense investigation of the facts and until then we should all just chill out.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Apr 26, 2011 - 03:05pm PT
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Considering the type of journalist Krakauer is, I would be incredibly surprised if he doesn't have documentation and/or taped interviews to back up every word in his article, Three Cups of Deceit.
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Apr 26, 2011 - 03:09pm PT
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I wanted to cannonize GM for work with education and girls in third world countries. Alas, he is a man. No matter if he is guilty, niave, or overwhelmed, prudent donors aren't going to give to CAI anymore. Thousands of schoolchildren won't be collecting pennies for CAI anymore.
It isn't 60 Minutes fault or JK's fault that GM is embroiled in this controversy. It would come to light in time. My mom taught me that I should conduct myself as if every act could end up on the front page of the paper.
When you cross the line and become a member of those who have, you will be simultaneously worhipped and villafied.
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Port
Trad climber
San Diego
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 26, 2011 - 03:37pm PT
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A famous (self-serving) climber-author finds a few disgruntled ex-employees,
That's not really the case here, at least I wouldn't spin it that way. Nor would I accuse GM of being Bernie Madoff. Coz is right, the jury is still out on GM. I hope he pulls through this, but he also should understand that stepping aside maybe the best way for the organization to continue its mission.
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Gene
climber
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Apr 26, 2011 - 03:42pm PT
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There are enough questions about GM and CAI for people to be curious if not skeptical about what’s going on. As a non-profit, CAI has a responsibility to do its utmost to be open and transparent.
I find troubling that there are only three board members, one of whom is GM, the executive director. That leads to what GM refers to below from his Outside Magazine interview.
There’s pages and pages of analysis, but they [expert non-profit law firm] determined that CAI, Three Cups of Tea, and Greg Mortenson are pretty much all part of each other. As much as it would be great to separate everything, we’re all intricately woven. They said CAI needs me, and I’m really the only reason CAI can exist right now. ~Greg Mortenson
If you look at CAI’s financial statements, in the fiscal year 10/1/07 to 9/30/08, CAI spent $380K on ‘domestic outreach’ and had contributions of $13.1 million. In the following year, CAI spent $4.6 million on outreach and brought in $13.7 million. Even with the economy in the tank, that’s not a good ROI.
In the Outside interview, GM states
I should mention that last December we raised about $8 million, which is the highest month we’ve ever had in our history. In January, when I commissioned this firm in D.C., I cut back our advertising by 80 or 90 percent on my own. I also cut back book purchases by 80 percent. I also took my name off the Web site, took the books off the Web, and took my schedule off the Web.
His name is all over the CAI website. He’s misleading about taking his schedule and books off the CAI site. GM’s schedule on the CAI site shoots you over to http://www.threecupsoftea.com/. His personal website and that of both books are copyrighted by the Central Asia Institute. A quasi-truth at best.
CAI’s site says
Central Asia Institute’s Domestic Education Program was established to promote awareness of the importance of primary education, literacy, and cross-cultural understanding about the remote regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. We do this through public events, global outreach and in the USA, our books Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools, and our Pennies for Peace Program. Our [CAI’s] books? GM collects the royalties, not CAI.
I hope that this tempest in tea cups reflects clumsiness rather than ill intent. If the GM controversy is a result of multiple misunderstandings and lack of attention to detail, openness and transparency will benefit all involved.
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
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Apr 26, 2011 - 04:02pm PT
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One part of this matter that interests/bothers me is how the story was presented to the court of public opinion rather than the responsible authorities.
So as not to be a hypocrite, you should stop posting on Supertopo
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Gene
climber
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Apr 26, 2011 - 04:06pm PT
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QITNL,
If GM and CAI come out smelling like roses, it will only enhance their ability to raise funds and carry on. JK and 60 Minutes will have to eat at the trough of shame.
If JK and 60 Minutes are proven mostly correct in their allegations, then they have performed a public service.
Time will tell.
g
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Port
Trad climber
San Diego
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 26, 2011 - 04:09pm PT
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I wonder if beneath everything may be some sort of rivalry between climbers or competing non-profits?
Its possible, but JK gave CAI $75,000 of his own money.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Apr 26, 2011 - 04:17pm PT
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I wonder if beneath everything may be some sort of rivalry between climbers or competing non-profits?
I wonder if Mortenson should really be described as a climber, past or present. JK cast doubt on his climbing claims, but JK's sources may not be accurate in that regard.
It's a side issue and doesn't change anything one way or the other, but I'm curious.
Regarding any serious (not to say good, just serious) climber I know, there would not be any question as to whether they really were a climber. That this is even an issue for GM just tells me how strange the whole thing is.
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