I want to believe.
Jun. 19th, 2012 10:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
captainsblogThe Central Asia Institute sent us a letter today. Signed by Greg Mortenson himself- the hero of Three Cups of Tea, which I bought into, hook line and sinker, partly because it was co-written by my original legal mentor's son. In it, Greg talks about all the good work still going on in Central Asia to further his worthy causes. He also explains his reduced involvement in the project, owing, he says, to his sudden open-heart surgery of a year ago. Then he mentions that a lawsuit against him and CAI had been dismissed; he quotes from the decision as a sign of his vindication.
And then he lost me.
Almost as an afterthought, he mentions that "the Montana Attorney General's office...had finished its 11-month-long investigation and issued its findings. We encourage you to read the OAG's report posted on our website."
So I did. Or, rather, I read it in its entirety on the AG's site, where it slams Greg for his violations of law and good practices in his fundraising, accounting, and, worst of all, his telling of the tale with more than a little hyperbole through his books. It also notes:
We entered into a settlement agreement with Mortenson and CAI which guarantees in excess of $1 million in restitution from Mortenson for his past financial transgressions. We have also implemented stricter organizational and financial controls within CAI that will help ensure charity dollars are spent as intended so that the donating public’s trust can be restored.
That fact was missing from the fundraising letter.
If you're going to trumpet your vindications, dude, you had best admit your transgressions, as well, or you come across as shallow, hypocritical, and, worst of all, almost Republican. I bought your books. I attended your local speech. I believed, as I want to again. To help me with that, I think there's only one place you, and your bitter cups of tea, can go, and that's "away."
It's not just you. Every time I hear a reference to "Governor Spitzer" on Current TV, or see some misguided liberal "like" of Anthony Weiner, I cringe just as much. You're all past your 15:00. Don't go away mad; just go away.
And then he lost me.
Almost as an afterthought, he mentions that "the Montana Attorney General's office...had finished its 11-month-long investigation and issued its findings. We encourage you to read the OAG's report posted on our website."
So I did. Or, rather, I read it in its entirety on the AG's site, where it slams Greg for his violations of law and good practices in his fundraising, accounting, and, worst of all, his telling of the tale with more than a little hyperbole through his books. It also notes:
We entered into a settlement agreement with Mortenson and CAI which guarantees in excess of $1 million in restitution from Mortenson for his past financial transgressions. We have also implemented stricter organizational and financial controls within CAI that will help ensure charity dollars are spent as intended so that the donating public’s trust can be restored.
That fact was missing from the fundraising letter.
If you're going to trumpet your vindications, dude, you had best admit your transgressions, as well, or you come across as shallow, hypocritical, and, worst of all, almost Republican. I bought your books. I attended your local speech. I believed, as I want to again. To help me with that, I think there's only one place you, and your bitter cups of tea, can go, and that's "away."
It's not just you. Every time I hear a reference to "Governor Spitzer" on Current TV, or see some misguided liberal "like" of Anthony Weiner, I cringe just as much. You're all past your 15:00. Don't go away mad; just go away.