(Apparently, this group has a different opinion of Erik Paulsen, R-TargetCorp, than I do. Be that as it may, MPP encourages a wide variety of opinions - and I wish this group success in their endeavor. - promoted by TwoPuttTommy)
The 3rd district committee of the Minnesota Peace Project delivered a cup of tea to Congressman Erik Paulsen's Eden Prairie office Friday morning, Jan 29. The committee had struggled to secure a 2nd meeting with our freshman congressman in November. During the meeting Paulsen admitted to lack of knowledge about Afghanistan. He did say he was reading Greg Mortenson's book, "Three Cups of Tea," a longtime NY Times bestseller. This book, which has become required reading for all officers enrolled in counter insurgency courses at the Pentagon, describes Greg's work in building schools for girls in the remote region of Baltistan, in far Northeast Pakistan.
Committee chair Linda Thomson delivered a freshly brewed pot of tea and some homemade pumpkin cookies to the office in furtherance of continued dialog with Paulsen.
The book title comes from a Baltistan proverb that says, "The first cup of tea you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, the third you become family." This ritual is custom for business or serious social meetings throughout the region in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg's organization has built over 130 schools, most of them for girls, in the far reaches of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Most NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) start in population centers and wrk out from there. Greg goes to, "The end of road," the most remote places and lets the population centers catch up. He continues to prove the power of education vs armed force.
Candidate Paulsen met with the 3rd CD Peace Committee and promised to continue the relationship we enjoyed with Jim Ramstad and to continue Jim's town meetings The committee came together as weekly occupiers of Jim's Minnetonka office for about 20 weeks during 2007 and a series of meetings with him on peace issues. We often disagreed but it was a respectful dialog on both sides.
Congressman Paulsen has been less accessible but he did agree to a second meeting in November.
Minnesota Peace Project is committed to furthering s serious peace agenda with dialog and discussion with all 10 Minnesota members of Congress.
The cup of tea was delivered as a symbol of expected continued respectful discourse.
