VERN BURNS
Former Mini-Tour Player
reporting from Afghanistan
in the middle of a war zone
Blog: January-June 2012
Was It Worth It?
With only a couple weeks left in Afghanistan I have to ask myself; Was it worth it?
I have shared with you about the people of the Middle East, from Saudi, Kuwait, Dubai, and Afghanistan—Their culture, religion, simplicity of life and opulence of the oil rich country. To experience war in a land with a people that have fought for years, declaring religious rights, moral rights, territorial rights and the rights of the extreme has been priceless.
Developing an understanding, first hand, of a people, whose rivers of passion far exceeds that which I’m accustomed to. With western civilization ingrained I attempted to only “wet my feet” yet, I found the impossible. I didn’t speak the language of Farsi. I don’t look Middle Eastern. I only held a golf club and a golf ball and nothing else mattered.
Communicating was simple (and I was not considered different). They wanted to learn golf, pure and simple. No concern about the right clothes, the right shoes or where we were. “Try, Try,” they would say to me. With that unmistakable passion, loud, almost shouting and seemingly demanding, “Try, Try!!!” They are human beings born in a third world country not exemplary of the media’s portrayal.
This is behind the scenes, the regular Afghani who simply wants to work and not fight. Not extremists by a long shot. These are the people we are fighting for and believe me, they are genuine, good hearted people. They are men who work for 5 to 10 dollars a day and their eyes were filled with the joy of something new. Never mind the unthinkable, yet real happenings, that if they are caught at the end of the work day by extremists outside the gates, they lose their lives by the act of beheading.
I have had the unique opportunity to interact, teach and look into the eyes of a man that, for his family, physically runs out at a certain time to avoid capture. To change, to affect a moment in these men’s lives with a golf club and a golf ball is PRICELESS! So was it worth it? Bet on it! Every second! A resounding YES!!
A few of them had unbelievable adaptability to the game of golf, and a hand-eye coordination that was jaw dropping. My eyes welled as I watched and instructed. I was moved by their efforts and relentlessly pursuit of striking the golf ball. “Again, Again,” they told me, in order to keep going until it was right. And when they felt the soft power of a good shot; WOW…. We afterwards would run to gather up the golf balls for the next try and some more instruction.
All the men did not return the next day. We only speculate as to why.
I personally hope to see them again and find that they are alive. You could simplify the time and call it “bonding”. Oh, but it was so much more. I for one never thought the game of golf would transcend war. Language yes, race ultimately. Yes, physical and mental challenges, certainly. To reveal and connect the values, the most important values of being human, to me, for you, I can now say “YES”.
Soon I’m headed to Peru and Colombia. Golf is certainly there and well alive. With Farsi being a difficult language for me, Latin American Spanish—with a little Portuguese thrown in, will be a welcome change.
Years ago, I frequented the home of Topper and Alice Carew in California. Alice has since passed, however, around her home she had taken and framed the most wonderful pictures of Lima, Peru. Every day I would admire her enlarged photographs and say, “One day I will see that place!” Topper, during those days was busy with his job as the creator of the very popular “Martin” television show. I never hinted that I wanted to see Peru, even after all the conversations with Topper and Alice. The interesting point here is that I had just begun to play golf; well, I was one week into the game (smile).
I purchased a 9 iron, 3 wood and a putter, from a mixed barrel of clubs and they were in the back seat of my Volkswagen. I didn’t have enough money for anything else, but I was sure that I would somehow get all the equipment I needed. Leaving the Carew house after working on their phones, I noticed a dumpster out front that contained the old drywall, roofing shingles and trash from remodeling that was being done on their home.
I was rushing to go practice with my 3 clubs and while driving away, I noticed a golf bag in the dumpster. I never knew Tooper or Alice played golf! I was ashamed to go inside and ask, for fear of my financial position; but I thought, “Hell they know I’m broke!” So, I went back, rang the doorbell and when Topper answered I used everything I had to get over my humility and ask, “Topper, can I have that golf bag in your dumpster?” When Topper said “Sure,” I climbed up in that dumpster, over all of the trash and dirt, grabbed that golf bag and cherished it!
On the way to the practice range I let the tears roll down my face, and didn’t care who saw me. I had a wire hanger rigged to my gas pedal (because the cable was broken) so I couldn’t give the car gas with the foot pedal. That newly claimed golf bag sat in the passenger seat like it was my afternoon date. At stop lights I would use my hand to wipe some of the dirt and trash off MY very own golf bag. Ultimately I used the t-shirt covering the seat— which was holding the stuffing and springs in the seat. “I don’t care,” I thought, I’ll get another t-shirt from somewhere.
As I write to you now, with tears in my eyes, that fateful day, I learned what being grateful was all about…. I WAS TRULY GRATEFUL!!! Thank you Topper Carew, wherever you are, you never knew, or maybe you did….
So for those who read my blog, keep giving. You never know!
I am truly grateful to share with you my thoughts and my experiences. And I’m grateful that you take the time to read my Blogs.
To my readers:
Be good to you!!!
All the best,
Vern Burns
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Below, some photos from my recent album.
