Shoot Me First

Shoot Me First An absorbing firsthand account of the life of development aid worker on the front line of the volatile countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan. A memoir by Grant Lock over a period of 24 years. He is deeply committed and patient man who has the insight to meet people where they live from vastly different cultures. There is an early account of a worker who comes in all guns blazing about women’s rights and how things should be done, completely missing the enormous cultural challenges that exist. Grant recognises that many, even his own kin may see this as insurmountable challenges. But as if to leave on a note of hope he relates the tale of Omar and his redemption. He relates a long-time coming tale of a slow awakening from a corrupt life. There is an overlap with another memoir ‘Three cups of tea’ of an American who gives up his old life to build schools in the mountainous terrain of Pakistan. Languages are learnt. Trust gained. Terror in their backyard. But oh the sadness when circumstances force the eventual return for good to Australia. Afghanistan has had a turbulent history to say the least. The corruption belies belief in this country. Hard to comprehend this correlation with the strict call to prayer and faith. Grant writes of his experiences, but also his inner conversations. His rationalizations and worries. I am still however feeling I don’t know the real author. His early life that moulded him was missing. His education and background, his hometown and beginnings that got him on this road. There is mention that his father was against the plan to go to Pakistan. But other than that the reader is none the wiser. Mention was made by other readers of this book, that it is a lot better than the cover. Please reissue with a more inspiring cover. Thank you to Grant and his wife Janna for sharing the immense hardships of life in a fundamentalist Muslim country.