The following was aired as an editorial by Al Austin of WCCO-TV on October 24, 1972.
THE KUNST BROTHERS
A lot of sensible people, no doubt, see the Kunst brothers attempt to walk around the world as foolhardy or frivolous, John Kunst's death as an unnecessary waste, and David! ... why would David give up a good job and leave his wife and three children behind for four years to undertake a dangerous trip without pay and with such an indefinite purpose?
John's death at age 25 is a waste. But how many people experience as much in their lives as he did in the past two-and-a-half years? How many will, as David wrote, "walk through vast, empty, hostile stretches ... no water, no food, no relief from the 130 degree sun and little or no security from nomadic bands..."?
The brothers undertook this extraordinary trip for themselves, first,
the world's children, second. And, understand them or not, the rest of
us -- we sensible folks --- owe the Kunst Brothers something, too, and
the Francis Chichesters and Walt Pedersons and Thor Heyardahls.... the
Huck Finns without whom life would lose its imaginings.