November 7, 2003 - Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor: Behavior of volunteers embarrassing by Anne Boykin
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November 7, 2003 - Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor: Behavior of volunteers embarrassing by Anne Boykin
Behavior of volunteers embarrassing by Anne Boykin
Behavior of volunteers embarrassing by Anne Boykin
Behavior embarrassing
My parents worked overseas for many years from the 1970s through the 1990s. My father, an agricultural economist, has worked for USAID, the U.S. State Department, and various private businesses and foreign governments.
The one constant that my parents reported throughout all their assignments was how often they were embarrassed by the behavior of the many Peace Corps volunteers they encountered.
So many of these foreign countries have serious problems such as poverty, disease and starvation. Even still, these countries have tremendous pride in their culture. Even the poorest villagers strive to keep themselves, their families and their homes clean.
In many cases, the Peace Corps volunteers practiced extremely poor hygiene and the morals of the volunteers were far below those of the locals. It was also my parents' observation that instead of trying to raise the standard of living in the villages, the Peace Corps volunteers lived and behaved in a substandard level to the villagers.
I am certain that there are those few who aspire to keep the Peace Corps from becoming a wanton band of hippies. But obviously, they are in the minority.
I wonder if some of these violent incidents can be attributed to the Peace Corps volunteers exhibiting atrocious behavior and breaking the moral codes of the so-called "uncivilized" locals?
As for the Peace Corps volunteers who say that their experience has been "life changing," maybe they have nowhere to go but up after living, as I feel they have, as ambassadors of immorality and filth.
Anne Boykin Austin, Texas
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Story Source: Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Investigative Journalism
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By Grubby (0-1pool136-53.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.53) on Monday, November 10, 2003 - 9:04 pm: Edit Post |
You seem to be a "bright bulb". Not.
Wow! You have no idea the contribution Peace Corps volunteers make because all your parents probably did was to have their house guarded.
You are off the mark lady or should I say Miss Priss. "I love the quote about hippies". You have some real assumptions about peace corps. Perhaps, you should join and be the do gooder you seem to be. You would probably set the moral guidlines for your whole village. Further, perhaps you could write a guide book on "little miss manners", by Moral high ground "Anne".
You probably don't like spiders and snakes either.
I would like to see you take a bucket bath.
From Grubby, the Hippie volunteer.
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By anonymous (dsl-b2-13.sisna.com - 216.126.202.13) on Monday, November 10, 2003 - 11:09 pm: Edit Post |
Most people know thier atackers. KNEW!
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By bankass.com (0-1pool136-26.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.26) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 7:26 am: Edit Post |
You seem to have this spelling problem. Just for your reference and knowledge, this how "attackers" is spelled. Also, "whine" is like this not, wine as you drink.
Are you sure you were a volunteer? I doubt it.