November 9, 2003 - Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor: What's the motivation? by Lucy Finch

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Special Reports: October 26, 2003: Dayton Daily News reports on Peace Corps Safety and Security: Letters to the Editor: November 9, 2003 - Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor: What's the motivation? by Lucy Finch

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-25-92.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.25.92) on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 12:01 am: Edit Post

What's the motivation? by Lucy Finch



What's the motivation? by Lucy Finch

What's the motivation?

I am surprised and angered by the negative perspective the Dayton Daily News took in writing about the Peace Corps.

Volunteers are adults who agree to live in a developing nation, com- plete with its inherent hazards. The danger isn't much higher than living in any major U.S. city. Considering how many thousands of volunteers go overseas every year, the percentage of those with debilitating experiences is small.

The Peace Corps does its best to educate volunteers both before they leave the United States and after they arrive at their sites. The Peace Corps cannot be held accountable for how well volunteers listen to and follow advice.

I question the writers' motivations. Are they working for some conservative lobbyist fighting to shut down the Peace Corps? What has happened to turn them against the Peace Corps?

It seems to me that the articles simply fuel the fear of "others," and other places, that has contributed to our current involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The DDN has done nothing to encourage tolerance and understanding of other cultures, which has the potential of a positive impact on our world.

Lucy Finch

Breckenridge, Colo.




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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

PCOL8520
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By Daniel (0-1pool136-38.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.38) on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 6:16 pm: Edit Post

Tolerance and understanding starts with understanding that 27 volunteers since 1996 is too many. The victims of violence must stop and Peace Corps should not be committing civil rights violation against volunteers through their negligence. When you are arrogant in changing policy and healing the victims Peace Corps has hurt by ignoring the folks who have been hurt, then a new Peace Corps will arise better than the trite nature of it today.

The Motivation: Safety for all volunteers.

The Motivation: Helping all volunteers who serve so they can serve better.

The Motivation: Serving the sick who have served with us.

The Motivation: Serving the human face of Peace Corps and not hurting each other.

The Motivation: That victims of Rape aren't placed under scrunity.

The Motivation: To Make it a stronger agency and not just for the few who blame other volunteers who have gone through these things.

The Motivation: To confront the apathy.

The Motivation: to work toward not having any more tragedy.

The Motivation: To minimalize the arguement of death in the states versus Peace Corps death. A human life is a human life. I question your sensittivity toward human life with that kind of attitude.

Do you want more?

By klord (67-50-140-246.nrp2feld.roc.ny.frontiernet.net - 67.50.140.246) on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 12:42 am: Edit Post

Lucy congratulations!!! You have managed to present a very un-original, insincere, common response to a real problem and guess what, you have failed to support and consider the feelings of fellow PCVs who have been hurt and blamed for it. Thanks once again for reminding us that bad things happen in the USA, that PCV are responsible for their own safety (despite the fact that many are unprepared for service even down to important language skills needed for survival), and for "creating fear by overdramatizing the goal of the DDN articles by stating that the purpose was to "shut down the PC". This is ignorant. If you are really interested in this argument you would have read the millions of postings covering your "concerns" and you would see that we don't want PC shut down; just improved for the betterment of all. Try having a original thoughts, opinions or suggestions!!!

Thanks again Daniel!

By klord (67-50-140-246.nrp2feld.roc.ny.frontiernet.net - 67.50.140.246) on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 12:44 am: Edit Post

Lucy congratulations!!! You have managed to present a very un-original, insincere, common response to a real problem and guess what, you have failed to support and consider the feelings of fellow PCVs who have been hurt and blamed for it. Thanks once again for reminding us that bad things happen in the USA, that PCV are responsible for their own safety (despite the fact that many are unprepared for service even down to important language skills needed for survival), and for "creating fear by overdramatizing the goal of the DDN articles by stating that the purpose was to "shut down the PC". This is ignorant. If you are really interested in this argument you would have read the millions of postings covering your "concerns" and you would see that we don't want PC shut down; just improved for the betterment of all. Try having original thoughts, opinions or suggestions!!!

Thanks again Daniel!

By Ken Vonmer (12-10-26-8.ptcnet.net - 12.10.26.8) on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 10:55 pm: Edit Post

Too bad people have to attack your opinions and use personal insults. What a cruel world it must be for Daniel, being so unsafe! If they want to help and be safe, they should send money and lock their doors. Lucy, you are brave and they are cowards. People get hurt and die in the PC, yet you still went and helped. Thank you.

The motivation - negative press sells.
My motivation - been there got hurt and didn't cry about it.

By Daniel (ca03-ch01-bl02.ca-sanfranc0.sa.earthlink.net - 207.69.139.134) on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 11:15 pm: Edit Post

Safety and Security is the number one issue that continues to be the most popular debate on this website. Why? People care and want change at Peace Corps.

They have not changed yet, so the arguement continues.

It will change and these dark days of the program will be gone.

Daniel

By Your Friend (ca03-ch01-bl02.ca-sanfranc0.sa.earthlink.net - 207.69.139.134) on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 11:06 pm: Edit Post

Thanks for your concern.

I guess I got you to respond.

Many volunteers can't cry about safety can they?

Peace Corps getting shut down is the cry from the fear mongering bureaucrats and people who don't want to really see justice and the right thing to do. If they did, they would be advocating to really make safety and health of all volunteers their concern.

Ken you can send money to the memorial funds of former volunteers who have died in service.

Your friend

By Kevin Lee Croft (202-154-114-235.people.net.au - 202.154.114.235) on Saturday, July 07, 2007 - 12:38 am: Edit Post

Most Peace Corps Volunteers do not receive preferential treatment from their respective Peace Corps country directors while in service. Most Peace Corps volunteers do not have luxury items such as ice cream and wine delivered to them at post by their respective Peace Corps country directors. Most Peace Corps volunteers are not given free access to their respective Peace Corps country directors motor vehicle for personal use.

Most Peace Corps volunteers - especially those of us who served in remote rural locations - went to post and did our jobs with little or no support from Peace Corps administrative staff at all. We endured hardships such as chronic sickness, hunger, and severely limited water supply. We also faced environmental hazards such as primitive un-maintained road systems, civil unrest, and dire poverty which caused the locals to target us for armed robbery. We accepted these challenges, and many others, when we signed up for Peace Corps service. What we did not anticipate, however, is that we would be lied to - repeatedly and in a big way - by Peace Corps administration itself. We most certainly did not anticipate having medical experiments performed upon us without our prior knowledge and consent.

Kevin Lee Croft
RPCV Benin '92-'94
Kiribati K-13


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