A bunch of drivel. The Peace Corps was primarily an attempt to counter Soviet influence in developing nations, the so-called Third World. I applaud all the host countries that have realized how little the Peace Corps volunteers contribute to their development and have graduated from the program. --JM (Russia '92-93)

By Karen (dsc02-chc-il-199-35-146-218.rasserver.net - 199.35.146.218) on Sunday, December 21, 2003 - 8:56 pm: Edit Post

John,

Of course the Peace Corps came out of the Cold War. Nothing like this rises out of a political vaccuum.

I was ten when Kennedy was shot, so of course I remember the Cold War too. It was scary to think that there was this far away country that could drop a bomb near our little town that would poison our air and water for two weeks until the radioactivity died away.

Whether countries invited the Peace Corps because they thought it was a handout then left when the handout wasn't big enough, I couldn't say.

The Cold War is now history, but of course we still have war, we still have hate, we still have xenophobia, and we still have the Peace Corps.

Drivel? Just because you can't put a price tag on your contribution doesn't mean you didn't make one (or receive one).