August 27, 2004: Headlines: Speaking Out: The Olympian: There are thousands of people around the world who, when the United States is being reviled, will say: "They're not all like that. If not for the Peace Corps, our village wouldn't have water."

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Speaking Out: January 23, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Speaking Out (1 of 5) : Peace Corps: Speaking Out: August 27, 2004: Headlines: Speaking Out: The Olympian: There are thousands of people around the world who, when the United States is being reviled, will say: "They're not all like that. If not for the Peace Corps, our village wouldn't have water."

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 6:43 pm: Edit Post

There are thousands of people around the world who, when the United States is being reviled, will say: "They're not all like that. If not for the Peace Corps, our village wouldn't have water."

There are thousands of people around the world who, when the United States is being reviled, will say: They're not all like that. If not for the Peace Corps, our village wouldn't have water.

There are thousands of people around the world who, when the United States is being reviled, will say: "They're not all like that. If not for the Peace Corps, our village wouldn't have water."

United States can't lead by being a global bully

Recently, a dozen Thurston County returned Peace Corps volunteers met for dinner. We mostly talked about where and when we had served, what we had done in our host countries and what we are doing now. At one point, though, someone brought up what a shame it was that so much of the good will toward the United States that all of us had experienced had been squandered during the past three years.

I looked around the table and realized that, because of these people, there are thousands of people around the world who, when the United States is being reviled, will say: "They're not all like that. If not for the Peace Corps, our village wouldn't have water." Or: "I worked with a Peace Corps nurse. She was my friend. She still pays my children's school fees."

After Sept. 11, the airwaves were flooded with "Why do they hate us?" programs. President Bush pronounced, "They hate us because we're free," ignored the real reasons, then amplified the very behaviors and attitudes that got us attacked in the first place, pursuing a path of arrogance and ignorance, Texas barroom diplomacy and the inability to distinguish between fear and respect.

We cannot lead the world, as some would wish, until we recover our good-neighbor status ... getting to know our neighbors, respecting who they are.

Perhaps we can lead as first among equals.

We'll never do it as the bully on the block.

Ken Stallcup, Olympia





When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






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Story Source: The Olympian

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Speaking Out

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