March 19, 2005: Headlines: Iraq: Speaking Out: Seattle Post Intelligencer: RPCV John D. Erickson says: I am willing to concede that the events in Iraq probably have had a catalytic effect in spreading the idea of pluralistic democracy. What's more, I'll even have to admit that the newfound U.S. enthusiasm for collective punishment, arbitrary detention and torture has probably catalyzed the renewed and unapologetic disregard for human rights that we now see across the globe.
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March 19, 2005: Headlines: Iraq: Speaking Out: Seattle Post Intelligencer: RPCV John D. Erickson says: I am willing to concede that the events in Iraq probably have had a catalytic effect in spreading the idea of pluralistic democracy. What's more, I'll even have to admit that the newfound U.S. enthusiasm for collective punishment, arbitrary detention and torture has probably catalyzed the renewed and unapologetic disregard for human rights that we now see across the globe.
RPCV John D. Erickson says: I am willing to concede that the events in Iraq probably have had a catalytic effect in spreading the idea of pluralistic democracy. What's more, I'll even have to admit that the newfound U.S. enthusiasm for collective punishment, arbitrary detention and torture has probably catalyzed the renewed and unapologetic disregard for human rights that we now see across the globe.
RPCV John D. Erickson says: I am willing to concede that the events in Iraq probably have had a catalytic effect in spreading the idea of pluralistic democracy. What's more, I'll even have to admit that the newfound U.S. enthusiasm for collective punishment, arbitrary detention and torture has probably catalyzed the renewed and unapologetic disregard for human rights that we now see across the globe.
As a former Peace Corps volunteer, I am familiar with the U.S. tendency to believe that anything that happens in the world must be due, somehow, to the United States. Nevertheless, despite the latest twist in Lebanon's long tradition of parliamentary politics, the fact that Palestine's elections were duly held after the death of its previously elected president (who our government snubbed), and the voting that has been happening for some time in the Gulf States, I am willing to concede that the events in Iraq probably have had a catalytic effect in spreading the idea of pluralistic democracy. And probably as important as the overthrow of Saddam Hussein was the demonstration provided by the successful struggle of the Ayatollah Sistani and his allies to impose elections, even against the determined resistance of the coalition provisional authority.
What's more, I'll even have to admit that the newfound U.S. enthusiasm for collective punishment, arbitrary detention and torture has probably catalyzed the renewed and unapologetic disregard for human rights that we now see across the globe.
John D. Erickson
Kent
When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
| The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state. |
| RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter. |
| Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now. |
| March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went. |
| Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week. |
| Peace Corps Calendar: Tempest in a Teapot? Bulgarian writer Ognyan Georgiev has written a story which has made the front page of the newspaper "Telegraf" criticizing the photo selection for his country in the 2005 "Peace Corps Calendar" published by RPCVs of Madison, Wisconsin. RPCV Betsy Sergeant Snow, who submitted the photograph for the calendar, has published her reply. Read the stories and leave your comments. |
| WWII participants became RPCVs Read about two RPCVs who participated in World War II in very different ways long before there was a Peace Corps. Retired Rear Adm. Francis J. Thomas (RPCV Fiji), a decorated hero of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 at 100. Mary Smeltzer (RPCV Botswana), 89, followed her Japanese students into WWII internment camps. We honor both RPCVs for their service. |
| Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps The White House is proposing $345 Million for the Peace Corps for FY06 - a $27.7 Million (8.7%) increase that would allow at least two new posts and maintain the existing number of volunteers at approximately 7,700. Bush's 2002 proposal to double the Peace Corps to 14,000 volunteers appears to have been forgotten. The proposed budget still needs to be approved by Congress. |
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Story Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Iraq; Speaking Out
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