July 17, 2005: Headlines: Speaking Out: Older Volunteers: Marin Independent Journal: Beth Ashley asks: Why didn't I spend my life helping others?

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Speaking Out: January 23, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Speaking Out (1 of 5) : Archive of Stories: July 17, 2005: Headlines: Speaking Out: Older Volunteers: Marin Independent Journal: Beth Ashley asks: Why didn't I spend my life helping others?

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Beth Ashley asks: Why didn't I spend my life helping others?

Beth Ashley asks: Why didn't I spend my life helping others?

I am reminded of the generation that invested its ideals in the Peace Corps, leaving the pleasures of home for difficult places like Bangladesh, Malawi and India. And I felt stirrings of regret that I had never fulfilled a long-ago urge to change the world with unselfish service of my own. Life catches you up and bears you along and, before you know it, the opportunities are gone and your choices have dwindled to few. It's too late now for me to dig wells in Paraguay, or work in the East African bush.

Beth Ashley asks: Why didn't I spend my life helping others?

Beth Ashley: Wishing we could thank those who work to save the world
Staff Report

One night at the Marin County Fair, Larry Meredith and I talked a bit about his daughter, Caitlin.

A Mill Valley girl who will turn 30 in August, Caitlin now works in Darfur, Sudan, as an epidemiologist with the Holland division of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), the international agency that won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Meredith, who heads Marin's Health and Human Services Department, says he has mixed feelings: pride ... worry.

She is working in part of the Sudan where violence is commonplace and the challenges enormous. Recently, her colleagues responded to an outbreak of measles by vaccinating 60,000 children. "There are 50,000 children under 18 in Marin," he says. "Can you imagine the logistical nightmare?"

As an epidemiologist, Caitlin keeps records on disease and injury in the region, so humanitarian teams can plan their responses. Recently she prepared a report on treatment of women - particularly those who have been raped, then ostracized from Sudanese society - which led to the arrest of two agency leaders. The government said the report would undermine the nation's laws.

Larry and I sat on a cement wall at the fair, infinite miles from Darfur. The weather was balmy. Friends gave us hellos and hugs.

But our conversation stuck with me.

Young people today do remarkable things - eschewing personal comfort, risking their lives - to help humanity in the rest of the world

While many of us lead lives of pleasure and comfort, others have consciously sought to do otherwise.

I am reminded of the generation that invested its ideals in the Peace Corps, leaving the pleasures of home for difficult places like Bangladesh, Malawi and India.

And I felt stirrings of regret that I had never fulfilled a long-ago urge to change the world with unselfish service of my own.

Life catches you up and bears you along and, before you know it, the opportunities are gone and your choices have dwindled to few.

It's too late now for me to dig wells in Paraguay, or work in the East African bush.

In my teens, I felt at one with the rest of the world. In college, after World War II, I worked to establish an international center on our campus, and for six months after graduation gave talks on West Coast campuses that raised money for ruined universities overseas.

In my early 20s, I was offered a job with the World Student Service Fund in Geneva, but turned it down in favor of a more glamorous-sounding job as a reporter.

And so it went: along came marriage, children, other jobs.

My life has been happier than I could ever have dreamed.

But I still have a tinge of regret.

Why didn't I spend my life helping others?

How can we thank the Caitlins of this world, who are doing these jobs for the rest of us?

bashley@marinij.com.






When this story was posted in July 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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The Peace Corps Library Date: March 27 2005 No: 536 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 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

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American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Date: June 20 2005 No: 661 American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy
Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

July 2, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: July 2 2005 No: 671 July 2, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
Jim Bullington writes: Food Crisis in Niger 1 Jul
Bobby Shriver helps organize Philadelphia Live 8 show 2 Jul
Divinity school to start Moyers Scholar program 2 Jul
Chic Dambach is President of Operation Respect 1 Jul
Julian Dendy assesses Palau plant and insect diversity 1 Jul
George Packer writes “The Home Front” about Iraq 1 Jul
Mike Honda works to preserve WWII internment camps 1 Jul
Jim Walsh supports increased benefits for veterans 1 Jul
RPCVs discuss Peace Corps on VOA 1 Jul
Jimmey Iszler brings international visitors to ND 30 Jun
Chris Shays' bill prohibits anti-gay discrimination 30 Jun
Mae Jemison to visit China 30 Jun
Bob Taft praises Lake Erie on ‘Fish Ohio Day’ 30 Jun
Jim Doyle announces Wisconsin budget surplus 30 Jun
Al Kamen says Rehnquist may stay on with Nike 29 Jun
Richard Celeste co-chairs report on Indo-US cooperation 29 Jun
Director Vasquez in Caribbean to assess programs 29 Jun
Thomas Gouttierre says militants desperate to interfere 29 Jun
James Mayers teaches business in Bulgaria 28 Jun
Prosecutor says Ex-coach stalling in RPCV assault 28 Jun
Robert Tesh tests effects of West Nile virus 27 Jun

June 26, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: July 2 2005 No: 667 June 26, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
Mark Schneider says "Time running out in Haiti" 23 Jun
Austin Merrill reviews the Rwandan story 26 Jun
Elaine Chao named most underrated cabinet member 26 Jun
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Franklin Williams Awards honors Community Leaders 24 Jun
Trip Mackintosh's firm to represent Gitmo prisoners 24 Jun
Tom Murphy applauds eminent domain decision 24 Jun
DRI has furnished over $30 million in direct aid 24 Jun
Doyle may receive challenge in his own party 24 Jun
Dr. E. Jackson Allison joins fight against HIV/AIDS 23 Jun
WTOL asks: Should Governor Bob Taft Resign? 23 Jun
Donald A. Camp in Kathmandu for State Dept visit 22 Jun
Al Kamen says Hyde finishing last budget 22 Jun
Alice Rabson, 84, has been an activist her entire life 21 Jun
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Gaddi Vasquez is no-nonsense guy 20 Jun
NPCA announces Nine New Directors 20 Jun
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June 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: July 4 2005 No: 672 June 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
Al Kamen says hard to start new agency - Charlie Peters disagrees 19 Jun
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Savannah Thomas Arrigo wins Peace Corps lottery 18 Jun
Mark Gearan honored for service to the community 18 Jun
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Shalala says to learn from England's Health Service 17 Jun
An Interview with Tony Hall 17 Jun
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Issues, Not Race, elected Phil Hardberger 16 Jun
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Heather O'Neal fell in love with Nepal 15 Jun
UPI honored for reporting on Lariam 13 Jun
RPCVs announce "Haiti Innovation" 12 Jun
Gary Presthus says circuitous path can lead to success 10 Jun
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Holly Neill driven to improve water quality 9 Jun
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn marks PC's 44th anniversary 4 Jun
Joy Teiken's eveningwear design will walk down runway 1 Jun
Reed Hastings says competitors don’t get business model 26 May

June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program Date: June 14 2005 No: 651 June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program
After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000  strong Date: April 2 2005 No: 543 Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.


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Story Source: Marin Independent Journal

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

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