Geoffrey Cavanaugh says the image of the United States as Big Brother is already difficult for Peace Corps volunteers to overcome without adding the specter of military design and influence



Veterans who join the Peace Corps now do so with a mission that is clear and distinct from that of their military masters, and that is how it should stay. Veterans who make this choice can display the "discipline and resolve" that Mr. McCarthy so admires without having to parse their commitments or defend their moral compass.

Geoffrey Cavanaugh says the image of the United States as Big Brother is already difficult for Peace Corps volunteers to overcome without adding the specter of military design and influence

Keeping Missions Separate

Thursday, August 25, 2005; Page A18

Colman McCarthy may hope to "shake the Pentagon's money tree" ["Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps," op-ed, Aug. 21], but that isn't all that will be shaken if service members are allowed to count experience with the Peace Corps as active duty.

The image of the United States as Big Brother is already difficult for Peace Corps volunteers to overcome without adding the specter of military design and influence.

Veterans who join the Peace Corps now do so with a mission that is clear and distinct from that of their military masters, and that is how it should stay. Veterans who make this choice can display the "discipline and resolve" that Mr. McCarthy so admires without having to parse their commitments or defend their moral compass.

Equally important, the choice for volunteers to devote themselves even temporarily to one of these two divergent branches of service is valuable in itself and ought to remain primary. Even as a veteran who believes that the country would benefit from some kind of universal service, I could not sanction the ambiguity that would persist both for volunteers and those they serve if two such dissimilar missions were mingled.

GEOFFREY CAVANAGH

Washington

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




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Top Story: Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Latest: Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. RPCVs: Take our Poll.

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Upcoming Events: Peace Corps Fund in NYC Peace Corps Fund announces Sept 29 Fund Raiser in NYC High Atlas Foundation Hosts a Reception in NYC on Sept 15 Jody Olsen to address Maryland RPCVs at Sept 17 picnic "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 See RPCV Musical "Doing Good" in CA through Sept "Iowa in Ghana" at "The Octogan" in Ames through October 7 RPCV Film Festival in DC in October RPCV's exhibit at Museum of Man in San Diego thru May 2006

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Top Stories: August 20, 2005 Jack Crandall writes "Memories relished by WWII Generation" Cris Groenendaal plays Phantom of Opera on Broadway 19 Aug Peace Corps Director Travels to Madagascar 19 Aug RPCV presents "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" 19 Aug Robert Brown to head Southeast Asian Studies at UCLA 19 Aug Peter McPherson to head national university association 19 Aug Len Flier says US has lose-lose scenario in Iraq 18 Aug Ruth DeMaio sends aid to Niger 18 Aug Bob Taft pleads no contest to ethics law violation 18 Aug Antoinette Allen is Field Hockey coach at Hun School 16 Aug Tony Hall Avoids Mugabe on Zimbabwe trip 14 Aug Peace Corps Receives 2005 Medgar Evers Award 10 Aug Jeff Wray is filming "The Soul Searchers" 10 Aug 40th anniversary of Shriver's Foster Grandparent Program 9 Aug Tom Petri writes "It's not just about highways" 9 Aug Terry Dougherty brings students from Afghanistan to US 8 Aug Chris Newhall is leading volcano scientist 5 Aug Douglas Biklen appointed dean at Syracuse University 5 Aug Greg Kovalchuk and Mike Kelly Find Rare Fossil 4 Aug Edward O'Toole salvages furniture for schools in Honduras 3 Aug Gary Mount is Apple Grower Of The Year 1 Aug

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