September 21, 2005: Headlines: Speaking Out: Military: Greensboro News & Record: Volunteers serve from their hearts
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September 21, 2005: Headlines: Speaking Out: Military: Greensboro News & Record: Volunteers serve from their hearts
Volunteers serve from their hearts
While some Peace Corps volunteers have military experience, this is a different concept. Its not that some soldiers arent suitable for Peace Corps work, although its probably wrong for many. Rather, the Peace Corps isnt supposed to be a means of fulfilling a military obligation. That also would connect the military and the Peace Corps, likely causing misunderstandings. No one in countries where Peace Corps volunteers live and work should think that those men and women are really soldiers in civilian clothes.
Volunteers serve from their hearts
Volunteers serve from their hearts
Sep 21, 2005 - Greensboro News & Record
Forgive me if this comes across as too emotional. Its been a trying day.
Im writing Monday afternoon, a few hours after my wife and I left our older son, Andrew, at the airport.
He wont be home again until December 2007. Until then, hell work as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania.
While watching your child -- even one whos 24 years old -- leave on such a long and challenging journey isnt easy, Margaret and I had plenty of time to prepare. And not only because his Peace Corps application was approved back in the spring.
Weve known since Andrew was a teenager that this day was coming.
He loves to travel, and, even before landing in Africa, has been to many more countries than I have. Hes independent, not afraid to venture to new places, even by himself. Hes adaptable, willing to blend in with the local culture as much as possible and to put up with hardships and discomfort.
More importantly, hes devoted to helping others. Hes taken mission trips to Haiti, Belize, Indian reservations and inner cities. Hes participated in community aid projects, hurricane relief work and many other endeavors. Last year, he won UNC Charlottes highest humanitarian service award. Joining the Peace Corps just continues the course he set for himself years ago.
Some people say the United States needs a compulsory national service program, that every young person should serve his or her country either in the military or some other agency. I guess the Peace Corps would qualify.
The idea has merit. It would provide a lot of manpower for good causes, such as teaching in poor school systems, staffing free health clinics, comforting the elderly, responding to natural disasters and, of course, filling the ranks of our armed forces. It wouldnt do any harm to millions of otherwise spoiled young Americans, either.
With many options available, no one would have to join the Army. In that respect, this system would beat the draft by a mile. While I had no interest in entering the military out of high school in 1973, and I was thankful the draft had ended by then, two years in some alternative service before going off to college would have been good for me. I chose a path that, looking back, was all too easy.
Yet, I really cant endorse the notion of compulsory service. I see required volunteerism as a contradiction that undermines its own value. It may put bodies in motion, but not hearts. I like to say Andrew has a heart for serving others. Theres some quality inside him, in his character, that draws him to places where he can do something good for others.
Hes far from alone. The drive to serve abounds in our country and our community. Its what makes so many people work as volunteers for charities and churches, to provide food and shelter to the homeless and underprivileged, to give blood, time and possessions when the need arises, even to rush to the scene of catastrophes to offer any help they can.
Yes, people of that nature also serve in our armed forces. No matter what you think of how thousands of them are deployed today, you have to admire their courage, their commitment, their devotion and their willingness to sacrifice so much.
Theres nothing compulsory about any of that. When it comes to serving others, what the heart doesnt start the hands wont finish.
One of the most misguided efforts to mix the voluntary and the mandatory is a Pentagon enlistment program that lets recruits begin their service in the military and complete it in the Peace Corps.
While some Peace Corps volunteers have military experience, this is a different concept. Its not that some soldiers arent suitable for Peace Corps work, although its probably wrong for many. Rather, the Peace Corps isnt supposed to be a means of fulfilling a military obligation. That also would connect the military and the Peace Corps, likely causing misunderstandings. No one in countries where Peace Corps volunteers live and work should think that those men and women are really soldiers in civilian clothes.
The United States has to have a war corps, but its Peace Corps is important, too. Volunteers provide on-the-ground assistance in countless ways all around the world and create an image of Americans as caring and generous. Sometimes, as Americans, they encounter hostility. More often, they make lifelong friends.
I believe with all my heart that Andrew will represent his country well in Tanzania, that hell succeed in his assignment and hell come home 27 months from now ready to begin a new adventure that involves doing something worthwhile for others.
His family will miss him. Well worry about him sometimes. Well pray for him every day, seek the prayers of others and give thanks every time we hear from him.
So, Im emotional. A little sad, and very proud.
Proud of Andrew and of all of our fine young Americans who give so much to serve their country.
Doug Clark is a News & Record editorial writer. He can be contacted at dgclark@news-record.com and 373-7039.
When this story was posted in September 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. |
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Story Source: Greensboro News & Record
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