Peter Rice has brain lice.

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Peace Corps Library: Criticism of the Peace Corps: January 23, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Criticism: January 16, 2006: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Criticism: Black Issues: Humor: Wall Street Journal: Peter Rice says: My view of the Peace Corps is that it is really just a U.S. government program for paid vacations in the Third World : February 9, 2006: Headlines: Directors - Vasquez: Criticism: Wall Street Journal: Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez responds to Peter Rice: Peace Corps Work Effects a Wide Cultural Impact: Peter Rice has brain lice.

By Richard Savid (pool-71-99-152-172.tampfl.dsl-w.verizon.net - 71.99.152.172) on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 2:08 pm: Edit Post

Dear Mr. Rice:

Rather than protest your obviously ignorant statement, I refer you to the lead editorial in The New York Times on Feb. 27, 1981, written by Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Richard Savid after he had spent two years of service in a an isolated Philippine village from 1976 to 1978.

If you still don't get it. Maybe you should try the Peace Corps: you know, a remote place without cellular or internet service or CNN on TV. You'll either learn what it's all about or, unable to face the emptiness in yourself, you will quit, return to the United States and continue with your foolish babblings while taxpayers keep you fat.

Cordially,

R.S.

By RPCV Moldova (mailserver.paleyrothman.com - 63.94.97.34) on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 2:43 pm: Edit Post

I agree, before criticizing all of the work that we do/did, Mr. Rice should try to survive just one month in the conditions that we did.

In Moldova, taught English, volunteered at a school for children with disabilities, created an English resource center, trained English teachers in new methods and American history and culture, organized and taught in summer leadership camps, taught environmental awareness, and open my kids minds to a new perspective from a very narrow-minded Soviet influenced one. I did all of this while taking weekly baths from water I pulled from the well and heated on a wood burning stove, used a squatty potty (even in the middle of the night in a snow storm), taught in a school with no heat and returned to a house with very little, dealt with major illness and depression, barely communicated with my friends and family from home, and earned less than $125 a month that went right back into the local economy as it barely covered food and necessities. Two days a month does not constitute a vacation, especially when the ability to travel is dependent upon digging into your savings.

I'm not sorry I did PC, but for me it was a struggle every single day.

Our country needs a lot of help if we lose the only outreach, liberal program left.


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