While you can question the wisdom of doling out money to ineffectual and sometimes corrupt African governments, as writer and former Africa-based Peace Corps worker Paul Theroux harshly did in the New York Times recently, there is no downplaying the rock star's passionate commitment to the cause



"We see, too, the determined images of Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono, honored by Time magazine as persons of the year for their humanitarian efforts. The Gateses have committed hundreds of millions of dollars and countless hours of time and thought to childhood health and education around the globe. Bono has been equally tireless in raising awareness of poverty and AIDS in Africa, and raising money to combat them."

Author Paul Theroux served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi in the 1960's.

While you can question the wisdom of doling out money to ineffectual and sometimes corrupt African governments, as writer and former Africa-based Peace Corps worker Paul Theroux harshly did in the New York Times recently, there is no downplaying the rock star's passionate commitment to the cause

Christmas spirit's sense of unity brings us hope

Dec 25, 2005

Chicago Sun-Times

For Americans and many non-Americans alike, and also for many non- Christians, the most enduring attribute of Christmas is its renewal of belief. Whatever ills have befallen us during the past year -- and with Katrina, the earthquake in Pakistan and, going back to the waning days of last December, the tsunami, it has been an especially tumultuous 12 months -- the deep spirit of warmth and communality that emanates from this holiday can't help but fill us with a sense that better days are ahead. That against all odds, the ethic of loving thy neighbor will take deeper hold. That the bitter divisiveness among religions and nations will be overcome.
And that for all the tragedy that abounds, there is transcendent meaning to derive from our time together on Earth.

In looking ahead to the new year, we certainly could dwell on images of war and disease and destruction. But on this day of universal renewal, there is no shortage of equally powerful images that speak to the gleaming possibilities in our lives. We see the photo of little Joseph and Mary, the newborn twins abandoned at a Far West Side church, now adorably dressed up in Christmas outfits, and quickly overcome our anger over their abandonment with happiness over their well-being. "It makes me feel blessed to find them," said the church custodian who discovered the babies, also dwelling on the positive.


We see, too, the determined images of Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono, honored by Time magazine as persons of the year for their humanitarian efforts. The Gateses have committed hundreds of millions of dollars and countless hours of time and thought to childhood health and education around the globe. Bono has been equally tireless in raising awareness of poverty and AIDS in Africa, and raising money to combat them. While you can question the wisdom of doling out money to ineffectual and sometimes corrupt African governments, as writer and former Africa-based Peace Corps worker Paul Theroux harshly did in the New York Times recently, there is no downplaying the rock star's passionate commitment to the cause.


And then, among so many other images, there is the one of Pope Benedict XVI, addressing cardinals last week in his red velvet headgear and fur-trimmed red cape. He has not been pope long, and at his advanced age his tenure may be relatively brief, but his good health and good words are bringing new life to the Vatican and, for those saddened by recent strife in the Catholic Church, new reasons for optimism.

With too many people investing too much in the unnecessary "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays" debate, it is easy to become distracted from the universal meaning of Dec. 25. It's not about divisions among people, political or religious. It's not about inclusion or exclusion. Nor, as the pope said, is it about competitive spending. "Joy is the true gift of Christmas," he said. For all the sorrow we may feel in these times of war and economic stress and displacement, there is much to cherish and be thankful for.

When this story was posted in January 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Top Stories: January 3, 2006 Tony Hall leaving ambassador's post 8 Dec Military aims to bolster language skills 2 Jan Isaiah Zagar rescuing Magic Garden 1 Jan Taylor Hackford won't produce J Lo in Carmen 31 Dec Rupert writes on militants' aid in Quake Zone 29 Dec Toledo bows on Military Human Rights Violations 29 Dec Tim Shriver supports movie "The Ringer" 26 Dec Josh Busby writes: How Healthy is the NPCA? 24 Dec Congressional Victory on Peace Corps/Military Option 22 Dec PC Fellows Nursing Program doubles at JHU 19 Dec PCVs team with Mexican scientists on water quality 17 Dec Farr denounces Pentagon spying at UCSC 17 Dec Jack Anderson dies at 83 17 Dec Theroux criticizes rock star badgering on Africa 15 Dec James Walsh opposes Maoist revolution in Nepal 15 Dec Scott Stossel appointed acting editor of "The Atlantic" 15 Dec Oklahoma has highest percentage increase in PCVs 15 Dec Sargent Shriver honored at JFK Library 13 Dec Blackwill says torture may be appropriate 13 Dec Bill Moyers for President? 13 Dec Kinky Friedman files papers to run for governor 8 Dec

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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." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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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. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

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Robert F. Kennedy - 80th anniversary of his birth "Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change."

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Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years Congratulations to the Peace Corps for the highest number of volunteers in 30 years with 7,810 volunteers serving in 71 posts across the globe. Of course, the President's proposal to double the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers made in his State of the Union Address in 2002 is now a long forgotten dream. With deficits in federal spending stretching far off into the future, any substantive increase in the number of volunteers will have to wait for new approaches to funding and for a new administration. Choose your candidate and start working for him or her now.

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'Celebration of Service' a major success The Peace Corps Fund's 'Celebration of Service' on September 29 in New York City was a major success raising approximately $100,000 for third goal activities. In the photo are Maureen Orth (Colombia); John Coyne (Ethiopia) Co-founder of the Peace Corps Fund; Caroline Kennedy; Barbara Anne Ferris (Morocco) Co-founder; Former Senator Harris Wofford, member of the Advisory Board. Read the story here.

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PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident" The District Commissioner for the Kasama District in Zambia issued a statement banning Peace Corps activities for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behavior for an incident that occurred on September 24 involving 13 PCVs. Peace Corps said that some of the information put out about the incident was "inflammatory and false." On October 12, Country Director Davy Morris met with community leaders and apologized for the incident. All PCVs involved have been reprimanded, three are returning home, and a ban in the district has since been lifted.

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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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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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