2006.12.25: December 25, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malaysia: Writing - Malaysia: Humor: Election2006 - Friedman: KXAN: Kinky's Medals anger some
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Malaysia:
Special Report: Author, Humorist and Malaysia RPCV Kinky Friedman:
February 9, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: RPCV Kinky Friedman (Malaysia) :
2006.12.25: December 25, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malaysia: Writing - Malaysia: Humor: Election2006 - Friedman: KXAN: Kinky's Medals anger some
Kinky's Medals anger some
When we asked Kinky about the dolphins medal and the other medals he wears, like the Texas Rangers and the Airborne, he says they were all gifts from people who do support him. He says the dolphins were given to him by a submarine widow. Hoff asks: "And, she wanted you to wear it?" Kinky says: "Absolutely, she's been working very hard for our campaign in East Texas." Wilgeroth says the medals, given even as gifts, are never supposed to be used for political gain. Kinky said he disagrees. "No, I don't think it's offensive to wear medals. I was in the Peace Corps. I was over there eating monkey brains in the jungle," Kinky said. Hoff asks: "So you're going to continue to wear the medals?" Kinky says: "Well, of course, I am. I am a patriot."
Kinky's Medals anger some
Kinky's Wardrobe In Question
Kinky Friedman is making headlines again. First it was for being asked to drop out of the race. Now, it's for what he's wearing. It's Kinky's standard uniform: dark clothes, a cowboy hat and a cigar.
It's the pins he's been wearing on his lapel that has some people up in arms.
KXAN NBC Austin's political reporter Jenny Hoff talked to an angry veteran Wednesday and got some answers from Kinky.
"It took me almost nine months to earn the right to wear these dolphins," Texas Commander for U.S. Submarine Veterans Ray Wilgeroth said.
Wilgeroth says he's gotten calls from all over the state, asking him why Kinky is wearing their medal while he campaigns.
"We do not feel it's appropriate for him to wear it and imply that the submarine veterans are supporting him for governor because we're not. We don't support anyone," Wilgeroth said.
When we asked Kinky about the dolphins medal and the other medals he wears, like the Texas Rangers and the Airborne, he says they were all gifts from people who do support him.
"The Airborne was given to me by a man in Fort Worth before the primaries who told me I would have to work through my A hole to get on the ballot," Friedman said.
He says the dolphins were given to him by a submarine widow.
Hoff asks: "And, she wanted you to wear it?"
Kinky says: "Absolutely, she's been working very hard for our campaign in East Texas."
Wilgeroth says the medals, given even as gifts, are never supposed to be used for political gain. Kinky said he disagrees.
"No, I don't think it's offensive to wear medals. I was in the Peace Corps. I was over there eating monkey brains in the jungle," Kinky said.
Still, Wilgeroth says his symbol is one people died for and are fierce to protect.
"In this case, he's offending hundreds of people. Those dolphins have been worn with pride since World War II," Wilgeroth said.
Hoff asks: "So you're going to continue to wear the medals?"
Kinky says: "Well, of course, I am. I am a patriot."
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: December, 2006; RPCV Kinky Friedman (Malaysia); Figures; Peace Corps Malaysia; Directory of Malaysia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Malaysia RPCVs; Writing - Malaysia; Humor; Texas
When this story was posted in December 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| All Volunteers Safe in Fiji All Volunteers in Fiji are safe and accounted for. The Peace Corps is monitoring the situation very closely. Volunteers are on standfast but there are no plans for evacuation at this time. Peace Corps is working closely with the US embassy and with host country partners to monitor the situation. Peace Corps is confident that volunteers are not in harm's way. The military seized control of Fiji on December 5 after weeks of threats. Subscribe to our news feed to read the latest breaking news. |
| Ron Tschetter in Morocco and Jordan On his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future. |
| Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments. |
| He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
| Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process. |
| The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace. |
| PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. |
| History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: KXAN
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Malaysia; Writing - Malaysia; Humor; Election2006 - Friedman
PCOL35683
52